Extended Trip Outdoor Leader

Job Overview

OVERVIEW:

At Wilderness Inquiry, we believe that everyone belongs. We work to ensure this belief holds true in our workplace, in our community, and in the outdoors. We pursue this belief through our mission and shared values of paddling together, seeking the exceptional, and finding a way.

Outdoor Leaders create the magic at WI, creating life changing outdoor experiences for adults, youth, and families of all backgrounds and abilities. Our extended trip team of Outdoor Leaders predominantly lead trips in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area, Voyageurs National Park, Superior Hiking Trail, and the St. Croix and Namekagon rivers in Wisconsin. These destinations are almost all located in a backcountry setting and require significant outdoor expertise to ensure safety and quality of programming. Most extended trips are 3-12 days in duration

We recognize that as an industry, there is much to do to increase representation in our field to reflect the communities we aim to serve. We also know that diversity of identities, experiences and ways of thinking result in better solutions for our communities. For this reason, we especially encourage applicants from communities who experience systemic barriers – including people of color, women, LGBTQIA+ and people with disabilities – to apply for this position.

SCHEDULE:

• May 25th – June 3rd, 2022: Required Training (see schedule in TRAINING section below)
• June – September: Main programming season consisting of extended overnight trips with optional local Canoemobile day programming.
• September – October: Opportunities to continue with local Canoemobile day programs as well as transition to regional and national Canoemobile tours.

CORE RESPONSIBILITIES:

The primary responsibility of Outdoor Leaders is to serve participants and ensure the safety, quality and cost-effectiveness of Wilderness Inquiry experiences. Outdoor Leaders are responsible for the lives and well being of participants throughout an adventure. Life as an Outdoor Leader can be fun, exciting, and incredibly rewarding, but it is also a tremendous amount of responsibility and can involve hard and challenging work.

Group Facilitation 

• Provide excellent leadership for groups of people from all backgrounds.
• Use effective judgment and decision making regarding group safety and trip implementation.
• Uphold Wilderness Inquiry’s Trail Community Agreements

On-Trail Technical Skills & Safety

• Assess participant ability and expectations to safely and effectively meet their needs while providing a fun and rewarding experience.
• Provide emergency first aid and conduct and/or assist in back-country medical issues including evacuations.
• Care for and use of outdoor and camping equipment while in the backcountry.
• Proficiently perform and teach activities/skills conducted on Wilderness Inquiry trips including navigating routes in the front and backcountry, cooking, canoeing, hiking, camping, etc.
• Safely drive a 15-passenger van pulling a loaded trailer in all weather and road conditions (contingent upon driver eligibility).

Pre-Trip Prep & Post-Trip Paperwork 

• Lead and/or actively participate in event specific pre-trip meetings and post-trip debriefings with your team.
• Collaborate and coordinate with operations staff to pack-in and pack-out gear and food accordingly.
• Complete post-trip paperwork including evaluations, incident reports, and trip summaries.

CERTIFICATIONS:

Required Certifications (or ability to obtain- Wilderness Inquiry frequently sponsors courses before seasonal training):

• Basic First Aid & CPR Certification (Wilderness First Aid (WFA), Wilderness First Responder (WFR), or higher preferred)
• Wilderness Water Safety or Lifeguard/Professional Rescuer

Preferred Certifications: 

• *Current Driver’s License and a safe driving record dating back at least five years

*Driver’s license status will not impact eligibility for hire, but may impact eligibility to work specific trips

For information on how to obtain certifications visit click this link.

TRAINING: Required and hosted by Wilderness Inquiry

• May 25th – 27th, 2022: All-staff Wilderness Inquiry overview training
• May 31st – June 3rd, 2022: All-staff Wilderness Inquiry field training

Qualified applicants will also be asked to participate in Voyageur Canoe Stern Training & Assessment and Driver Training, if applicable, scheduled at various times before and after the All-staff trainings. All new Outdoor Leader hires are contingent upon successful completion of required training.

COMPENSATION:

Outdoor Leaders are classified according to skill and experience and compensated on a per event basis starting at $14/hr for single day programming and $112/day for extended programming. Further details on compensation are available upon request. Opportunities for advancement available upon demonstrated performance with Wilderness Inquiry. Local staff housing and professional service stipends available.

All Outdoor Leaders regardless of experience are compensated at $14/hr and/or $112/day for training.

Minimum Requirements

• The ability to plan, implement and follow through with responsibilities is essential.
• Must have an aptitude for wilderness leadership, excellent people skills, the ability to oversee projects independently and as part of a team, and strong communication skills.
• Must be interested in leading extended wilderness trips for people of all identities and  abilities, including people with disabilities.
• Must be willing to keep flexible hours.
• Must pass a background check.
• Complete COVID-19 vaccines are mandated for all staff and interns
• The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
  • While performing the duties of this position, the employee is frequently required to sit; talk or hear; and use hands to handle, or touch objects or controls.
  • The employee is regularly required to stand and walk.
  • On a regular occasion the employee may be required to stoop, bend or reach above the shoulders.
  • Must be able to lift and carry heavy loads up to 50lbs over rough terrain for distances of up to 1,000 feet.
  • To meet the demands of the job, the employee must be able to make loud verbal commands, sit and stand for significant periods of time while also directing vessels such as a canoe, use vision to directionally navigate safely, and endure a wide variety of temperatures and elements.
  • Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.