Ashley Vilches
Ridgewood,NY
Summary
Passion for supporting youth development through experiential education to help build critical thinking and empathetic skills. Understanding of how creating a safe and inclusive environment can make all the difference. Experienced in being adaptable at implementing age-appropriate activities to promote social, physical, and intellectual growth. Aspirations to share the importance of environmental stewardship, and include immersive nature-based learning whenever possible!
Overview
1
1
Certification
2
2
years of professional experience
Work History
Environmental Education Instructor
Chewonki
Wiscasset, Maine
04.2026 - 10.2026
- Led fall 3-day overnight saltwater canoe training trip for instructors.
- Facilitated a 4-day overnight sea kayaking trip with high schoolers participating in Maine Coast Semester.
- Guided students through coastal habitats and trails while sharing knowledge about the surrounding marine ecosystem.
- Also kept similar job duties to previous role as outdoor program instructor.
Outdoor Adventure Specialist
Camp Chewonki
Wiscasset, Maine
06.2026 - 08.2026
- Led 6-day overnight sea kayaking trips for campers ages 12 & 13.
- Led a 2-week sea kayaking trip with 8 high schoolers ages 14-18 years old.
- Taught how to use a chart and VHF radio.
- Demonstrated wet exits and instructed the group on how it should properly be executed.
- Planned and prepped meals, water, logistics, gear, evacuation routes, itineraries, and resupplies.
- Made safe travel decisions based on environmental and human factors.
Outdoor Programs Instructor
Chewonki
Wiscasset, Maine
04.2025 - 10.2025
- Facilitated weekly 4-day, 3-night base camping or canoe trips for school groups of up to 12, enhancing students' outdoor skills and teamwork.
- Prepared and taught lessons to elementary and middle school students.
- Lessons included ecology, outdoor living skills, map and compass, estuary study, pond study, farm & food systems, team building, and canoe exploration.
- Handled gear repair, farm help, and various other tasks as needed when not on program.
- Attended debriefs with supervisors and submitted end-of-week reports assessing group experience and chaperone feedback to inform future program improvements.
Watercraft Instructor
Camp Chewonki
Wiscasset, Maine
06.2025 - 08.2025
- Prepared campers for their water-based backcountry trips.
- Taught canoe and sea kayaking lessons that covered parts of a paddle, boat setup, proper paddling form, paddle techniques, and how to do a wet exit.
- Supported young people ages 7 to 14 as they navigated the challenges of water crafting with currents and tides.
- Lifeguarded tidal waterfront for camper activities when not instructing lessons.
Swim Instructor
SwimJim
New York, New York
09.2024 - 04.2025
- Instructed individual and group classes for infants through adults.
- Taught basic survival skills such as floating, treading water, and emergency exits from the pool.
- Supported swimmers with unconditional positive regard as they developed their freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, and butterfly.
- Prepared equipment and maintained organized lesson areas before and after classes.
- Attended staff meetings and training sessions related to teaching methods and safety practices.
- Created strategies to meet the needs of differently abled swimmers.
- Recorded student progress and kept parents up to date with lesson observations.
Education
Chemistry
Hofstra University
Hempstead, NYCertification
- Wilderness First Responder (WFR), Wilderness Medical Associates
- Lifeguarding (Including Deep Water) with CPR/AED for Professional Rescuers and First Aid, American Red Cross
- Level 2: Essentials of Kayak Touring, American Canoe Association
- Adult & Pediatric First Aid/CPR/AED, American Red Cross
Timeline
Outdoor Adventure Specialist
Camp Chewonki
06.2026 - 08.2026
Environmental Education Instructor
Chewonki
04.2026 - 10.2026
Watercraft Instructor
Camp Chewonki
06.2025 - 08.2025
Outdoor Programs Instructor
Chewonki
04.2025 - 10.2025
Swim Instructor
SwimJim
09.2024 - 04.2025
Chemistry
Hofstra University