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Wilderness Guide Jobs in Vermont (NOW HIRING)

Confluence Behavioral Health LLC

Clinical Therapist

VT · On-site

$59K - $79K/yr

The program combines wilderness adventure therapy with a residential experience, farm programming, and comprehensive health and wellness services to guide young adults facing mental health challenges ...

All JobsWilderness Guide JobsWilderness Guide Jobs in Vermont

Wilderness Guide information

See Vermont salary details

$8

$20

$42

How much do wilderness guide jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 8, 2026, the average hourly pay for wilderness guide in Vermont is $20.95, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $14.57 and $21.20 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a wilderness guide?

Wilderness Guides are professionals trained to lead individuals or groups safely through natural, undeveloped areas such as forests, mountains, or national parks. They are responsible for planning routes, providing information about local ecology and wildlife, ensuring safety, and sometimes teaching outdoor skills like navigation, camping, and survival techniques. Wilderness Guides help create memorable, educational, and safe outdoor experiences for participants, ranging from day hikes to multi-day expeditions.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a wilderness guide?

To thrive as a Wilderness Guide, you need strong outdoor survival skills, first aid certification, and knowledge of local geography and ecosystems. Familiarity with navigation tools (like GPS, maps, and compasses), wilderness medicine certifications (such as Wilderness First Responder), and outdoor gear are typically required. Outstanding communication, leadership, and decision-making skills help guide groups safely and create memorable experiences. These abilities are crucial for ensuring safety, managing risks, and providing an informative and enjoyable adventure for clients.

What are some common challenges faced by wilderness guides during multi-day expeditions, and how are they typically managed?

Wilderness Guides often encounter challenges such as unpredictable weather, navigation through difficult terrain, and managing group dynamics over extended periods. To handle these, guides rely on thorough pre-trip planning, constant monitoring of weather updates, and strong communication skills to ensure group safety and morale. They are trained in first aid and emergency procedures, allowing them to address any medical or safety issues promptly. Adaptability and proactive problem-solving are key to ensuring a safe and enjoyable experience for all participants.

What is the difference between Wilderness Guide vs Outdoor Educator?

AspectWilderness GuideOutdoor Educator
CertificationsWilderness First Aid, CPR, outdoor skills certificationsWilderness First Aid, CPR, teaching credentials
Work EnvironmentRemote wilderness areas, guiding outdoor activitiesSchools, camps, outdoor programs
Industry UsageTourism, adventure companies, outdoor recreationEducational institutions, youth programs

Wilderness Guides and Outdoor Educators both work outdoors and often hold similar certifications like Wilderness First Aid. However, Wilderness Guides primarily lead adventure activities in remote areas, focusing on guiding clients safely through wilderness experiences. Outdoor Educators typically work in structured settings like schools or camps, emphasizing teaching outdoor skills and environmental education. While their roles overlap in outdoor environments, their main focus and work settings differ.

What are popular job titles related to Wilderness Guide jobs in Vermont? For Wilderness Guide jobs in Vermont, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Wilderness Guide jobs in Vermont look for? The top searched job categories for Wilderness Guide jobs in Vermont are:
Wilderness Guide jobs near you
Infographic showing various Wilderness Guide job openings in Vermont as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $43,579 per year, or $21 per hour.

Guide - Seasonal

True North Wilderness Program

Waitsfield, VT • On-site

Other

Medical, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted yesterday

Job description

Are you a team player looking to make an impact on the next generation? Do you have the desire and drive to mentor young adults? Are you passionate about the outdoors and sharing that passion with others? If so, the Guide position is right for you! True North is actively hiring seasonal Guides who are energetic, personable, natural leaders, and strong communicators. The Guide role is perfect for someone who is eager to learn and build meaningful connections while facilitating wellness-related activities. Guides work a 4 day on / 3 day off schedule, working and sleeping on-site. This is a seasonal position, with employment from May - August.
Guides work in teams of two to three to provide supervision for a group of up to 12 students, ages 15-28. A day can include facilitating/participating in daily activities (yoga, canoeing, indoor rock climbing, downhill and cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, hiking, disc golf, games, art, movie nights, museum visits, etc.), and fostering an intentional community focused on wellness aspects, such as exercise, mindfulness, and more, while helping students achieve therapeutic goals.
Benefits include: WFA certification and WFA or WFR re-certification reimbursement, health insurance, SIMPLE IRA with employer match, opportunity to earn up to $450/year towards qualified health and wellness activities, opportunity to earn up to $600/year of student loan payment reimbursement, and opportunity to earn additional funding towards professional development and graduate school. Opportunity to earn PTO.
Applicants must be 21 or older.
True North is committed to enriching the experience of our students, families, and team by celebrating an inclusive work environment. We seek to recruit a broadly diverse staff who will contribute a variety of viewpoints and experiences to ongoing program development and superior support of our clients. We encourage applications from individuals from underrepresented groups including professionals of color and diverse gender identities.

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