Employment | Adventure Idaho

Adventure Idaho River Guide Application

Seeking Adventurers to Guide on the Legendary River of No Return: Master the Rapids, Explore Vast Wilderness, Sleep Under the Stars, Laugh Like Never Before, Enrich Lives, and Embark on the Most Thrilling Summer of Your Life!

At Adventure Idaho, we create high energy, fun, wholesome river experiences for youth groups, families, and everyone else! We operate a range of trips, including day rafting trips, 3-day youth group adventures, and 4 to 5-day expeditions on the Middle Fork, Main, and Lower Salmon River.

What We Are Looking For:

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 and Grooming 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. (Other positions available for 16-17 year olds).
Physically fit for rowing heavy boats and lifting objects.
Alignment with our values of respect, integrity, and family-friendly conduct.

Compensation and Benefits:

Base pay + tips!
Opportunities for bonuses and promotions, even within the first summer.
Housing provided.
Comprehensive training program, fully sponsored by Adventure Idaho. $1,000+ value!
Meals provided on the river and a few meals a week on base.
An Idaho Guide License offers extensive discounts and pro deals.

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.
Opportunities to experience diverse trips, including 3-day youth adventures and 4 to 5-day expeditions on the Salmon River.

Diversity and Inclusivity:

Adventure Idaho is an equal opportunity employer.

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.

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.

Travel to Location: Candidates should be prepared to cover their travel expenses to and from Riggins, Idaho. Once you're here, we take care of your housing and most meals during river trips.

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 early June to mid August, with opportunities for earlier trips and extending into September.

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.

How to Apply:

Fill out the application form today!

Interviews are set to begin in January, and we're eager to meet the new members of our team. For more details, reach out to us.