Whitewater Raft Guide Job Description & Pay Scale

Good Pay with Housing Available Near Our Headquarters

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Wilderness Aware
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JOB SUMMARY: Serve as whitewater-rafting guides on both paddle and oar rafts. Guides will run primarily ½-day, full-day and multi-day whitewater rafting trips on the Arkansas River and may be rotated onto occasional multi-day trips on some of the other rivers that we run. Guide's primary responsibility is to safely entertain with our guests, seeking to provide the best possible vacation experience. Guides are members of a dynamic high quality company which emphasizes quality, customer service and teamwork.

GUIDE DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

  • Runs ½ and 1-day trips on the Arkansas River. Captains both paddle and oar boats (majority of our business is paddleboats). Performs lead and sweep boat duties as assigned. Majority of trips will be on the Arkansas River.
  • Runs occasional trips on Dolores, Gunnison, North Platte, Upper Colorado and Salt rivers.
  • Shops for and packs all trip food.
  • Cleans guide area, refrigerators, break room and kitchen.
  • Packs equipment, unpacks, cleans, and puts away all trip gear after trip. Stacks and ties down boats.
  • Washes and hangs out trip rental gear and lifejackets.
  • Puts away all dry gear each morning (i.e., wetsuits, booties, ponchos, lifejackets etc.).
  • Expects to be given and completes assigned tasks while waiting for guests to arrive for trips.
  • Fits lifejackets, wetsuits and other rental gear for guests.
  • Informs management of food and equipment resupply needs.
  • Repairs or replaces equipment damaged or lost due to gross negligence that was specific guide's responsibility.
  • Completes and turns in incident and accident reports when necessary immediately following the incident or accident.
  • Sees that post trip meetings address any issues from the day.
  • Completes all camp chores on multi-day trips. Cooks meals, does dishes, leads hikes, rigs boats, etc.
  • Looks for ways to better serve the guest and the company, brings new ideas to management if it involves policy change.
  • Maintains a good sense of humor and cooperative attitude in dealing with co-workers and guests.
  • Communicates well with head trainer, owners, managers and co-workers. Is expected to behave in a professional manner at all times.
  • Learns about natural environment and human history of area and shares knowledge with guests.
  • Treats guests in a manner that makes them feel respected, valued, liked and cared for.
  • Performs other responsibilities as assigned.

TRIP LEADER DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

  • Acts as trainer for new guides - Participates in all training activities.
  • Conducts river orientations and distributes guests into boats.
  • Determines exact equipment needs for trip and selects menus for multi-day trips.
  • Sets meeting time to rig multi-day trips and communicates that to guides at least 24 hr. in advance.
  • Ensures that the trip leader reports are accurate and complete.
  • Coordinates the duties of guides on the trip and initiates post trip meetings. Does not micro-manage.
  • In the event of an accident, takes full charge of scene or delegates that duty if necessary.
  • Makes the final call on minor decisions in the event that a consensus cannot be quickly reached.
  • Brings issues that cannot be quickly resolved to the attention of the Operations Manager.

PERFORMANCE STANDARDS: Evaluated on thoroughness in performing duties, attitude, punctuality, dependability, ability to operate as a team player, initiative, mature judgment, relationships with co-workers, management and guests, flexibility and willingness to learn.

REPORTING RELATIONSHIP: Reports to the Operations Manager.

QUALIFICATIONS: Guides must be at least 18 years old and have current 1st Aid and CPR cards. They also must be willing to live in the Arkansas Valley for the summer and must have a phone with an answering machine. Guides must have a professional attitude and be willing to learn and accept new ideas. Initiative is highly valued. Must be able to work long hours during rush periods and not be subject to burnout and moodiness. Must work well under pressure and be a team player. Guides must purchase an approved PFD, a river knife, three locking carabiners, a whistle, an overnight river bag and a wetsuit or equivalent. When on multi-day duty must be willing to live out of a tent or vehicle for periods of time, and travel at odd hours. Guides must attend our annual rescue clinic and pre-train on every river that they work.

SCHEDULE: Guides are full time with a varying schedule. Efforts will be made to give guides their requested workload and days off however, consecutive days off are not guaranteed. No more than one day off will be guaranteed per week, to be determined 2-7 days in advance. Special occasion days off and special needs must be negotiated prior to signing contract in order to be guaranteed. Guides may be asked to work more if needed. Vacations are discouraged in July and early August.

BASE PAY:

1st year base pay: $55/day (average=$2,800 per season)
2nd year base pay: $60/day (average=$3,200 per season)
3rd year base pay: $70/day (average=$4,000 per season)
4th year base pay: $75/day (average=$4,800 per season)
5th year base pay: $80/day (average=$6,000 per season)
6th year base pay: $85/day (average=$7,000 per season)
7th year base pay: $90/day (average=$8,000 per season)
8th year base pay: $95/day (average=$8,250 per season)
9th year base pay: $100/day (average=$8,500 per season)
10th year base pay: $105/day (average=$8,750 per season)

  • An additional $5 per day bonus will be paid upon successful completion of your contract.
  • Tips cannot be expected however, guides typically average between $800 and $2200 a season in tips.
  • $5.00 /day extra base pay for guides with a CDL w/ P2 and air brake endorsement (bus license).

BENEFITS: Wilderness Aware guides earn additional pay based on the following:

  • $10.00 /day for trip leading.
  • $15.00 /day for trip leading a trip with five or more boats.
  • $10.00 /day for working an overnight trip.
  • $10.00 / day for working a Boy Scout Merit Badge Trip or Overnight Camp Trips.
  • $10.00 /day for working Numbers or Narrows Express trips.
  • $20.00 /day for working a Royal Gorge Full Day.
  • $10.00 /day for rigging any trip except an Arkansas ½, 1 day trip and Inn to Inn trips.
  • $5.00 /day for working a Dolores, Gunnison, North Platte or Upper Colorado trip.
  • $25.00 /day for being requested for a trip.
  • $5.00 /day for running an "eight load" ($2.50 for ½ days).
  • $10.00 /trip for working a ½ day fishing trip.
  • $10.00 /trip for working a ½ day w/ lunch.
  • $20.00 /trip for Royal Gorge and Numbers guide qualification runs.
  • ½ base pay for Gunnison Pack-In.
  • Shop pay is $10/ hour. Equipment damaged during a guide's use must be repaired by the guide without extra pay.
  • Guides are paid $8.00 for being bumped from a ½ day trip and $15.00 for a full day bump.
  • A 10% commission is paid on any new business that employees bring to Wilderness Aware.
  • Friends and family of guides may raft on ½ day trips for $5.00 per person and full day trips for $10.00 per person on a space available basis.
  • Rental gear is available to friends and family of guides at ½ off the retail price.
  • Third year and senior guides may take guests on overnight trips for $25/ day which helps cover trip expenses.
  • With prior approval of management, guides may borrow company boats and equipment for private trips on the Arkansas River.
  • With prior approval of management, Wilderness Aware will pay $125 tuition towards enhanced skills training for second year and senior guides. This money will only be applied to Swiftwater Rescue and advanced First Aid instruction.
  • Guides will receive ½ pay when they are the primary trainers for new guides.
  • These benefits and policies are explained in detail in the Guide Staff Manual.

GUIDE HOUSING: All first year guides are required to live in Wilderness Aware's employee housing for their first year of employment. All other full-time guides must live in Buena Vista in a place with a telephone and answering machine or answering service. Wilderness Aware has arranged subsidized housing at the River Rest Mobile Park for $400/ season, plus your share of electric, gas and phone. There is a $100 damage, utility and rent deposit, which must be paid prior to moving in and will be refunded after a final inspection of your unit. Any necessary housing repairs, cleaning and final utility bills will be deducted from this $100. Your rent covers the duration of your contract or two days after your last day worked whichever is shorter. The $100 deposit will also serve as rent payment in the event of early termination or if the employee leaves without completing his or her contract.

EMPLOYEE AVAILABILITY: Mid May through Labor Day. Colorado students must be available for work until at least until 4 days before classes start. Out of state students must work until 6 days before classes. Non-students must be available through Labor Day. It is your responsibility to notify management of any requests to change your availability for the season as soon as they occur. Guides not returning to school must remain available to work through Labor Day. Any start or finish dates, which differ from those above, must be approved and initialed by management on the job summary. You will not be hired if start and finish dates do not meet Wilderness Aware's needs. You are also required to provide Wilderness Aware with an updated river journal at the end of each season before your final paycheck is issued and your season is considered complete. Important! By signing an agreement when hired, 1st year guides acknowledge that they are making a two-season commitment to Wilderness Aware Rafting.

END OF SEASON BONUS: Guides meeting the availability requirements listed above and successfully completing their contracts will receive a bonus of $5.00 for each full day worked during the season. Guides dismissed from employment for any reason or guides not available to work through the final day of their employment agreement will not be eligible for this bonus.

DRUG-FREE WORKPLACE POLICY: Wilderness Aware is a drug free workplace. As a condition of employment, every employee agrees to abide by the terms of the policy as set out in the Guide Staff Manual. Guides will participate in pre-employment screening and will also participate in a random drug-testing program throughout the season. Failure to comply with the terms of this policy will result in disciplinary action, which may include the employee's discharge from employment. Only those employees 21 years old and older will be allowed to consume alcohol on Wilderness Aware property or on Wilderness Aware trips.

TOBACCO-FREE POLICY: Wilderness Aware is a tobacco free company. Smoking and chewing tobacco is not permitted on Wilderness Aware property or in any Wilderness Aware vehicle. Guides are not permitted to smoke or chew tobacco on any WA trip. This includes all overnight trips. Any employee found in violation of this policy will be subject to appropriate disciplinary action, up to and including dismissal.

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