Whitewater Guides

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. Our complete staff is trained in CPR and First Aid with additional guides trained in Wilderness First Aid and Swiftwater Rescue. The company provides WFA and Swiftwater training for full-time Summer hires and hosts these out of our office and on the stretches of river we run. Why Work for Wyoming River Trips? Wyoming River Trips prides itself in hiring all types of individuals that specialize in safety and enjoyment. 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 launchpoint 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

We are hiring two positions:

Raft Guide General and Experienced Raft Guides. Please use this application for both and tell us which you are applying for.

Job Description

Raft guide on the Main Fork of the Shoshone River will be facilitating a unique experience for locals and visiting guests alike. Cody has a lot more to offer than gunshows and rodeo (though we love those things too). We want our guides to facilitate a river adventure and experience of the natural world that our guests will remember.

Guide will be expected to be available to work 5  days a week from May 1st – mid September. If you have availability in April or October, please let us know when you apply. Guide may end up taking trips down in inflatable kayaks at times. If you are able to paddle a kayak and maneuver your boat while coaching others, let us know. In the month of July, guide may be asked to work more than 5 days a week as this is the busiest month of our operating season. On occasion guide may be asked to cover a few office hours. Rate of pay will be $15/ hour.

Pay

-DOE: Starts at $30/short trip + tips and $40/long trip + tips. Guides generally work 1-3 trips per day June-August.

-North Fork Guides start at a higher rate. All new hires will have the opportunity to work into North Fork Guiding.

How to apply to this job:

Send resume and cover letter to [email protected]

Special Benefits

• Those hired who commit to a full Summer of work get their WFA and Swiftwater rescue paid for by the company (we host this for our full -time hires)
• All new hires will have the opportunity to work into North Fork Guiding.
• On-premises camping or vanlife options. Rent can be a challenge in Cody. We let our guides camp in the back lot and are actively working on developing more dedicated guide space in the lot. Right now the office has a bathroom and a shower that camping guides can use.

Minimum Requirements

New guides up to 1 season of experience:

Required Experience

• 0-1 season boating/ rafting experience
• Experience traveling in and managing risk in back country/ remote environments
• 21 years or older
• Clean driving record (no more than 1 ticket for something minor in last 3 years) and valid driver’s license. 
• Excellent communicator
• Excellent customer service skills
• Ability to work as a team with other guides
• Eager to learn more and develop skills
• Ability to maintain calm demeanor and make sound decisions in the face of uncertainty
• Passion for the natural world and ability to share that knowledge with guests in a meaningful way that adds value to their experience
• Ability to maintain a positive and encouraging attitude
• Willingness to abide by and enforce Covid safety measures as outlined by WRT for the duration of the rafting season and anytime you are on WRT property and on boats or with clients 
• Bonus: forms genuine connections with others quickly

Rescue and First aid certifications

• CPR and Wilderness First Aid or Higher – WRT is providing a training at the end of April
• Swift Water Rescue certification – WRT is providing a training at the end of April

Experienced Guides

Required Experience

• 2-4 years boating/ rafting experience. Ability to paddle multiple types of crafts. 
• Experience traveling in and managing risk in back country/ remote environments
• 21 years or older
• Clean driving record (no more than 1 ticket for something minor in last 3 years) and valid driver’s license. 
• Excellent communicator
• Excellent customer service skills
• Ability to adapt and creatively solve problems
• Ability to use the strengths of a group to achieve goals
• Ability to maintain calm demeanor and make sound decisions in the face of uncertainty
• Ability to work as a team with another guide in another boat
• Natural history knowledge and ability to share that knowledge with guests in a meaningful way that adds value to their experience
• Passion for the natural world, rivers and experiencing the world with others
• Willingness to abide by and enforce Covid safety measures as outlined by WRT for the duration of the rafting season and anytime you are on WRT property and in boats or with clients
• Bonus: forms genuine connections with others quickly
• Bonus: knowledge of haul systems, gear limits and vector forces
• Bonus: Past experience instructing others in a back country or guide setting or in small, individual boats. 

Rescue and First aid certifications

• CPR and Wilderness First Aid or Higher – WRT is providing a training at the end of April
• Swift Water Rescue certification – WRT is providing a training at the end of April

Job Description

The North Fork of the Shoshone River is close to a road but considered remote due to: lack of cell service, challenge of accessing the road by emergency vehicle in the height of Summer, proximity to Yellowstone and the fact that it is on National Forest Land. There are wolves, grizzlies, beavers, elk, deer, moose and more. 

North Fork Guides will be responsible for outfitting clients at the office with WRT gear, making sure lunch is packed and driving to the put-in. North Fork Trips will be self-supported trips. Guides will drive clients to and from the put-in/ take-out, provide lunch and entertain the for the duration of the trip—on and off the river. Guides will be expected to uphold LNT ethics while on the river and get buy-in from reluctant guests. Guides will be expected to take photos of other North Fork Trips when they are not actually guiding on the river. Either a) there will be a driver who takes photos or b) one guide will be on the river and the other will act as driver, photographer and emergency contact. 

Guide will be expected to be available and work 3-4 days a week from May 25th – September. Guide may end up taking trips down in inflatable kayaks when the water is lower if this is appropriate for the guides skill level and experience. In the month of July, guide may be asked to work more as this is the busiest month of our operating season. On occasion guide may be asked to cover a few office hours. Rate of pay will be $15/ hour.