Nightmare situation. Long hours, bad weather, and small paychecks are not my complaint, as these are part of (even the point of?) any outdoor education post. The problem with Pali is that it's dismal pay for a largely unsupported employee experience. Management is money-minded, stuck in their ways, and apathetic to suggestions for improvement. Cliquishness among returning staff is rampant, ignored by leadership, and happens because it's such a hard-scrabble environment.
While some of the seasonal staff are going to be good, motivated educators and passionate outdoor people, their talents and natural instincts are the only thing protecting students from accidents and harm. General safety policy is misguided or missing to the point of being dangerous to students, who are not prepared for Pali when they arrive, and are told to get through uncomfortable situations rather than dialing back for safety. Facilities are understocked, rickety, and in some cases literally falling apart. The main goal of the owner is to maximize profit, not to provide education.
I witnessed or was the focus of several racist and sexist comments/jokes. Turnover is big every season because once you get there and see how it's run, you can't get out fast enough.
