Youth Walking Leader

**Walking School Bus Walk Leader**

**Position Type**:Part Time - 7-10 hours/week. Monday-Friday, 8-9am and 2:45-3:45pm. The Walking School Bus does not run during school closures (ie. Pro-D Days, Holidays, etc.). On weeks where there is a school closure, the Walk Leader may not be required to work all five days of the school week.

**Application Deadline**:Applicants will be reviewed on an ongoing basis.

**Anticipated Start Date**:As soon as possible.

**Location**:In-person work in the neighborhood surrounding Cedar Drive Elementary School in Port Coquitlam.

**Compensation**:$26/hour

**Responsibilities**:
The Society for Children and Youth of BC is a unique, provincial not-for-profit organization. Our mission is to improve the well-being of children and youth in BC through the advancement of their civic, political, economic, social, cultural and legal rights. Since 1974, the Society has focused on providing a strong voice representing children and youth. SCY seeks Walking School Bus Walk Leaders to support the delivery of this program in metro-Vancouver schools.

The Walking School Bus program was developed as part of TransLink’s regional Youth Travel Strategy. A Walking School Bus is an organized group of children who walk to school together with the support of one or more adult leaders.

Following our Walking School Bus Manual and Materials, the Walk Leader will be responsible for leading a group of children to and from school each day along a dedicated route. The route will include planned stops along the way to pick-up or drop-off children, similar to the way a traditional school bus would. This position involves communicating with school administration, children, and families; daily outdoor physical activity; and informal education skills. Specific responsibilities:

- Collect children from WSB stops and walk with them to school along a designated route (weekday mornings)
- Collect children from their school and drop them off at WSB stops along a designated route (weekday afternoons)
- Ensure children arrive to school safely and on time
- Ensure children arrive at their WSB stop after school safely
- Ensure children are being left in the care of their parent/guardian/trusted caregiver after school
- Commitment to daily shift hours (approximately one hour before and after school)
- Commitment to creating a fun walking environment for the group, including facilitating games along the walk
- Maintain up to date emergency contact information
- Update parents and guardians of participating students wherever necessary
- Promote pedestrian safety and awareness among students
- Collect and submit daily data reports
- Communicate with parents, school staff, and program coordinators as needed
- Follow established procedures and guidelines of the Walking School Bus program as outlined in the Walk Leader training manual and materials

**Desired Qualifications, Experience, and Skills**:

- Informal and/or formal experience working with school aged children
- Reliable, punctual, and committed to the program schedule
- Ability to follow guidelines and prioritize safety
- Respect for people of all ages, races, cultures, abilities and sexual orientations
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
- Physical fitness, ability to walk or self-propel at a moderate pace for approximately 2km
- Ability to dress appropriately for and work outdoors in all weather conditions
- Friendly demeanor
- Ability to work without direct supervision
- Participation in an SCY Walk Leader training session
- Ability to transport self to and from school location
- Successful completion of a police and vulnerable sector check

**About the Society for Children and Youth of BC**:
SCY’s vision is a British Columbia where children and youth are seen, heard and valued. The Society’s work focuses on four key priorities: child and youth rights, child and youth friendly communities, social justice, and organizational resilience. We have four core organizational values:
**Relationships**: We know we can’t do our best work alone. Strong relationships are essential to maximize our efficacy, reach, and impact, and to best serve the children and youth of British Columbia. To foster relationships we must be trusting, respectful, supportive, and place value in other points of view.

**Centring Children and Youth**: Children and youth know best what they are experiencing and what their needs and interests are. We know that they can contribute meaningfully to society when given the opportunity. To centre children and youth, we must step back and make space, listen, trust, and follow their lead.

**Being Compassionate**: It is not always obvious what others might be going through. Treating one another with compassion is fundamental to creating a safe and comfortable environment. To be compassionate, we must be welcoming, patient, open-minded, intentional and thoughtful.

**Being Resourceful**: Resourcefulness strengthens our ability to adva