Expeditions Guide

Expeditions Guide

Position type: Full time, salaried, seasonal

Season: June 11--August 27, 2023

Location: Silver Falls State Park, Oregon with travel to many Oregon Wilderness Areas

Compensation: $3,300 average monthly salary (about $150/day); 3 days PTO

Perks: Meals provided while working/Basic housing on site/Staff housing in greater Portland/Salem area for subsidized rate (optional)

Program: Opal Creek Expeditions

Work schedule: Sundays-Fridays (including overnight): 2 weeks on, 1 week off (always Saturdays off)

In the beautiful Oregon summer, you lead educational, fun, and safe backpacking trips via our Opal Creek Expeditions program. Small groups of youth ages 10-17 traverse miles of backcountry trail, summit ridgelines and peaks, and visit subalpine lakes and streams, all with you and one other guide as their leaders.

During your many weeks leading trips in various wildernesses, you’ll strengthen your backcountry skills such as navigating, tying knots, cooking, and living by Leave No Trace practices. As you teach the ins and outs of backpacking you’ll see each child’s confidence grow—in their skills and in themselves.

Connection between youth is more important than ever, and your role is integral to facilitating that connection. You will draw on your previous experiences with youth to create a fun, positive outdoor space where kids can just be kids.

Qualifications, Skills, and Experience

A successful candidate will possess these minimum qualifications. We are less interested in the titles you’ve held and more interested in what you’ve actually done and who you are.

●  1+ seasons backcountry guiding experience

●  1+ seasons working with youth

●  Backpacking experience, personal/professional

●  Group leadership and management skills

●  Navigation and backcountry cooking skills

●  Previous experience with equity, inclusion, and cultural relevance, and integrating into youth programming

●  Previous backcountry medical experience

●  COVID-19 vaccine (by time of employment)

●  Able to lead groups on hikes up to 10 miles with heavy packs

●  Able to pass a criminal background check

●  Valid driver’s license

How to Apply & Timeline

Please submit an application by visiting the employment page of our website. The application includes a series of questions, and asks you to upload a detailed resume in PDF format. Be sure to include any relevant experience and certifications, both professional and personal experience.

Priority will be given to applications received by February 24, 2023. There are two rounds of interviews for this position in total. We anticipate hiring five guides, and the start date is June 11, 2023.

Please contact hiring@opalcreek.org with any questions and to request any accommodations needed during this hiring process. We’ll do our best to respond to all queries and to keep all applicants up to date on how the process unfolds.