Share Your Passion for the Outdoors!
Current Openings
Outdoor Adventure Guides
Now hiring for the Winter 2023-2024 season! Winter guides may have the option of continuing onto the Summer 2024 Season.
Now hiring for the Winter 2023-2024 season! Winter guides may have the option of continuing onto the Summer 2024 Season.
Outdoor Adventure Guide | NOW HIRING
Overview
Rare Earth Adventures is a guiding company based out of Troutdale, Oregon. We operate in multiple National Forests and National Parks in Oregon, Washington, and beyond. Our trips are education-focused, with the goal of providing our participants with the skills necessary to safely and successfully embark on their own adventures.
We also work closely with the 501(c)(3) non-profit organization Climb for Hope to guide special fundraising trips. Climb for Hope supports cancer and MS research through mountain climbing.
Our guides are responsible for the safety and well-being of our participants. This includes providing thorough and engaging instruction, managing environmental hazards, cultivating a positive group dynamic, and ensuring all feel welcome on our trips: regardless of background, ability, or identity.
We also work closely with the 501(c)(3) non-profit organization Climb for Hope to guide special fundraising trips. Climb for Hope supports cancer and MS research through mountain climbing.
Our guides are responsible for the safety and well-being of our participants. This includes providing thorough and engaging instruction, managing environmental hazards, cultivating a positive group dynamic, and ensuring all feel welcome on our trips: regardless of background, ability, or identity.
Responsibilities
- Prepare gear and food prior to each trip
- Transport participants to and from trailhead in 12-passenger vans
- Communicate the hazards and inherent risks of the activity
- Manage hazard mitigation in changing conditions
- Safe, hygienic, and tasty food preparation for guests
- Provide first aid and manage emergency response as needed
- Manage the daily schedule and group pace
- Keep participants motivated on the trail
- Provide context through interpretation of the natural environment
- Resolve potential social conflicts on the trail
- Clean, dry, and put away gear after each trip
- Complete post-trip reports
- Instruct participants in various outdoor skills, including but not limited to:
- Backcountry cooking
- Campsite selection and set up
- Pacific Northwest ecology
- Leave No Trace Skills
- The 10 Essentials
- Camp hygiene
- Hydration and nutrition on the trail
- Crampon and ice axe use (for mountaineering)
- Backcountry cooking
Minimum Qualifications
- Must 18+ years of age
- Physical fitness and ability for the activity
- Relevant outdoor experience as per the activity
- Technical mountain or climbing experience needed for mountaineering trips
- Knowledge of the area of travel (hazards, natural and cultural history, geography, etc.)
- Public speaking and customer service experience
- Excellent communication and problem-solving skills
- Basic competence with Google Workspace applications
- Fluency in English
Schedule and Hours
Our Winter season runs from December-March. Summer season runs from June-August, with training in May. Positions are part-time and seasonal.
Summer Adventures Lineup
Backpacking
- Backpacking on the Pacific Crest Trail (4-day)
- Women’s Backpacking on the Pacific Crest Trail (4-day)
- LGBTQ+ Backpacking on the Pacific Crest Trail (4-day)
- Shuttle drivers for backpacking trips
- Mt. St. Helens Summit (1-day)
- Mt. Adams Summit (3-day)
- Mt. Rainier Summit (5-day)
- Grand Canyon Rim to Rim (5-day)
- Pico de Orizaba Summit (7-day)
Winter Adventures Lineup
Snowshoeing
- Moonlight Snowshoe
- Mt. St. Helens Winter Camping (2-day)
- Crater Lake Winter Camping (4-day)
- Backcountry Ski & Splitboard (2-day)
- Alpine Skills (2-day)
Minimum Certifications
- Active *Wilderness First Responder certification (or ability to obtain before start date)
- Active First Aid and CPR certification (or ability to obtain before start date)
- Valid Driver’s License
*Please note, a standard WFR course is a 10 day (80 hour) commitment, and typically costs anywhere from $700 to $850. Many WFR courses include basic CPR and First Aid.
Compensation
Guides are paid per day. This amount changes based on the trip, and whether it is the guide's first or second season with the company.
Clients are encouraged to tip guides directly. This may be in the form of cash or through electronic payment methods like Venmo and PayPal. Tips will be split if working with a co-guide. Tips amounts are at the full discretion of clients.
Clients are encouraged to tip guides directly. This may be in the form of cash or through electronic payment methods like Venmo and PayPal. Tips will be split if working with a co-guide. Tips amounts are at the full discretion of clients.
Benefits
Certification Reimbursement
Rare Earth Adventures will reimburse 50% or $200 (whichever is lower) of the cost of outside training, certification, or continuing education. Guides will only be reimbursed for each training after 5 days of direct guiding work with clients have been completed. This training must be approved in advance, and with a recognized agency.
Employee Discounts
Rare Earth Adventures will reimburse 50% or $200 (whichever is lower) of the cost of outside training, certification, or continuing education. Guides will only be reimbursed for each training after 5 days of direct guiding work with clients have been completed. This training must be approved in advance, and with a recognized agency.
Employee Discounts
- Direct employee discount of 50% off on adventures with us (subject to approval)
- Friends and family discount of 30% off on adventures with us
- Outdoor gear pro deals through Outdoor Prolink
Application Instructions
Send a resume and cover letter to the Co-Operations Managers, Alex Beck at alex@rareearthadventures.com and Colt Peeters at colt@rareearthadventures.com. Be sure to include your active certifications, and the trips you are interested in guiding. Full trip descriptions can be found at www.rareearthadventures.com/adventures.
Please speak to your skill set and experience in the outdoors in your cover letter, especially if you are applying for a mountaineering position. This could include specific distances, elevation gains, and trip durations from your personal or professional adventures, along with a description of your technical know-how.
Please speak to your skill set and experience in the outdoors in your cover letter, especially if you are applying for a mountaineering position. This could include specific distances, elevation gains, and trip durations from your personal or professional adventures, along with a description of your technical know-how.
