Little Sand Bay Sea Kayak Outdoor Leader

 

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 individuals and families of all backgrounds and abilities. Our Apostle Islands kayaking staff lead 1-5 day, front and/or backcountry kayaking adventures out of our Little Sand Bay Base Camp near Bayfield, Wisconsin. Some staff choose to live at the base camp during the season, and others will be based out of Minneapolis and commute for each trip.

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 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.

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 wellbeing 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 adults and families.
• Use effective judgment and decision making regarding 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.
• Provide emergency first aid and conduct and/or assist in back-country medical needs including evacuations.
• Care for equipment while in the backcountry and at base camp.
• Proficiently perform activities conducted on WI trips including navigating routes in the front and backcountry, cooking, kayaking, hiking, camping, etc.
• Safely drive a 15-passenger van pulling a loaded trailer in all weather and road conditions.

Pre-Trip Prep & Post-Trip Paperwork 

• Work with logistical staff to pack-in and pack-out gear and food.
• Complete post trip paperwork including evaluations, incident reports and trip summaries.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

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. Prior sea kayaking experience is prefered. Must be interested in leading extended wilderness trips for people of all abilities, including people with disabilities. Must be willing to keep flexible hours. Must be able to lift and carry heavy loads over rough terrain for distances of up to 1,000 feet. Must pass a background check. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

CERTIFICATIONS:

Required certifications, or ability to obtain (courses may be offered as an addition to initial training):

• Wilderness First Aid (WFA) or Wilderness First Responder (WFR) required
• Wilderness Water Safety or Lifeguard/Professional Rescuer
• Current Driver’s License and a safe driving record dating back at least five years

For information on how to obtain certifications visit click this link.

TRAINING:

All new Outdoor Leader hires are contingent upon successful completion of Wilderness Inquiry staff training, including: Staff Training, Driver Assessment, and an in depth sea kayaking field training course on location at our Little Sand Bay Base Camp on Lake Superior.

Training dates for 2021:

Introductory Training: 5/19/21 – 5/21/21

Field Specific Training: 5/23/21 – 5/28/21

TIME/WAGE:

Outdoor Leaders are classified according to skill and experience and compensated on a per event basis, starting at $112 per day. Further details on compensation are available upon request. Opportunities for advancement available upon demonstrated performance with Wilderness Inquiry. Staff housing and professional service stipends available.