Coastal Kayak, Inc Hiring for Kayak Guide at Fenwick Island, Delaware Full Time

As a kayak guide with Coastal Kayak, you’ll lead customers through quiet coastal bays, freshwater ponds shaded by towering cypress trees, and salt marshes teeming with wildlife and history. Our tours are as varied as our customers. Multi-generational families, young professionals, retirees – you’ll have the opportunity to ignite a love of and respect for the outdoors in paddlers of all ages and backgrounds! 

Job Description:

Lead groups of two to eighteen people on nature tours lasting approximately 2 hours on the water (3-5 hours with transportation). This is a physically demanding job. Applicants must be able to lift heavy kayaks, walk in sand, swim, and work outdoors in very hot and humid conditions.

Responsibilities include:

• Determining tour routes based on tide, wind, and weather conditions
• Handling emergency situations if they arise
• Being able to control groups of varying abilities and ages
• Pointing out wildlife and educating participants about wildlife habits and ecology
• Knowing the tour routes (this will require some personal time to learn)
• Helping customers get fitted in their kayaks and get into and out of the water
• Loading and unloading kayak trailer
• Cleaning out kayaks and van after tours
• Basic maintenance on PFDs, trailer, etc

Lead Guides must be at least 21 years old AND must have a clean driving record.

We require either ACA or BCU instructor certification or the ACA Trip Leader Assessment, and knowledge of nature and wildlife or the willingness to learn. We offer certification courses if candidate is not yet certified.

Lead guides must also pass a skills test administered by C.K. covering subjects on nature, tour routes, group safety, passenger van driving, trailer backing, loading and tying procedures, emergency situations, etc.

Becoming a lead guide for Coastal Kayak requires a true desire to learn about kayaking, routes, and nature. It will require a commitment of personal time and effort that many times will not be monetarily compensated. We provide the training but becoming a lead guide will take practice and study. Our season is short so the candidate will have a set amount of time to learn the required knowledge and will be tested on it. If the results are not satisfactory the employee will be able to be an assistant tour guide but not a lead guide.

Lead Guides are required to sign a non-compete agreement.

Pay:

Pay depends on experience, certifications etc. We pay per tour but starting pay for first-time guides averages $14/hour + tips once training is completed.

For seasonal full time kayak guides available May 1st through September 25th who can commit to 10 tours per week (10 tours/week = 2 tours/day, 5 days/week) or equivalent hours, we pay $600/week plus housing.