How to Find Work as a Wilderness Instructor

Wilderness instructors work leading courses or trips in a variety of programs and specialization areas. Programs are available across the nation and the world, and positions range from general wilderness trip leaders to skills instructors to specific course leaders. Wilderness instructing is an excellent option for those looking to escape the standard "desk" job and spend their working hours in the great outdoors.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. Choose a type of wilderness instructing. Do you want to be a wilderness instructor who works with at-risk youth, or for tourists? Do you want to lead multi-day trips or short hikes? Do you want a job that requires activities like climbing, biking or kayaking? Before you start your search, understand your preferences and capabilities so that you can better narrow down the field of options.
2. Evaluate your skills. Most wilderness instructor positions will require, at a minimum, CPR and first aid certifications. Many will ask for specialized skills like the ability to instruct kayaking, climbing, or other technical outdoor activities. For all wilderness instructor positions, you will need excellent people skills, a calm head in a crisis and a high level of comfort with outdoor activities.
3. Create a resume. Wilderness instructor position applications will require a resume. Be sure yours is current and include any relevant certifications or skills courses that you have completed. If you plan to apply to a large company that is likely to have an HR department, include words from the job ad. Many human resources workers will scan for these terms as an initial way to sort resumes.
4. Accept pay limitations. If you begin your search for wilderness instructing work looking for high salaries and comprehensive benefits packages, you will likely be disappointed. Wilderness programs generally offer fairly low salaries, but make up for it by providing food during trips and occasional staff housing. Costs can also be kept low with positions that require extensive field rotations, since your expenses will be covered for those times.
5. Search for specific programs online. Utah, Arizona, Colorado and Vermont are popular wilderness program locations. Choose a location and do an internet search for "wilderness program" plus the desired place name. Search specific program websites for job openings, or try sites like CoolWorks or Craigslist.
6. Consider seasonal positions. Many commercial wilderness programs are seasonal, so be prepared for the possibility of short term work. If you are more interested in year-round work, try applying for programs that work with at-risk youth, which tend to operate throughout the year.
7. Take a certification course. If you would like to work as a specialized wilderness instructor, a good way to begin is to take a certification course. For example, you will be more likely to get work as a kayak or canoe instructor if you have an American Canoeing Association certification. The more skills and experience you have, the more attractive you are as a job candidate.
8. Network with other instructors. The wilderness instructing world is not a large one, and one instructor tends to know many others. They will know of job openings, often before they are posted, and may be willing to give you tips or recommendations. Find other instructors at local outdoor events, paddling workshops, and skills courses.

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