|
|
| Information for Inexperienced Guide Training |
We will begin processing applications for the following summer in December of each year. This page will be updated November 1, 2007 for the 2008 season.
Dear Applicant,
Thanks for your interest in guiding on whitewater rivers this summer! Our color brochure and our Web Site (HOME) give you a good idea of what Wilderness Aware is all about. Wilderness Aware has been rafting in Colorado since 1976. The brochure and Web Site gives more on Wilderness Aware's background, and information on the types of trips you would be working.
WILDERNESS AWARE HIRES... self-starting, creative, friendly, dedicated and hard working applicants. Our clientele expect the best raft trip in Colorado. You should be prepared to be a team player, work to exceed our guests' expectations, and to help maintain the highest quality rafting equipment made. Be willing to learn to prepare fresh, multiple course meals, and be willing to respect and be respected by your managers and fellow employees. Having twice been named Colorado's "Company of the Year", we believe we're running some of the best river trips in the country. A quality professional guide staff is the key ingredient in providing quality whitewater adventures.
If you are hired, the State of Colorado requires you to obtain Standard First Aid and CPR Certification before you can begin working. If you want to be a river guide in Colorado get registered in a First Aid and CPR class now. Once you are hired you will receive continued intensive training (unpaid) until you are ready to guide commercially - usually about 3-4 weeks.
WHAT DOES THE JOB PAY? 1st year guides earn $50 per day and can expect to gross approximately $2800 (plus tips) from mid-May to late August. Summer expenses include $400 rent for the season, utilities, meals while not on the river, and your personal safety equipment. Experienced guides can earn over $8,000 (plus tips) in a season.
HOUSING? Wilderness Aware owns an 18 unit Mobile Home Park. Guides are assigned to a unit with 2-4 roommates. This park is within biking distance from our office just outside Buena Vista. Many of our guides do not have cars. $400 covers your rent, water, sewer and trash bills for the summer. Gas and electric are divided equally among roommates. All 1st year guides are required to live in Wilderness Aware's employee housing for their first season of employment. Pets are not allowed.
WHAT IS THE APPLICATION PROCESS? Fill out the
on-line application. We will review applications,
check references, schedule an interview in person or by phone, and then notify
you as to whether you are among the top candidates for one of our interview
trips. We will begin evaluating applications in December. The top applications
will be invited to join 3 of our experienced boatmen on a 5 day interview trip
on the Salt River in Arizona. The price of the trip is $250. Once there,
experienced boaters will demonstrate the camping and rafting techniques we use
on our trips. Then, you will take your turn at camp chores and boat guiding.
These five days of rafting will allow us to get to know you and allow you to
decide if working with us is what you want. We are looking for individuals that
demonstrate an ability to learn and improve their boating skills and that have
good skills with people. We do not necessarily seek people that already have
rafting skills or previous experience. Primarily we seek intelligence, humor,
attention to detail, and a strong work ethic. We will hire up to 60% of your
group. Those we don't hire may be able to find work with other companies. A
list of addresses and phone numbers of all Colorado companies is available to
you after the trip. We do not guarantee you a job, however, many past
participants have gotten jobs with other top Colorado companies.
WHEN AND WHERE ARE THE TRIPS? We will run a series of five day on-water interview trips on the Salt River in central Arizona. The Salt River Canyon is a class III-IV wilderness trip travelling through Arizona's Sonoran Desert. The trip will meet at the Phoenix International Airport in Phoenix, Arizona.
The Interview Trip Dates for 2008 are as follows:
Trip A: Saturday, March 8 - Thursday, March 13
Trip B:
Saturday, March 15 - Thursday, March 20
Trip C: Saturday, March 22 -
Thursday, March 27
Trip D:
Not Available in 2008
TRANSPORTATION: You may fly in and meet us at the Phoenix (Sky Harbor) International Airport. Information on Phoenix International Airport is available at http://www.phxskyharbor.com. You may, of course, drive your own car directly to Globe, Arizona and have us pick you up there. Please email us and let us know how you plan to get to Arizona and where we should plan to meet you.
MEETING PLACE INFORMATION: If you are flying to Arizona we will meet you at the Phoenix International Airport. We will meet at the east end of Terminal 2 near the Arizona Intercity Transportation desk at 3:00 PM on Saturday. If you are driving we will meet at a prearranged location in Globe, Arizona.
TRIPS CONCLUSION: We will return you to the Phoenix International Airport area no later than midnight on the following Saturday night. Plan to fly out of Phoenix on Sunday. You are responsible for you own accommodations Saturday night. We've arranged a special rate at the Sleep Inn 2 miles south of the airport. They offer a 24 hour free airport shuttle and a free continental breakfast. Sleep Inn can be reached at 480-967-7100. Ask for the special rate offered to Wilderness Aware Rafting guests.
GETTING THERE: Airlines servicing Phoenix, Arizona include American, America West, Continental, Delta, Frontier, Midwest Express, Northwest, Southwest, United and US Air. Here is a sampling of round trip fares from various parts of the country.
Los Angeles - Phoenix $92
Seattle - Phoenix $198
Salt Lake City -
Phoenix $128
Denver - Phoenix $178
Chicago - Phoenix $192
Washington
DC - Phoenix $259
Atlanta - Phoenix $257
Miami - Phoenix $240
Add processing and PFC taxes to all fares
21 day advance purchase
with Saturday night stay over required
Greyhound Buslines - (800) 231-2222 also services Phoenix on a regular basis.
We will provide you with a list of the participants for your trip. We encourage you to call each other and arrange ride sharing if you are considering driving to Arizona.
NOW WHAT? Fill out the application, being sure to let us know which trip you are interested in (dates listed above). Be prepared to send full payment for the trip when you are invited to join us. Your space on the trip can only be confirmed once we've received full payment. Space is limited to the first 12 invited participants we receive payment from. If we don't receive your payment, someone else will be invited in your place. If you are not chosen through the interview process to join us on the trip, you will be notified as quickly as possible so that you can make other plans. You will receive details and trip specifics two weeks prior to the trip. This will include all participants' names and phone numbers so you can arrange car pools or room sharing before or after the trip.
REFUNDS: Once you are accepted and have paid for the trip, there will be a $20 fee for cancellations to cover postage, printing, and phone costs. Shopping will be done 2 weeks before the trip and therefore no refunds are possible less than two weeks before the trip (unless we can find someone to take your place).
OTHER COSTS: If you don't have some of the rafting and camping items on the "What to Bring" checklist below, Wilderness Aware can rent these to you. Included in the $250 fee are group meals, which will begin at breakfast on the first day of rafting and end at lunch on the last day. You are responsible for any meals on the road. We usually stop at grocery stores, cafes, or delis. Bring enough money for 4 off river meals, drinks, snacks, etc.
WHAT SHOULD I BRING?
| RIVER GEAR | CAMP GEAR |
|
|
*We have 2-man tents, sleeping bags and sleeping pads to rent. Rental prices are listed at the end of the application.
WHAT IF I HAVE MORE QUESTIONS?
Feel free to call us at
719-395- 2112
We look forward to boating with you!
Eric Young - Operations Manager
Job Description | Application | Job Opportunities Main
Arkansas River | Dolores River | Gunnison
River | North Platte River |
Upper Colorado River | Inn to
Inn | Salt River
WildernessAware.com images, photos and original text
© 2007 by Wilderness Aware Rafting
Website design © 2007
OutdoorMind LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Rev. 1/14/07 EY