Information for STUDENTS

First, make sure you understand the type of work we do. We’re outdoors in all kinds of weather, on primitive sites in nature with limited access to running water and other amenities. You will be active and move a lot in this role! Please review our website and our social media profiles on FB & IG @outdoorkidsot to understand the demands of this kind of unique pediatric OT work in nature to make sure it is a good fit for you. If you’re up for the adventure, read on…. :)

Volunteer Mentorship Positions (for students interested in OT or other related professions):

Our Volunteer Mentorships provide valuable learning experiences for students who are interested in occupational therapy (or related professions) as a future career. These Volunteer Mentorship positions are for students seeking volunteer hours (often called “shadowing”) for their OT school applications. We invest significant time to mentor and train our volunteers, to help build your skills for successful admission to your top choice OT program. We love writing glowing letters of recommendation for our fabulous volunteers!

Volunteers serve a minimum of 2 hours per week, shadowing the therapist who is leading an outdoor therapy group for 4-5 children. For consistency for the children, we ask volunteers to commit to weekly attendance over the course of a semester, or preferably a whole school year. You are allowed to volunteer for more than one group to accrue hours faster if you prefer. Students must track their own hours, maintain a consistent schedule, and maintain professionalism. You will need to complete an application, pass a background check, and complete volunteer training prior to serving.

Please submit an application for your desired location and we will reach out if we have openings that match your availability. We accept Volunteer Mentorship applications on a rolling basis and reach out to applicants as openings come available.

• Weekly Volunteer - BERKELEY or OAKLAND, California

• Weekly Volunteer - SAN FRANCISCO, California

• Weekly Volunteer - MADISON, Wisconsin

For OT Graduate Students Seeking Fieldwork Placement or Capstone Experiences

Fieldwork placements are booked about 6 months to 1 year in advance. The following steps should be completed in order. We cannot accept students without a affiliation agreement in place with your university.

Requirements:

1. Check our list of OT school affiliations below. If your school is not listed, speak with your fieldwork coordinator to have them contact support@outdoorkidsot.com to set up an affiliation agreement with OKOT.

2. Once the affiliation agreement is in place, send your resume and an initial inquiry email to support@outdoorkidsot.com to indicate your interest. Capstone students, please indicate what you envision doing for your capstone experience in a specific area of focus.

3. Complete a 30 minute video interview with an OKOT therapist.

4. Pass a background check.

5. Complete onboarding paperwork and orientation and trainings.

Our Current OT School Affiliations:

• Dominican University, San Rafael, CA

• Duke University, Durham, NC

• Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC

• Point Loma Nazarene University, San Diego, CA

• Samuel Merritt University, Oakland, CA

• San Jose State University, San Jose, CA