Do you love wildlife, the outdoors, and thrive in a dynamic work environment? Spend your summer kayaking, hiking and exploring with San Juan Island Outfitters. Our Expedition Guides provide industry leading full and half-day kayak tours, overnight kayak & camp trips, hiking trips, and biking adventures in stunning landscapes across Washington State. Expedition guides are expected to lead professional, informative tours in a variety of environments in potentially challenging conditions. Guides are involved in all expedition logistics including route planning, food preparation and equipment management in addition to educating guests about local flora/fauna, geology, and natural history. Guides must be outgoing, with excellent communication skills, solid decision-making skills, sound risk management decisions, the ability to thrive in group environments and exhibit a positive attitude.

Major Duties

• Lead informative and fun backpacking, hiking, biking, and kayak tours

• Plan expedition routes based on group expectations, tides, trail and road conditions and weather

• Effectively manage groups while in the field, assessing guest safety and wellbeing

• Plan expedition routes based on group expectations, tides, trail and road conditions and weather

• Follow Leave No Trace Principles

• Communicate directly with guests about trip goals and expectations, safety issues, weather, equipment usage, and the natural environment

• Prepare food for guests in a backcountry setting

• Prepare food, equipment, and vehicles prior to expedition departures. Clean all equipment and vehicles at the end of each trip

Qualifications

• CPR/AED and First Aid or higher

• Washington State Food Handler’s Card (available online)

• Must be on San Juan Island by early May and attend paid trainings

• Working cell phone with international plan

Preferred Skills

• Wilderness First Aid and CPR/AED or higher

• Education background: outdoor education, environmental education, recreation, biology, natural resource management, earth sciences or related field

• The confidence/ability to teach one or more of our activities (kayaking, backpacking, natural history, biking, camping)

• Catering/restaurant/kitchen experience

• Experience driving fifteen passenger vans and/or trailers

• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively to guests and co-workers

• Good physical fitness: ability to lift 50lbs comfortably and walk on uneven terrain

• Leadership experience

Benefits & Compensation

• Compensation - Wages starting at $18 per hour plus tips

• San Juan Island - San Juan Island is one of the few places in the world where you can see killer whales on a regular basis. Enjoy living in on an island where you get the chance to view orcas from shore and join whale watch tours and kayak tours. The islands are beautiful and lend themselves to biking, hiking, birding, boating and kayaking. There is also easy access to mainland Washington and Canada. Enjoy a summer exploring the islands and all the PNW has to offer.

• Learning Opportunities - Employees have the opportunity to cross train and learn new skills. Training for your selected position is robust and continual throughout the season. Staff are encouraged to increase their level of professional training outside of work and our professional community supports continued learning.

• Pro Deals - Employees can apply for discounts on industry gear from top outdoor brands.

• Family & Friends Policy - Family and friends of employees can join whale watching tours at a discounted rate or for free depending on the tour and space availability.

• Equipment Use & Tour Participation - Employees have the opportunity to join any day tour for free on a space available basis throughout the duration of their employment. Employees are also able to use equipment on their own such as SUPs, sit-on-top kayaks, and sea kayaks with the necessary training.

Housing

Staff are required to live on San Juan Island during the tenure of their employment. SJS/SJO will assist seasonal employees in finding summer housing by either renting a room to the employee in the company’s employee housing complexes or assisting in the process of finding a seasonal rental. SJS/SJO is dedicated to ensuring each seasonal staff member has a quality living situation during the duration of their employment.

Company Mission & Overview

San Juan Island Outfitters is a family owned and operated company based in Friday Harbor, Washington on beautiful San Juan Island. We specialize in guided sea kayaking expeditions, multi-day bicycling and multi-sport trips, wilderness backpacking trips, and guided hiking and camping tours. On all tours, an emphasis is always placed on safety, guest service, and respecting the environment.

Our sister company, San Juan Safaris is a whale watch and wildlife tour company based in Friday Harbor, San Juan Island, WA. Founded in 1996, San Juan Safaris provides tours focusing on respectful wildlife viewing, education, and conservation efforts. San Juan Safaris offers whale watch and wildlife tours by motorized vessel February through November. On all tours and trips, our goal is to provide a personal, inspiring and educational experience to each of our guests to foster a sense of connection with our unique Pacific Northwest ecosystems. Our hope is that our guests will return home with lifelong memories and a new appreciation for the environment.

San Juan Safaris and San Juan Outfitters are equal opportunity employers. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, veteran or disability status, or genetic information.