Overview
Do you want to guide trips and help protect remote and beautiful corners of the Colorado Plateau?
The Grand Canyon Trust runs about 16-18 stewardship and restoration projects throughout the field season (April through October). We’re looking for a passionate, hardworking individual who loves the Colorado Plateau to join our team.
Our trip leaders are seasoned professionals who anticipate the needs of volunteers, manage logistics, ensure group safety, and complete restoration work. Volunteer projects range from one to four days in length, on weekdays and weekends, and may include fence building, stream restoration, pulling weeds, and more. This job requires long hours in the field, camping for days at a time and maintaining a positive presence among our volunteers. You will co-lead the trips with Trust staff and typically be joined by federal agency partners.
What does this position entail?
~Co-lead 8-12 volunteer trips from April-October.
~Ensure the safety and well-being of Trust volunteers.
~Cook for groups of up to 20 people while maintaining a clean and efficient camp kitchen.
~Lead all aspects of volunteer trips, including:
~~ Pre-trip: food shopping and gear packing
~~ In the field: risk management, volunteer engagement, meal preparation and cleanup, and cultural and natural history interpretation
~~ Post-trip: cleanup, debrief, and reporting
~Educate volunteers on the Trust’s mission, values, and projects.
~Participate in data collection or restoration work on each trip.
~Serve as a role model for excellent work ethic and inclusivity.
~Demonstrate outstanding people skills, including the ability to read social cues and support positive group dynamics.
~Maintain a level head throughout inclement weather, difficult situations, and interactions with volunteers.
~Drive the Trust’s four-wheel drive truck responsibly on all types of roads, including poorly maintained, sandy, and very rough roads.
What might you learn along the way?
~You will learn about local ecology, research, lawsuits, and policies relevant to our work at the Grand Canyon Trust.
~You will polish your outdoor trip leading skills with a supportive team.
~You will gain skills in data collection and restoration techniques and be an integral part of a regional nonprofit focused on environmental advocacy.
~You will build a network of fellow environmental conservationists with shared values of stewardship and volunteerism.
Location
Flagstaff, Arizona
Compensation and benefits
$25.00 per hour. Overtime is paid for each hour worked that exceeds 40 hours in a work week. This is not a benefits-eligible position. Subsidies are available for recertifying you Wilderness First Responder certification.
See: https://www.grandcanyontrust.org/volunteer-trip-leader/
Qualifications:
Minimum of four years guiding experience, with two years of trip leading experience, preferably on multiday river trips.
Current Wilderness First Responder certification by start date.
Current Backcountry Food Handler certification or ability to complete the certification prior to leading trips.
Experience cooking/managing camp for large groups (10-20 people).
Be at least 20 years old with a driver’s license, car insurance, and a clean driving record.
Required Skills:
In-depth knowledge of river trip kitchen and groover (toilet) systems.
Experience managing risk for groups in wilderness settings.
Excellent customer service, hospitality, and communication skills.
Knowledge of or a strong desire to learn about environmental issues on the Colorado Plateau.
Commitment to lead with humility when entering communities and working with diverse cultures.
Be in strong physical condition: walk on uneven, off-trail terrain; carry 20-30 pounds; and hike long distances (~10 mi/day)
Preferred Skills:
Ability to work in areas without cell service or access to other forms of electronic communication.
Ability to navigate competently using a map, GPS, compass, etc. in off-trail environments.
Ability to maintain gear and fix minor damage.
About Grand Canyon Trust
Mission: To safeguard the wonders of the Grand Canyon and the Colorado Plateau, while supporting the rights of its Native peoples.
Confession time: We’re biased. We think the Southwest is the greatest place in the world, and we aim to keep it that way.
The Grand Canyon Trust has been a leading voice in regional conservation for more than 30 years. From improving air quality around the Grand Canyon to helping win national monument protections in southern Utah, the Trust works tirelessly to protect the Colorado Plateau’s remarkable landscapes.
We are a non-profit conservation organization dedicated to making sure the region’s natural wonders, communities, and cultures thrive. We’re in it for the long haul, and we hope you are too.
