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Backpack Guide Jobs in Wisconsin (NOW HIRING)

Lead by example and guide Crew Members regarding company policies and procedures, including ... Familiarity with landscape tools and equipment (pruners, string trimmers, shears, backpack blower ...

Backpack Guide information

What key skills and qualifications are needed to thrive as a Backpack Guide, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Backpack Guide, you need strong outdoor survival skills, wilderness navigation experience, and certifications in first aid or wilderness medicine. Familiarity with GPS devices, map and compass navigation, and knowledge of Leave No Trace principles are typically required. Exceptional communication, leadership, and decision-making skills help guide groups safely and foster a positive experience. These abilities are crucial for ensuring client safety, managing unexpected challenges, and delivering memorable outdoor adventures.

What are some common challenges faced by backpack guides during multi-day trips?

Backpack guides often encounter challenges such as adapting to changing weather conditions, ensuring group safety, and managing diverse skill levels among participants. They must be well-prepared to handle unexpected situations, like injuries or route changes, while keeping morale high and maintaining a positive group dynamic. Effective communication, sound judgment, and strong leadership are essential for successfully overcoming these obstacles and providing a memorable, safe experience for all participants.

What does a backpack guide do?

A backpack guide is a professional who leads individuals or groups on multi-day hiking or trekking trips, often in remote or wilderness areas. Their responsibilities include planning routes, ensuring the safety of participants, providing information about the local environment, and helping with camping logistics such as setting up tents and preparing meals. Backpack guides are trained in first aid, navigation, and outdoor survival skills to handle emergencies and enhance the experience for their clients. They also educate hikers about Leave No Trace principles and the natural or cultural history of the areas visited.

How much does a backpacking guide make?

A backpacking guide typically earns between $15 and $30 per hour, with annual salaries ranging from $25,000 to $50,000 depending on experience, location, and the type of tours or expeditions. Guides often need certifications in first aid and outdoor skills, and may work seasonal or part-time schedules.

What is the difference between Backpack Guide vs Tour Guide?

AspectBackpack GuideTour Guide
CredentialsOften requires outdoor or adventure certifications, first aid, and sometimes language skillsTypically needs tourism or hospitality certifications, language skills, and local knowledge
Work EnvironmentOutdoor settings, trekking routes, adventure parksIndoor and outdoor sites, museums, city tours
Employer & IndustryAdventure travel companies, outdoor tour operatorsTravel agencies, sightseeing companies, museums
Search & Comparison IntentPeople comparing outdoor adventure rolesPeople interested in city or cultural tours

The main difference between a Backpack Guide and a Tour Guide lies in their work environment and required skills. Backpack Guides focus on outdoor, adventure-based settings, often requiring outdoor certifications, while Tour Guides typically operate in urban or cultural sites with hospitality or tourism credentials. Both roles serve travelers but cater to different experiences and settings.

What are popular job titles related to Backpack Guide jobs in Wisconsin? For Backpack Guide jobs in Wisconsin, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Backpack Guide jobs in Wisconsin look for? The top searched job categories for Backpack Guide jobs in Wisconsin are:
What cities in Wisconsin are hiring for Backpack Guide jobs? Cities in Wisconsin with the most Backpack Guide job openings:

Horticulture Crew Leader

The Bruce Company

Middleton, WI • On-site

$23 - $26/hr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 29 days ago


Job description

The Bruce Company is proud to be a local, family-run landscaping company that’s been in business for 70 years. We are passionate about achieving incredible results for our customers and offer an exciting and collaborative company culture where our employees grow along with our company.

Why Choose The Bruce Company?

  • Work/Life Balance: Enjoy a structured work schedule with weekly pay and year-round benefits.
  • Team-Oriented Environment: Thrive in a supportive and collaborative workplace designed to foster career success.
  • Impactful Contributions: Work on some of the largest landscape projects in Dane County.
  • Career Growth: Establish and develop your career with Southern Wisconsin’s leader in landscaping.

Duties & Responsibilities

The Horticulture Crew Leader is responsible for performing landscape maintenance tasks and overseeing a crew of employees who complete spring and fall cleanup, prune shrubs and trees, plant flowers, and maintain landscapes at our customer sites.

  • Crew Management: Direct, organize, and oversee landscape maintenance tasks to ensure quality and timely completion of work on customer sites.
  • Transportation: Drive company vehicle to transport crew from The Bruce Company to assigned job sites.
  • Training: Provide ongoing training to Crew Members.
  • Problem Solving: Identify and appropriately address issues at the work site.
  • General Labor: Perform general labor tasks including planting and maintaining flowers, shrubs, and trees; watering lawns/plants; providing flower care; string trimming; pruning; shearing; mowing; edging; mulching; weeding; applying chemicals; raking and disposing of leaves; and picking up debris.
  • Equipment Handling: Load and secure all tools, equipment, and materials needed for the job.
  • Customer Service: Emphasize the importance of exceptional customer service to coworkers and ensure a quality company image that encourages repeat business.
  • Team Communication: Communicate effectively with other coworkers to function as a team.
  • Leadership: Lead by example and guide Crew Members regarding company policies and procedures, including attendance, conduct, and dress code.
  • Snow Removal: Assist with snow removal during the winter months as business needs dictate.
  • Additional Tasks: Perform other tasks as assigned by the supervisor and/or manager.

Working Conditions and Physical Requirements

  • Physical Activity: Stand and walk for long periods throughout the day.
  • Physical Effort: Frequently squat, stoop, kneel, and lift objects from the ground.
  • Range of Motion: Extend arms fully above the head and in front of the body.
  • Lifting: Consistently lift weights of up to 50 pounds; occasionally carry and push/pull weights of up to 50 pounds.
  • Fine Motor Skills: Required for the use of small equipment and hand tools.

Schedule

  • Full-Time Seasonal Position
  • Typical Work Hours: Monday through Friday from 6:45 am to 5:00 pm
  • Winter Hours: Vary from approximately December through March based on snow removal

Skills You Need

  • Experience: Previous experience with or ability to learn effective landscaping maintenance skills and techniques.
  • Horticulture Expertise: A minimum of 2-4 years of landscape maintenance/horticulture experience is required.
  • Leadership: Previous foreman or crew leader experience is preferred.
  • Equipment Knowledge: Familiarity with landscape tools and equipment (pruners, string trimmers, shears, backpack blower, backpack sprayer) is preferred.
  • Plant Knowledge: Knowledge of flowers, trees, shrubs, and other landscape products is helpful but not required.
  • Certification: Category 3.0 Turf and Landscape Certification is helpful but not required.
  • Language Skills: Bilingual in Spanish and English is helpful.

Benefit’s

The Bruce Company offers a competitive hourly wage, including medical, dental, vision, life, disability, and retirement benefits, paid vacation, and more coupled with a challenging and team-oriented work environment to help you succeed in your career.

Join our team of outdoor living experts and experience for yourself why many of our employees have chosen to make their life-long careers at The Bruce Company. Visit us at www.brucecompany.com to learn more.

The Bruce Company is proud to be an Affirmative-Action Equal Opportunity Employer.

This position description is not intended to be a complete list of all duties and responsibilities of the job. Further, the duties assigned may be added, deleted, or modified at any time at the discretion of management.