1

Temporary Backpacking Guide Jobs in Arizona (NOW HIRING)

Temporary Backpacking Guide information

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

To thrive as a Temporary Backpacking Guide, you need strong outdoor skills, first aid certification, and experience leading group hikes or expeditions. Familiarity with GPS navigation tools, wilderness survival equipment, and Leave No Trace principles is typically required. Exceptional communication, leadership, and problem-solving abilities help build trust and ensure group safety in unpredictable environments. These skills are vital to provide a safe, enjoyable, and educational experience for participants in remote settings.

What are some common challenges Temporary Backpacking Guides face during multi-day trips?

Temporary Backpacking Guides often encounter challenges such as adapting to rapidly changing weather, managing group dynamics among diverse participants, and ensuring everyone's safety on unpredictable terrain. They must be prepared to handle emergencies, maintain morale, and make quick decisions regarding route changes or health concerns. Strong communication skills and flexibility are essential, as guides frequently collaborate with co-guides and need to adjust plans on the fly to provide a positive experience for all participants.

What are Temporary Backpacking Guides?

Temporary Backpacking Guides are outdoor professionals hired on a short-term or seasonal basis to lead individuals or groups on backpacking trips. They are responsible for planning routes, ensuring safety, teaching wilderness skills, and providing information about the local environment. These guides often work for tour companies, camps, or outdoor education programs and may work in various locations depending on demand and season. Their main goal is to create a safe, enjoyable, and educational experience for all participants.

What is the difference between Temporary Backpacking Guide vs Tour Guide?

AspectTemporary Backpacking GuideTour Guide
CredentialsBasic outdoor or first aid certifications often preferredSimilar certifications, sometimes specialized in specific tours
Work EnvironmentOutdoor, remote, adventure settingsIndoor and outdoor, cultural or historical sites
Employer & IndustryAdventure travel companies, outdoor tour operatorsTravel agencies, sightseeing companies

Both roles involve guiding groups, but Temporary Backpacking Guides focus on outdoor adventure and wilderness settings, often requiring outdoor certifications. Tour Guides typically operate in cultural or historical sites, with similar certification needs. The main difference lies in the environment and type of tours offered, with Backpacking Guides emphasizing outdoor adventure and Tour Guides focusing on cultural experiences.

What are the most commonly searched types of Backpacking Guide jobs in Arizona? The most popular types of Backpacking Guide jobs in Arizona are:
What are popular job titles related to Temporary Backpacking Guide jobs in Arizona? For Temporary Backpacking Guide jobs in Arizona, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Temporary Backpacking Guide jobs in Arizona look for? The top searched job categories for Temporary Backpacking Guide jobs in Arizona are:
What cities in Arizona are hiring for Temporary Backpacking Guide jobs? Cities in Arizona with the most Temporary Backpacking Guide job openings:
GCCFI NATURALIST GUIDE

$22/hr

Full-time

Medical, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 19 days ago


Job description

POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT: GCCFI NATURALIST GUIDE
Grand Canyon Conservancy (GCC) is the official nonprofit partner of Grand Canyon National Park. As theofficial philanthropic and collaborativepartner of Grand Canyon National Park, Grand Canyon Conservancy's mission is to inspiregenerations of park champions tocherish andsupport the natural and cultural wonder of Grand Canyon. GCC raises private funds, operates retail shops within the park, and provides premier educational programs on the region's natural and cultural history.

Grand Canyon Conservancy Field Institute (GCCFI) provides immersive, educational adventures at Grand Canyon-all officially designed and developed in partnership with Grand Canyon National Park. Our Naturalist Guides facilitate highly engaging and inclusive educational and experiential programs for visitors to Grand Canyon, helping participants establish a personal connection to the resource and inspiring a lifelong passion for stewarding Grand Canyon. Naturalist Guides lead interpretive programs and tours at the Grand Canyon, with an emphasis on day programs and backpacking trips along the main corridor trails.

GCCFI currently seeks experienced individuals to join their team as Naturalist Guides for full or part-time, year-round assignments. Schedules vary seasonally, so all interested parties should indicate their general availability through the application process; details will be discussed further with those selected for interviews.

All Naturalist Guide positions are non-exempt at a target rate of $22 per hour. If hired full-time, a comprehensive benefits package is also provided, including free or low-cost health insurance, company-paid life and long-term disability insurance, paid time off, retirement plans, and more. Although occasional administrative duties are required, the Naturalist Guide role is primarily a programmatic in-field position at Grand Canyon National Park, so applicants must reside within 2.5 hours of the South Rim. Free temporary housing is available when working on programs. When working onsite for trip duties, temporary housing is available for no charge.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES
Essential functions of the Naturalist Guide position vary seasonally and include, but are not limited to, the following:

Program Facilitation (approximately 75% of job duties)
Facilitate inclusive educational outdoor experiences, sharing accurate and fact-based cultural and natural knowledge to inspire participants and create a meaningful connection to Grand Canyon. Programs and trips may last from 1 hour to 6 days.
Promote GCC's mission, values, and priorities, and share information about GCC's support of Grand Canyon National Park
Transport participants and equipment to and from trip locations in Grand Canyon National Park.
Deliver exceptional customer service and support risk management in the field.
Provide first aid responses to participants and follow emergency protocols.
Assist other GCCFI trip leaders with participants or logistics as needed
Support GCC donor and public events at Grand Canyon as required
Provide interpretation and public information at GCC visitor centers on an as-needed basis.

Administrative & Logistics Support (approximately 25% of job duties)
Track participation metrics and solicit participant feedback on program content and logistics
Contribute to program development - both existing and new
Contribute to collateral creation for programs and assist with collateral distribution at the South Rim of Grand Canyon.
Manage pre- and post-trip participant communication under the guidance of Day and Multiday Program Coordinators as required.
Maintain FI program equipment and support equipment ordering (vehicles, first aid kits, trip supplies, etc.) under the guidance of the Senior Program Manager as required.

WORKING CONDITIONS
This position contains up to 25% of office work at a desk, performing administrative tasks such as typing and data entry
This position contains at least 75% of fieldwork requiring both short walks on the rim and remote hiking into the Canyon; limits on physical ability to perform these tasks cannot be accommodated.
Trips may last from 1 hour to 6 days in locations ranging from front country to backcountry wilderness

GCC CORE VALUES
GCC has identified four core values representing how we interact with our employees, partners, visitors, supporters, and followers. Our values include:

Integrity: We are honest, respectful, inclusive, caring, and accountable for our actions. We operate at a high level of excellence, utilizing our resources to their best and fullest potential.
Education: We are a dynamic learning organization uniquely positioned to cultivate the "awe" of the Grand Canyon.
Service: We embrace our role as a valued partner of the National Park Service at Grand Canyon National Park and will provide the highest level of excellence in every interaction with employees, partners, visitors, supporters, and donors.
Connection: We foster a sense of wonder and adventure for the Grand Canyon.


Grand Canyon Conservancy is the official nonprofit partner of Grand Canyon National Park.
We are an Equal Opportunity Employer.


MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
1-3 years of backcountry guiding and interpretation experience, leading day/or multiday experiential programs in wilderness settings
Wilderness First Responder (preferred) or Wilderness First Aid Certification; familiarity with backcountry emergency response procedures
CPR and EPI Certification
Valid AZ Driver's License
Successful completion of a criminal background check
Proficient in Microsoft 365 Office and Microsoft Outlook applications; ability to learn other applications, including reservation software
Ability to carry backpacks weighing up to 50lbs in remote areas and ability to hike to remote areas below the rim of the Grand Canyon without assistance

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS, SKILLS, AND CHARACTERISTICS
Experience and knowledge of hiking in the corridor and threshold trails at Grand Canyon
High-level, professional interpersonal skills both in person and by phone or email
active listening skills and the ability to foster trust with participants, maintaining a positive attitude, and being sensitive to diverse perspectives and communication styles
Strong commitment to ongoing knowledge acquisition and the ability to effectively convey this knowledge to participants
Well-developed customer service ethic with high expectations for quality and a keen level of attention to detail
Demonstrated ability to remain calm and level-headed in stressful situations
Ability to promote a positive and productive workplace environment
Ability to perform data entry and keep accurate records
Ability to work evenings, weekends, and occasional holidays as needed