Expeditions Guide

Position type: Seasonal

Season: June 16th--August 27th, 2025

Location: Salem, Oregon homebase with backcountry guiding in 6 Oregon Wilderness Areas

Compensation: $160/day; 3 days PTO

Perks: Meals provided for trainings and when in the field; Staff housing in the Salem area (optional); Required certifications sponsored (WFA, lifeguard) & access to industry pro-deals 

Program: Opal Creek Expeditions

Work schedule: 8-day training mid-June; Backpacking trips are 7-Days (Tuesday-Monday) and 4-Days (Tuesday-Friday) during the summer and are overnight trips into the backcountry; 3-day post trip debrief and close down in late August
 

The Expeditions Guide Opportunity

During your many weeks leading trips in various wildernesses, you’ll lead using your backcountry skills such as navigating, tying knots, cooking, and practicing stewardship. As you teach the ins and outs of backpacking you’ll see each participant’s confidence grow—in their skills and in themselves.

Connection between the group is as important as backcountry skills and your role as a facilitator is integral to that connection. You will draw on your previous experiences with youth to create a fun and positive outdoor space.

Qualifications, Skills, and Experience

We are less interested in the titles you’ve held and more interested in what you’ve actually done and who you are. A successful candidate will have experience with some combination of the following: 

• 1+ seasons backcountry guiding experience
• 1+ seasons working with youth
• Backpacking experience, personal/professional
• Strong group leadership and management
• Experience with a diversity of communities and cultural backgrounds
• Navigation and backcountry cooking skills
• Backcountry medical experience
• Local ecological knowledge
• Able to lead groups on hikes up to 10 miles with heavy packs
• Able to pass a criminal background chec
• 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.

Positions open until filled, with priority for those that apply before May 5th when we begin reviewing applications. One video interview will be conducted for each candidate in May. We anticipate hiring 1-2 guides to join our guide team, and the start date is June 16th, 2025.

Please contact [email protected] 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.