Employment​

What We Are Looking For:

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• Adventurous Spirit: This role will be one of your more challenging yet exhilarating experiences. It's more than exploring Idaho's wilderness; it's about resilience and potential, while becoming an effective leader.

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• Seeking Accomplishment: Leveraging the skills and experiences gained here, many of our former guides have gone on to achieve great things. We're seeking individuals eager to master Idaho's wild rivers and aspire to greater accomplishments in their personal and professional lives.

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• Resilience and Enthusiasm: We need people who are ready to rise with the sun and stay energetic, even when the weather is less than ideal. If you're someone who embraces challenges with a smile and finds joy in overcoming challenges, you'll fit right in.

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• Team Spirit and Leadership: This job isn't for those who prefer a lot of solitude. Our guides are leading and engaging with large groups every day. We're looking for outgoing, fun-loving leaders who stand out as excellent examples.

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• Big Personalities with a Personal Touch: You'll need to light up a crowd with energy and charisma but also know how to connect with someone one-on-one. Whether you're leading a group in a riverside game or sharing a moment with a guest, your ability to engage, entertain, and make meaningful connections is key to creating unforgettable experiences.

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• Character Over Experience: While experience on the river or in the outdoors is a bonus, it's not a requirement. We value strong character, interesting life experiences, and the ability to connect with people more than a resume filled with outdoor exploits.

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• Unique Experiences: Tell us what makes you unique. Whether you've had unusual experiences, have engaging hobbies, or have been involved in community service, we want to know what sets you apart and how your experiences have shaped you into a leader and a team player.

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• At Adventure Idaho, we're not just hiring guides; we're building a team of adventurers, storytellers, and leaders who bring our river journeys to life. If you're ready for an unforgettable summer and the opportunity to impact lives, we'd love to hear from you!

 

Key Responsibilities:​

• Organize and lead river trips, ensuring a safe, enjoyable, and family-friendly experience.

• Foster a wholesome and fun atmosphere for groups of all sizes and backgrounds, including large youth groups of up to 100 people.

• Safety navigate class II - IV whitewater as a team.

• Train aggressively, taking a humble approach to continuous improvement. 

• Educate clients on river safety, local natural history, and environmental stewardship.

• Collaborate effectively with a team of over 30 employees to ensure smooth operations across various rivers.

• Safely drive 15 passenger vans.

• Pack, prepare, and cook food for large groups.

• Entertain groups with hikes, games, and other activities.

• Manage and solve challenging situations in remote wilderness settings.

• Willingness to help with a variety of tasks to provide a successful season for everyone.​

 

Behavioral Standards:

• We maintain a professional, family-friendly appearance and environment. This includes adhering to strict policies against alcohol, illicit drugs, and tobacco, as well as maintaining clean grooming standards.

• We do not allow our guides to drink alcohol on our trips or on our properties. 

 

Requirements:

• CPR and Wilderness First Aid certification preferred (we can work with you on this).

• Minimum age of 18 years, 21 preferred.

• Physically fit for rowing heavy boats and lifting objects.

• Alignment with our values of respect, integrity, and family-friendly conduct.

 

Two Guide Programs

 

Adventure Idaho operates two separate guide teams.

 

Salmon River Team (Riggins)

 

Our primary guide team operates out of Riggins and runs:

 

• Lower Salmon River

• Main Salmon River

• Salmon River High Adventure Base

• Middle Fork of the Salmon (Mountain West Council Scout program)

 

These trips include day trips, 3-day youth adventures, and 4–5 day wilderness expeditions.

 

Guides on the Salmon River team live and work in Riggins, Idaho during the season.

 

Housing and most meals are provided for this team.

 

Snake River Team (Hagerman / Magic Valley)

 

Adventure Idaho also operates day trips on the Snake River near Hagerman and Twin Falls.

 

These trips run on:

 

• Hagerman Reach

• Murtaugh Canyon

 

These positions are ideal for guides based in the Magic Valley region.

 

This team primarily runs scenic and whitewater day trips.

 

Important:

Housing and meals are not provided for Snake River guide positions.

Compensation and Benefits

Base pay + tips.

 

Opportunities for bonuses and promotions, even within the first summer.

 

Salmon River Team (Riggins)

 

• Housing provided

• Team breakfast and dinner provided daily at our Riggins base

• Meals provided on multi-day river trips

• Comprehensive training program sponsored by Adventure Idaho ($1,000+ value)

 

Snake River Team (Hagerman / Magic Valley)

 

• Base pay + tips

• Flexible full-time and part-time scheduling

• Ideal for guides already living in the Magic Valley

 

Note: Housing and meals are not included for Snake River positions.

 

Work Environment:

• Immerse yourself in a vibrant and wholesome work culture surrounded by driven, like-minded adventurers.

• Spend countless nights under the stars in some of the most breathtaking locations.

• Join a dynamic and rapidly growing team in Riggins, Idaho, with 31 guides in 2024.

• Our commitment to a sober, clean environment fuels an incredibly high-energy, action-packed summer filled with endless activities and opportunities to bond.

• Expect a fun, fast-paced season alongside mostly college-aged co-workers, where the energy never dips, and the adventures never stop.

• Enjoy easy access to sandy beaches, thrilling rapids, river surfing, hiking, and the stunning Seven Devils Mountains just 45 minutes away.

 

Training and Development:​

• We offer comprehensive training for all new employees, setting us apart from many companies that charge for training. Our approach is inclusive, not competitive — we don't bring in more candidates than we plan to hire. However, it's important to understand that this training period is also an audition. While it's rare, we reserve the right to rescind our offer of employment if a candidate doesn’t meet our standards during training. This ensures that our team is composed of only the best, most dedicated individuals.

• Training is mandatory for all new guides. It includes whitewater safety, rescue, skill-building, customer service, emergency response, and wilderness first aid. In recent years, we significantly raised the bar well above industry standards. 

• Opportunities to experience diverse river trips. Our Salmon River team rotates between various multi-days and day trips.

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Diversity and Inclusivity:

• Adventure Idaho is an equal opportunity employer. 

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Additional Requirements and Expenses:​

While Adventure Idaho provides comprehensive training and support, there are a few things our guides need to prepare on their own to ensure they are fully equipped for the job.

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• Personal Gear: Our guides are required to procure their own personal gear, which includes items like a PFD, river knife, whistle, suitable outdoor clothing, sleeping bag and any personal items you'll need for days on the river. We'll provide a detailed "what to bring" list to all hired guides to help you prepare.

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• Travel to Location: Candidates should be prepared to cover their travel expenses to and from their work location. 

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• Training Expenses: While we fully sponsor the comprehensive training program, there may be minor expenses associated with obtaining necessary certifications such as CPR and Wilderness First Aid, if you don’t already have them.

 

Seasonal Commitment:

• Position runs from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Some flexibility for school and other schedules.

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• Time Off Policy: We expect our guides to be fully committed for the summer. Brief periods of time off can be accommodated with a minimum of one month's notice. This helps us manage scheduling and maintain the quality of our trips.​​