Serve as whitewater-rafting guides on both paddle and oar rafts. Guides will run primarily ½-day, full-day, and multi-day whitewater rafting trips on the Arkansas River and may be rotated onto occasional multi-day trips on some of the other rivers that we run. Guide’s primary responsibility is to safely entertain our guests, seeking to provide the best possible vacation experience. Guides are members of a dynamic high-quality company that emphasizes quality, customer service, and teamwork.

LEARN MORE! We highly recommend you watch this video before applying/attending an interview trip to learn more about how rivers work.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Be at least 18 years old.
• Have current 1st Aid and CPR cards.
• Be physically fit.
• Be available to work a minimum of two summer seasons.
• Attend our annual training clinic and pre-train on every river.
• Live in Buena Vista, CO for the summer.
• Have a cell phone (note that as of 2019 Sprint and T-Mobile have very limited service in the area, Verizon and AT&T work the best).
• Have a professional attitude.
• Work long hours and not be subject to burnout and moodiness.
• Work well under pressure.
• Be a team player.
• Purchase an approved PFD, a river knife, three locking carabiners, a whistle, an overnight river bag, and a wetsuit or equivalent.
• Be willing to live out of a tent or vehicle for periods of time, and travel at odd hours.

GUIDE DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Runs ¼ to 1-day trips on the Arkansas River. Captains both paddle and oar boats (the majority of our business is paddleboats). Performs lead and sweep boat duties as assigned. The majority of trips will be on the Arkansas River.
• Runs occasional trips on Dolores, Gunnison, North Platte, and Upper Colorado rivers.
  Performs occasional safety boat responsibilities.
• Shops for and packs all trip food.
• Cleans guide area, refrigerators, break room, and kitchen.
• Packs equipment, unpacks, cleans, and puts away all trip gear after trip. Stacks and ties down boats.
• Washes and hangs out trip rental gear and lifejackets.
• Puts away all dry gear each morning (i.e., wetsuits, booties, ponchos, lifejackets, etc.).
• Expects to be given and completes assigned tasks while waiting for guests to arrive for trips.
  Fits lifejackets, wetsuits, and other rental gear for guests.
• Informs management of food and equipment resupply needs.
• Repairs or replaces equipment damaged or lost due to gross negligence that was the specific guide’s responsibility.
• Completes and turns in incident and accident reports when necessary immediately following the incident or accident.
• Sees that post-trip meetings address any issues from the day.
• Completes all camp chores on multi-day trips. Cooks meals, does dishes, leads hikes, rigs boats, etc.
• Looks for ways to better serve guests and the company, brings new ideas to management if it involves policy change.
• Maintains a good sense of humor and cooperative attitude in dealing with co-workers and guests.
• Communicates well with head trainer, owners, managers, and co-workers. Is expected to behave in a professional manner at all times.
• Learns about the natural environment and human history of the area and shares knowledge with guests.
• Treats guests in a manner that makes them feel respected, valued, liked, and cared for.
• Performs other responsibilities as assigned.

TRIP LEADER DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Acts as a trainer for new guides – Participates in all training activities.
• Conducts river orientations and distributes guests into boats.
• Determines exact equipment needs for trips and selects menus for multi-day trips.
• Sets meeting time to rig multi-day trips and communicates that to guides at least 24 hrs in advance.
• Ensures that the trip leader reports are accurate and complete.
• Coordinates the duties of guides on the trip and initiates post-trip meetings. Does not micro-manage.
• In the event of an accident, takes full charge of the scene or delegates that duty if necessary.
• Makes the final call on minor decisions if a consensus cannot be quickly reached.
• Brings issues that cannot be quickly resolved to the attention of the Operations Manager.

PERFORMANCE STANDARDS: Reports to the Operations Manager. Evaluated on thoroughness in performing duties, attitude, punctuality, dependability, ability to operate as a team player, initiative, mature judgment, relationships with co-workers, management, and guests, flexibility, and willingness to learn.

BASE PAY:

• 1st year base pay: $120/day
• 2nd year base pay: $125/day
• 3rd year base pay: $130/day
• 4th year base pay: $135/day
• 5th year base pay: $140/day
• 6th year base pay: $145/day
• 7th year base pay: $150/day
• 8th year base pay: $155/day
• 9th year base pay: $160/day
• 10th year base pay: $165/day

TIPS: Tips cannot be expected, however, new guides typically average between $800 and $2200 in tips per season. More experienced guides can make over $4,000 per season.

SPENDING MONEY: It is important to repeat that you do not get paid during your three week training course. You will need to arrive in Buena Vista with enough money to cover your rent deposit ($300), personal river gear (cost based on preference), and other outstanding expenses you may have (insurance, car payments, bills, etc.). We suggest arriving with $800-$1000. Managing your money well is a skill that will come in very handy in the early weeks as a river guide.

END OF SEASON BONUS: Guides that exceed expectations during their seasonal employment are eligible for an end-of-season bonus equivalent to a minimum of $5.00 for each full day worked during the season. This includes meeting the availability requirements listed above and successfully completing their contracts.

END OF SEASON REQUIREMENTS: Must stay until the last day of contract or petition for early release at end of season lottery. Guides dismissed from employment for any reason or guides unable to work through the final day of their employment agreement will not be eligible for this bonus. Must not take unauthorized days of during the summer (ie. vacations without pre-approval and no more than two days off in a row in July). Must complete end of season meeting, paperwork and updated river log prior to Labor Day.

ADDITIONAL BENEFITS: 

• $10.00 /day for trip leading.
• $15.00 /day for trip leading a trip with five or more boats.
• $35.00 /day for working an overnight trip.
  $10.00 /day for working Numbers.
• $20.00 /day for working a Royal Gorge Full Day.
• $10.00 /day for rigging any trip except an Arkansas ½, 1 day trip and Inn to Inn trips.
• $10.00 /day for working a Dolores, Gunnison, North Platte or Upper Colorado trip.
• $15.00 /day for being requested for a trip ($7.50 for ½ days).
• $10.00 /day for running an “eight load” ($5.00 for ½ days).
• $10.00 /trip for working a ½ day w/ lunch.
• $20.00 /trip for Royal Gorge and Numbers guide qualification runs.
• $10.00 /day for advanced medical certification of Wilderness First Responder or higher.
  ½ base pay for Gunnison Pack-In.
• Full base pay for Safety boating
• Shop pay is $15/ hour.
• Guides are paid $15.00 for being bumped from a ¼ or ½ day trip and $20.00 for a full day bump.
• Friends and family of guides may raft on ½ day trips for $10.00 per person and full day trips for $15.00 per person on a space available basis.
• Rental gear is available to friends and family of guides at ½ off the retail price.
• Third year and senior guides may take guests on overnight trips for $35/ day which helps cover trip expenses.
• With prior approval of management, guides may borrow company boats and equipment for private Arkansas River trips. Any damage to borrowed equipment must be repaired at the cost of the person or persons that borrowed the equipment.
• With prior approval of management, Wilderness Aware will pay $150 tuition per year towards enhanced skills training for second year and senior guides. This money will only be applied to Swiftwater Rescue and advanced First Aid instruction.
• Any trip cut short (as determined by management) in terms of time or distance will result in a deduction to base pay by a minimum of 1/2 day and a loss of any other additional pay such as overnight pay.
• These benefits and policies are explained in detail in the Guide Staff Manual.