WORK WITH WILDERNESS AWARE
EMPLOYMENT
Join our professional & fun guide team
Every Summer season, our team hires guide staff, office staff, and drivers. If you come with years of experience, that’s great, but we provide all the necessary training for those new to the industry. Learn how to become a whitewater rafting guide. Rafting guide jobs in Colorado are a great way to live and work in the outdoors and form lifelong friendships. Please read through all of the information carefully before applying, and do not hesitate to contact us if you have questions.
We hire quick-learning, detail-oriented, creative, friendly, and hardworking individuals. Our clientele expects the best raft trip in Colorado, and you need to deliver. You should be prepared to be a team player, work to exceed our guests’ expectations, and help maintain the highest quality rafting equipment made. Also, you must be willing to learn to pack and prepare fresh, multiple-course meals. Having twice been named Colorado’s ‘Company of the Year’, as well as being a winner of the BBB’s ‘Excellence in Customer Service’ award, we believe we are running the best river trips in the country. A quality professional guide staff is the key ingredient in providing quality whitewater adventures.
Our Hiring Process
- 1. FILL OUT AN APPLICATION: To start your journey as a river guide, begin by filling out our application form. Remember the role's physical demands, including rescues, swimming in turbulent waters, and navigating challenging rapids. Applicants with prior experience as whitewater guides should also review our Information for Experienced Guides below. Applications are accepted annually from August to February, with processing beginning in November.
- 2. PHONE INTERVIEW: If your application stands out as a good fit for our team, we'll reach out for a phone interview. This brief conversation, lasting 5 to 20 minutes, allows us to discuss your application in more detail. Phone interviews are scheduled between December and February, and you'll need to call us at the designated time.
- 3. INTERVIEW RIVER TRIP: Next, selected candidates will embark on a 5-day interview river trip on the Salt River in Arizona. This immersive experience provides insight into the role's demands and allows us to assess your skills in action. You'll choose from pre-scheduled trip dates, secure your spot with payment, and make your way to Arizona for the adventure.
HOW TO SELECT THE RIGHT TRIP:
- Choose a trip date between March 1st and March 27th. These will be listed on the application.
- Secure your spot with a $400 payment.
Arrange transportation to Arizona. - We provide all necessary rafting equipment and meals during the trip.
- Return transportation to Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport is provided on the last day.
- 4. GUIDE TRAINING COURSE: After the interview trip, successful candidates may receive an invitation to our guide training course in Colorado. This three-week program, starting May 14th, ensures you're fully prepared for the role. The course, valued at approximately $2000, covers rafting techniques, safety protocols, and more. Candidates are responsible for personal gear and must obtain Standard First Aid and CPR Certification.
- 5. WELCOME TO THE TEAM: Upon completing the guide training course, you'll officially join our team as a full-time employee. Explore our job description, pay/benefits, schedule, housing, and drug policy for comprehensive details on your new role.
READY TO APPLY?
Whether you’re looking to guide our customers down river, support the team behind the scenes as part of our office staff, or join on as one of our drivers, be sure to submit your application along with relevant work experience.
EMPLOYMENT FAQ
WHAT KIND OF HOUSING IS IT? All first-year guides are required to live in Wilderness Aware’s employee housing. Wilderness Aware owns an 18-unit mobile home park in Buena Vista, about 3 miles from our office. Guides live in about 6 of the 18 units. Other units are rented year round to local residents.
PRIVACY: Guides are assigned to a trailer with up to four roommates. No more than two people will share a bedroom.
DEPOSIT: Upon your arrival in Buena Vista, Wilderness Aware requires a $200 advance rent payment plus a $100 damage deposit for a total of $300. This must be paid prior to moving in. At the end of the season, any necessary repairs and cleaning costs will be deducted from the $100 damage deposit. Repair costs are rarely incurred but are possible.
COST: Rent is subsidized by Wilderness Aware. Employees pay $1,000 for the entire season. This is not a monthly rate. Utilities are included. Arrive and pay your $200 rent + $100 security deposit, and once you start working you will have an additional $800 taken out of your paychecks to cover the remaining balance of your rent.
DURATION: Your rent covers the duration of your contract or two days after your last day worked whichever is shorter. No rent or damage deposit refund will be given in the event of early termination or if the employee leaves without completing his or her contract.
PETS: Pets are not allowed.
PHONES: We do not provide land-line phones in our trailers. You are required to have a cell phone (note that Sprint and T-Mobile have very limited service in the area, Verizon and AT&T work best).
Wilderness Aware sponsors several training trips for inexperienced guides each year. We encourage experienced guide participation to get to know us and see if we are a good fit for each other. We will offer advice on what works for us and show you policies that keeps our team running smoothly. Our energy is focused on entry level training for inexperienced trainees that will constitute the bulk of the applicants. You will be asked to help head up work crews and guide the harder rapids. Please go to Guide Job Training and Hiring Process to see how and where our interview program operates.
Once you are invited and have paid for the trip, there will be a $20 fee for any cancellations if we are able to find a replacement for the spot you are vacating on the interview trip. If we are not able to find a replacement, there will be no refund issued.
In order to be hired, you must complete the application and attend an interview raft trip in the spring. Also, if you have a summary of your river experience, please e-mail us a copy. Be sure to indicate on your application if it is okay to call your present rafting employer. Please see the job description for more details on the position.
Thanks for considering joining us.
While pay structure can be found for each role on our applications page, here is how our White Water Guide pay is structured.
BASE PAY
- 1st year base pay: $120/day
- 2nd year base pay: $130/day
- 3rd year base pay: $140/day
- 4th year base pay: $150/day
- 5th year base pay: $160/day
- 6th year base pay: $170/day
- 7th year base pay: $180/day
- 8th year base pay: $190/day
- 9th year base pay: $200/day
- 10th year base pay: $210/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
Wilderness Aware guides earn additional pay based on the following:
- $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.
TOBACCO-FREE POLICY
Wilderness Aware is a tobacco free company. Smoking is not permitted on Wilderness Aware property, in any Wilderness Aware vehicle or in the presence of guests. The use of chewing tobacco is also prohibited.
DRUG-FREE WORKPLACE POLICY
Wilderness Aware has adopted a zero-tolerance, drug-free workplace policy. As a condition of employment, every employee agrees to abide by the terms of the policy.
