Wilderness Inquiry Hiring for Outdoor Leader at Minneapolis, Minnesota Full Time

OVERVIEW:

At Wilderness Inquiry, we believe that everyone belongs. We work to ensure this belief holds true in our workplace, in our community, and in the outdoors. We pursue this belief through our mission and shared values of paddling together, seeking the exceptional and finding a way. 

Outdoor Leaders create the magic at WI, creating life-changing outdoor experiences for adults, youth, and families of all backgrounds and abilities. Our extended trip team of Outdoor Leaders predominantly lead trips in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area, Voyageurs National Park, Superior Hiking Trail, and the St. Croix and Namekagon rivers in Wisconsin. These destinations are almost all located in a backcountry setting and require significant outdoor expertise to ensure safety and quality of programming. Most extended trips are 3-12 days in duration

We recognize that as an industry, there is much to do to increase representation in our field to reflect the communities we aim to serve. We also know that diversity of identities, experiences and ways of thinking to result in better solutions for our communities. For this reason, we especially encourage applicants from communities who experience systemic barriers – including people of color, women, LGBTQIA+, and people with disabilities – to apply for this position.

SEASONAL OUTDOOR LEADER POSITIONS AVAILABLE IN 2022:

Little Sand Bay Sea Kayak Outdoor Leader: Our Apostle Islands kayaking staff lead 3-5 day, front and/or backcountry kayaking and hiking adventures out of our Little Sand Bay Base Camp near Bayfield, Wisconsin for adults, youth, families, and mixed groups of individuals, including individuals with disabilities. 

Extended Trip Outdoor Leader: Our extended trip team of Outdoor Leaders predominantly lead 3-5 day front and backcountry trips locally, regionally, and nationally, for adults, youth, families, and mixed groups of individuals, including individuals with disabilities. 

Canoemobile Outdoor Leader: Canoemobile experiences include mostly day trips for youth within the Twin Cities Metro Area, but may also include extended camping trips 2-12 days in duration, as well as extended national tours 2-8 weeks in length. Activities on these trips range from canoeing, hiking, environmental education facilitation, and leadership and team-building activities (Currently hiring for Spring Tour starting March, 2022).

To apply for and review full job descriptions for each individual position please click here: https://www.wildernessinquiry.org/about-wilderness-inquiry_old/employment-volunteers/employment-opportunities/

CORE RESPONSIBILITIES:

The primary responsibility of Outdoor Leaders is to serve participants and ensure the safety, quality and cost-effectiveness of WI experiences. Outdoor Leaders are responsible for the lives and well-being of WI participants throughout a WI adventure. Life as a WI Outdoor Leader can be fun, exciting, and incredibly rewarding, but it is also a tremendous amount of responsibility and it can involve a lot of hard and challenging work.

Group Facilitation 

• Provide excellent leadership for groups of people from all backgrounds.

• Use effective judgment and decision-making regarding group safety and trip implementation.

• Uphold Wilderness Inquiry’s Trail Community Agreements

On-Trail Technical Skills & Safety

• Assess participant ability and expectations to safely and effectively meet their needs while providing a fun and rewarding experience. 

• Provide emergency first aid and conduct and/or assist in back-country medical issues including evacuations.

• Care for and use of outdoor and camping equipment while in the backcountry.

• Proficiently perform and teach activities/skills conducted on Wilderness Inquiry trips including navigating routes in the front and backcountry, cooking, canoeing, hiking, camping, etc.

• Safely drive a 15-passenger van pulling a loaded trailer in all weather and road conditions (contingent upon driver eligibility).

Pre-Trip Prep & Post-Trip Paperwork 

• Lead and/or actively participate in event-specific pre-trip meetings and post-trip debriefings with your team.

• Collaborate and coordinate with operations staff to pack in and pack-out gear and food accordingly.

• Complete post-trip paperwork including evaluations, incident reports, and trip summaries.

CERTIFICATIONS:

Required Certifications (or ability to obtain- Wilderness Inquiry frequently sponsors courses before seasonal training):

• Basic First Aid & CPR Certification (Wilderness First Aid (WFA), Wilderness First Responder (WFR), or higher preferred)

• Wilderness Water Safety or Lifeguard/Professional Rescuer

Preferred Certifications: 

• *Current Driver’s License and a safe driving record dating back at least five years

*Driver’s license status will not impact eligibility for hire but may impact eligibility to work specific trips

TRAINING: Required and hosted by Wilderness Inquiry 

• March 2022: Spring Canoemobile only

• May 25th – 27th, 2022: All-staff Wilderness Inquiry overview training

• May 31st – June 3rd, 2022: All-staff Wilderness Inquiry field training

Qualified applicants will also be asked to participate in Voyageur Canoe Stern Training & Assessment and Driver Training, if applicable, scheduled at various times before and after the All-staff trainings. All new Outdoor Leader hires are contingent upon successful completion of required training. 

COMPENSATION:

Outdoor Leaders are classified according to skill and experience and compensated on a per-event basis starting at $14/hr for single-day programming and $112/day for extended programming. Further details on compensation are available upon request. Opportunities for advancement are available upon demonstrated performance with Wilderness Inquiry. Local staff housing and professional service stipends available. 

All Outdoor Leaders regardless of experience are compensated at $14/hr and/or $112/day for training. 

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

• The ability to plan, implement and follow through with responsibilities is essential. 

• Must have an aptitude for wilderness leadership, excellent people skills, the ability to oversee projects independently and as part of a team, and strong communication skills. 

• Must be interested in leading extended wilderness trips for people of all identities and abilities, including people with disabilities. 

• Must be willing to keep flexible hours. 

• Must pass a background check.

• Complete COVID-19 vaccines are mandated for all staff and interns

• The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.

  • While performing the duties of this position, the employee is frequently required to sit; talk or hear; visually discern/read words and numbers, and use hands to handle, or touch objects or controls.

  • The employee is regularly required to stand and walk.

  • On a regular occasion, the employee may be required to stoop, bend or reach above the shoulders.

  • Must be able to lift and carry heavy loads up to 50lbs over rough terrain for distances of up to 1,000 feet.

ADDITIONAL SEASONAL POSITIONS AVAILABLE IN 2022:

• Operations Assistant: Kitchen & Food

• Operations Assistant: Equipment & Warehouse

• Sea Kayak Program Manager

• Little Sand Bay Basecamp Coordinator