Raft Guide, Possible Packrafting Opportunities

Wyoming River Trips prides itself on providing professional outdoor guiding services with a personal touch. All of our guides do an excellent job of combining their river experiences with experience they bring from all other river and outdoor jobs as well as personal passion. All staff are CPR and First Aid certified with guides trained in Wilderness First Aid and Swiftwater Rescue. Training opportunities and staff development funds exist for new and returning guides. Every other year, WRT host Swiftwater and WFA training. Why Work for Wyoming River Trips? Wyoming River Trips prides itself in hiring individuals with a passion for the environment, people, community and culture building and who can share their curiosity and day-to-day enjoyment with others. From College students to teachers; ski instructors to retired couples, we are looking for diverse and highly motivated self-starters to join our team. There is no better way to add experience, knowledge, and fun to your Cody summer experience! WRT is a launch point for new guides and those looking to start an outdoor career AND a place for experienced guides to build leadership skills, coach new guides and impact the next generation of guides and educators. New guides can expect: 

• training and certification paths + financial support in acquiring them.
• competitive pay
• to be part of a creative, collaborative, conservation and sustainability minded community.
• to learn to guide on various stretches of river through canyon and forest environments that will help hone skills and risk management.
• regular coaching and check-ins.
• goal setting and acheivement sessions.

• all of the above.
• to work with management to find a schedule that supports lifestyle and other professional goals.
• advanced guiding opportunities with  our sister company, Wyoming Rivers Cooperative (3-6 day backcountry packrafting expeditions).

Job Overview

Humble Beginnings

Wyoming River Trips was founded in the winter of 1978 by brothers Rick and Ron, previously rodeo cowboys, personally escorting trips that following summer. Since its inception, Wyoming River Trips is the only continually owned and operated rafting company in the Cody area, focusing on providing safe, family whitewater adventures that are accessible and approachable to all.

Culture

We run a class II-III river primarily with an emphasis on positive client experience, connection to the natural and local interpretation.  Additionally, we run a section of the National Forest in the early Summer on a natural flow river. This section of river frequently sees down trees and other debris and requires experienced guides focused on risk management. Besides creating family-focused river trips, in it’s 43 year history, WRT has cultivated a family culture within the business itself. We consistently hire personable, hard-working, capable staff looking to help create a stand-out environment on and off the river. We hold our staff to the highest industry standards, professionalism and attention to detail. WRT is committed to providing more than a fun trip down the river — we are a company that is committed to our clients, staff, and community. We aim to set an example within our community and expect our staff to do the same.

What to Expect

Full-time guide can expect to work 5 days a week starting at 7am. We schedule guides by the trip and all guides are “on call” for the entire day they are scheduled even if it looks like they don’t have trips. Our Summer work environment is very dynamic.

EXP. Joe the River Guide is scheduled for Monday. His only trip as of Monday start is 9am with an arrival time of 8:20am. While Joe is on the river with his clients, 6 people walked into the river float office and asked if they could go on the 1pm trip. Joe is our available guide, so we schedule him on it and let him know when he arrives back from his first trip.

We strive to give our staff as much notice as possible of schedule changes and ask for our guides understanding regarding the constantly changing variables such as visitor schedules, Covid and weather when schedule changes are short notice or more dynamic during the busiest months of the Summer (mid June – mid July)

Full-Time Guides can expect to work 2-3 trips per day at $40-$70/ trip + tips during the busiest part of the season. A full-Time qualified guide can expect that during June and July 2 of their 5 days may be a full day trip paid at $90-$100/trip + tips on National Forest. Additionally, qualified guides will have the opportunity to apprentice and eventually work for our other company, Wyoming Rivers Cooperative (wyorivers.com) guiding multi-day backcountry packrafting courses.

Part -Time Guides can expect to work 3 days a week and receive calls regarding last-minute bookings. They can also expect to work 2-3 trips per day at $40-$70/ trip + tips during the busiest part of the season.

General Schedule and Expectations

Attend Staff Training : Staff Training May 1 – 7

Have or Get Swiftwater and First Aid/ CPR certs: Swiftwater Certification assistance available (we host one every other year, 2021 was our last time hosting)

Special Benefits

Wilderness First Aid and CPR cert/recert assistance available

Bonuses for guides who commit to working the entire season. Season runs May 1 - Oct 1

Potential housing stipend or assistance finding a place to live/camp for the Season We are actively developing staff housing. As it is under construction, we can only offer limited assistance this year.

Qualified guides may have the opportunity to guide at Wyoming Rivers Cooperative (wyorivers.com)

We offer our staff 2 days off a week with 1 day off per week in the high season (late June - July)

Competitive pay

Fun community environment with community-building activities and post work activities.

Minimum Requirements

Some river experience or equivilant outdoor guide/education experience that can transfer to working with people in a river environment.

Willingness to learn

Compassionate, empathetic and able to take ownership for words and actions

Desire to work in a dynamic and fun environment

Loves people and can work with anyone, from any background and with differing beliefs and opinions than your own.

Love of crazy outfits a bonus.