Overview
Do you want to guide trips and help protect remote and beautiful corners of the Colorado Plateau?
About the position
The Grand Canyon Trust runs many stewardship and restoration projects throughout the field season (April through October). We’re looking for a passionate, positive, and detail-oriented individual to support and care for volunteers on these trips.
Projects range from one to five 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 volunteers. You will co-lead the trips with Trust staff and typically be joined by federal agency partners or tribal partners.
What does this position entail?
Ensure the safety and well-being of trip participants.
Lead all aspects of trip implementation: review menu, shop for food, pack gear, manage risk, engage with trip participants, share knowledge, cleanup gear, debrief with Trust staff, and report accomplishments.
Educate trip participants on the Trust’s mission, values, and projects.
Participate in data collection and restoration projects, serving 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 a four-wheel-drive truck responsibly on all types of road conditions, 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
$23.00 per hour. This is not a benefits-eligible position, but interns accrue sick leave during their internships (about two days), and receive a $500 housing stipend, $250 travel allowance, and $200 professional development stipend.
Employment term
Anticipated timeframe: March 24, 2025 – November 10, 2025. The intern will work primarily during trips, with a day on each end to pack and unpack gear. There will be several weeks of training in late March or early April, including an overnight training trip. The intern will work approximately 11 overnight trips (three to five days each), and eight day-trips. Almost all work will be done in backcountry environments.
Supplies needed
Clothing that is appropriate for field settings and all personal camping and hiking gear. The Trust can provide some camping gear upon request.
Qualifications:
Experience working with diverse participants who have varying cultural backgrounds, physical abilities, and skill levels.
Excellent customer service, hospitality, and communication skills.
Ability to anticipate, troubleshoot, and solve challenging problems when and if they arise.
Willingness to stay energized and positive and take on your fair share of less glamourous tasks (i.e. cleaning gear and taking down the groover).
Commitment to lead with humility when entering new communities
Required Skills:
Minimum two years of experience guiding or leading trips, preferably multiday river trips.
Current Wilderness First Responder certification or ability to complete the certification prior to leading trips.
Current food handler certification or ability to complete the certification prior to leading trips.
In-depth knowledge of river trip kitchen and groover (toilet) systems.
Experience managing risk for groups in wilderness settings.
Preferred Skills:
Note that experience includes lived experience, traditional knowledge, volunteer experience, school or coursework, work experience, and other related qualifications, skills, and experience.
No candidate will meet every requirement. If you’re excited about the position and think you may be a good candidate, we encourage you to apply.
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.
