Adventure Jobs North America

It's time to blend a little excitement with your career for a summer, season or year-round! An adventurous lifestyle means to grow through passion, challenge and risk taking. It's about learning to look at the world through curious eyes — to wonder what's on the other side of the mountain — and allowing wanderlust to become your guide. You'll work hard and you'll play hard; the intimacy of your adventurous pursuits will allow you to see, hear, taste, and smell more intensely.

Whether you love the water (canoe guides, kayak guides, white-water rafting guides, river guides, fishing guides, boat captains, sailing instructors, cruise ship staff), the land (cycling guides, horseback guides, natural history guides, safari guides, tour leaders, trail staff and zipline guides), the mountains (climbing guides, mountaineering guides, ski guides) or outdoor adventure (outfitting staff, outdoor educators, tour guides, trip leaders, wilderness specialists), you'll find plenty of adventure education jobs here!

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• Check out the Adventure Jobs Worldwide or Summer Camp Jobs channel for more awesome adventurous job openings!

NCOAE is seeking exceptional individuals to join their team of outdoor adventure-based educators!

With courses taking place in North Carolina, the Pacific Northwest, Alaska, Ecuador and beyond, The National Center for Outdoor & Adventure Education (NCOAE) is a values-based outdoor and adventure education provider for people looking to challenge themselves physically and academically — by combining rigorous academics with personal growth and professional development.

Field Instructors manage the safety of students during multi-day courses while leading NCOAE’s hands-on, experiential core curriculum that focuses on the educational principles of leadership, risk management, environmental ethics and outdoor skills including kayaking, canoeing, whitewater paddling, backpacking, rock climbing, backcountry camping, map & compass navigation, and more. Through these lessons, Instructors help students improve their self-confidence and interpersonal relationships. Experiential education is merged with good, old-fashioned fun to offer an unrivaled path to insight, joy and drive. Instructors also manage risks and assure effective courses, while serving as an educator and a role model. Instructors must be able to teach NCOAE’s curriculum, complete course documentation, and participate in pre/post-trip meetings. Additional duties include facilitating a meaningful group process and setting an emotionally and physically safe, fun, and engaging tone for students to follow. Starting pay ranges from $80-$145/day (DOE) with opportunities for advancement. Perks include staff housing, food pantry, travel reimbursements, and industry discounts. Current WFA/WFR & CPR certification and successful completion of NCOAE’s 14-day Instructor Course is required prior to employment. Seasonal positions available from April to October, with occasional opportunities to continue employment into the winter. If you have a passion for outdoor education, take pride in your work, embrace change, and enjoy positively impacting the lives of others, learn more about becoming an NCOAE Instructor!

View a group of NCOAE students exploring Patagonia during an outdoor educator & environmental sustainability course!

Who is NCOAE looking for?
NCOAE is seeking experienced individuals with diverse life experiences who value adventure in their personal lives. All courses are physically and mentally demanding, and staff must have considerable proficiency in teaching and communicating with participants of diverse backgrounds and needs.

Do you have what it takes to outfit adventure adrenaline junkies in fulfilling their outdoor dreams? Come join the dynamic team at Windigo and travel to some of the coolest places in North America!

Specializing in customized small group camping and lodging tours, Windigo is seeking energetic leaders to guide multi-week adventure tours throughout North America. Guides are responsible as both drivers and guides who direct custom itineraries of international clients traveling in a 15-passenger van while overseeing the day-to-day logistics for tours. These routes feature many of the continent’s most iconic National Parks, but the focus is on more than just the sites. The Windigo team of outdoor professionals is passionate about their role as environmental stewards. They lead with purpose to advance the positive impact of adventure travel while celebrating the many vibrant and diverse cultures that constitute our beautiful continent, relishing every opportunity to establish meaningful connections between travelers, the land, and one another. Responsibilities include destination research, providing daily briefings, handling group dynamics, maintaining equipment, meal preparation, and ensuring a safe, fun experience for travelers. Compensation ranges from $125-$180/day plus tips and commission. Accommodations and most food while on tour are included, as well as access to pro deals, bonus options, and the opportunity to travel to enticing and off-the-beaten path destinations.

The operation season runs from April to late October with contracts available for a partial or full season. If you are at least 23 years old (21 for Canadian applicants), have a clean driving record, an adventurous spirit, strong people, leadership and organizational skills, love the outdoors, and are looking for an exciting challenge, apply to join the Windigo team today!

Join the adventure! View the Windigo Guide experience »

• Do you want to hit the open road, enjoy an adventure of a lifetime, and get paid for it? Join a team that is passionate about organizing and delivering high-quality tours for people from all over the world. Meet new people from different cultures and provide unforgettable experiences to grateful travelers. It's not a job opportunity, it’s a lifestyle.

Ready to change young people’s lives and be part of one of the best student and staff communities in the industry? Adventure Treks offers multi-week outdoor adventure travel programs that help teens build life skills for future success—all while making life-long friends, exploring the most stunning landscapes, and having incredible amounts of fun along the way.

Being a Field Instructor at Adventure Treks is a unique and incredible opportunity—seeing students immersed in nature, fostering a community, and building their confidence and leadership on the trail! Instructors are deeply familiar with the demands of operating on the sun's clock and sleeping in a tent for weeks at a time with peers and students relying on them. In the highs and lows of a trip, they're always engaged, bringing fun to any situation, staying motivated, and working hard. Instructors are in charge of safety, satisfaction, and success. It's not always easy, but it's so rewarding! Not only do Instructors build fantastic student communities, but Adventure Treks is home to one of the strongest Instructor communities in the industry. With wilderness-based programs in British Columbia, Alaska, California, Colorado, Oregon, Washington, Wyoming, North Carolina, Scotland, Norway and Peru, Instructors lead activities like backpacking, rock and ice climbing, mountaineering, mountain biking, canoeing, and whitewater kayaking & rafting. On each adventure, the four- to six-person instructor team works together to create fun, growth-oriented, and community-minded experiences and coordinate all aspects of the trip like managing group dynamics, teaching outdoor skills, maintaining equipment, and handling medical issues. Compensation starts at $4,200–$4,300 for the summer plus all-inclusive employment (accommodations, meals, outfitted activities…), travel reimbursements, fall opportunities to work in North Carolina, professional development scholarships, and pro-deal access to hundreds of outdoor brands. Check out the minimum requirements, Instructor FAQs and how to apply.

2026 Instructor Hiring STAY TUNED—Adventure Treks will be accepting Instructor applications for the 2026 season beginning on October 1st!

Why work with Adventure Treks? Meet the faces of Adventure Treks and take a glimpse into Instructor Orientation.

Whether climbing snowy Mount Shasta or teaching canoeing in British Columbia, Adventure Treks Instructors will lead teenagers in diverse outdoor settings that will be challenging, rewarding, and fun. Best of all, you'll get the opportunity to work with other talented and experienced staff and have the chance to make a positive impact on your student's lives.

Incredible Adventures is an environmentally conscious outdoor travel company specializing in small group tours from San Francisco — with destinations including Yosemite National Park, Muir Woods, Napa & Sonoma Wine Country, Big Sur, and Lake Tahoe!

Now seeking enthusiastic Tour Guide/Drivers who are reliable, safety-driven, organized, and desire adventure. On single day trips, Guides will pick-up and drop-off passengers at San Francisco hotels and provide informational narrative throughout the tour. On multi-day adventures, Guides will arrange daily logistics, outdoor and evening activities, sightseeing excursions, and teach sustainable travel, camping etiquette and cooking skills. Guides for the 2025 season will either be based out of San Francisco (day or short multi-day trips with ideal work availability from March/April through October) or SF-based remote (Overland Guides— experience required, with ideal availability from May/June through October).

Wages are per trip, with half-day wages starting at $85 and full-day wages ranging up to $300/day, not including tips. Wages for overnight, multi-day tours are per trip and range from $275-$525, plus tips. Additional daily bonus provided to German-speaking guides on select trips. A seasonal performance and safety bonus is available for all guides who complete a full season. Applicants must be at least 23 years of age, have or be willing to obtain a Class C Commercial Driver's license with Passenger Endorsement (training provided for the right candidates), a clean driving record, high energy, excellent people skills, and be available to work weekends and holidays. If you have a customer-service-oriented disposition, a fun and outgoing attitude, and enjoy interacting with people from all over the country and the world, read through the Guide FAQ or fill out the online application!

• The team at Incredible Adventures is an adventurous group who thrive on being in a casual and laid-back workplace that is offset by challenging and dynamic jobs. The staff loves to travel and all are huge advocates of preserving our natural resources through green business practices. All guides can expect to become experts in popular travel destinations and build a career in the outdoor travel industry.

The Tour Guide position is a demanding, exciting, challenging, and rewarding position requiring a passion for the outdoors on and off the road.

Do you want to enjoy an adventure of a lifetime and get paid for it? With headquarters in Las Vegas, Bindlestiff Tours specialize in single day tours in their own backyard and multi-day adventures throughout the Southwest, Northwest, Canadian Rockies, and Alaska. Extensive experience in the industry and knowledgeable, down-to-earth Guides affords Bindlestiff to create the absolute best itineraries.

Tour Guides are responsible for delivering in-depth headset commentary to guests on the geology, history, flora, and fauna of the region while driving a 7 or 15-passenger van. Multi-day tours require you to be comfortable towing a 5x8-foot cargo trailer. Additional responsibilities include handling group dynamics, food shopping and cooking, planning and problem solving on the road, maintaining outdoor equipment, managing accounting and paperwork pre and post tour, and ensuring a safe and fun experience for all clients. The guiding season runs from the end of March (sometimes earlier) through the early November, with options for full/part-time contracts and those who wish to be on-call for ad hoc tours during the winter months. The base rate for first year Guides ranges from $150-$210/day depending on industry experience, plus a generous seasonal bonus package and 401k. With tips and commissions, experienced Guides can earn as much as $400/day. Benefits include accommodations and meals while on tour, full training, and housing in between tours. If you have strong leadership and motivational skills, a passion for the outdoors, able to multi-task, and possess exceptional people skills, learn more at BindlestiffToursJobs.com.

• As a Tour Guide for Bindlestiff, you may find yourself poking around an abandoned mining town in the desert southwest, atop a granite peak in Yosemite, in a raft on the Colorado River, hiking on a glacier in the Canadian Rockies, or watching bears catch salmon in a remote Alaskan river!

Share your love for the outdoors with visitors from all over the world as you work and explore Yellowstone National Park as an Adventure Guide!

Offering destination day hikes, van tours, kayak trips, and backpacking expeditions for visitors from all over the world, Yellowstone Hiking Guides is a small local company with over 20 years of experience in Yellowstone National Park. Guests will see the real Yellowstone, away from the crowded boardwalks and turnouts.

Seeking Day Hiking, Kayak and Van Tour Adventure Guides for the 2025 season (mid-May through September). Guides typically works three to five days a week (10-12 hours/day), depending on your personal schedule. All first year Guides must complete the 1-week YHG Guide School training prior to employment ($75 per participant plus course fees). Compensation includes $15-$16.50/hour + tips with an end-of-the-year bonus. Perks include pro-deal purchases, on-the-clock commutes through Yellowstone, and weekly time off to explore the Greater Yellowstone ecosystem. Guides are welcome to secure a camp spot at the RV Resort located next to the office where there is a bathhouse and restaurant. Applicants must be 21 years of age or older, WFR/WFA certified (can be obtained during YHG Guide School), have a clean driving record and able to drive a 15-passenger van, physically fit and able to hike up to 7 miles in a day, knowledge of Yellowstone, excellent customer service and communication skills, and mountain guiding or tour van experience (preferred). If you're passionate about Yellowstone National Park, outdoor education, and engaging visitors with the environment, learn more at YellowstoneHikingGuides.com.

NOW HIRING—view the Yellowstone Hiking Guides staff experience.

• Hike among herds of bison and pronghorn. Watch wolves and grizzly bears on the clock. View the magnificent Lower Falls of the Yellowstone River along the Grand Canyon. Stroll through the steam of erupting geysers. Drive through Yellowstone enjoying the morning light, sipping coffee, on the way to the trailhead to meet the clients. Drive groups of bucket-listers who are enjoying every twist and turn of the adventure. Every day working inside the park is gratifying on so many different levels!

As a small, locally owned sea kayak adventure company located in Friday Harbor on the San Juan Islands in Washington, Discovery Sea Kayaks offers a variety of guided sea kayak tours that emphasize exploration and education.

Now seeking Sea Kayak Guides to lead and assist in kayak tours, ensuring guests have a safe and educational experience. The role entails pre-trip planning using tides and weather data, maintaining awareness of water conditions and changing weather patterns, general maintenance of equipment and guide facilities, and food preparation and meal planning for some trips. Candidates must be prepared to work the entire season (May through the first week of October) with a dynamic schedule and long days. The season begins with training, facility maintenance, and preparation of kayak equipment, followed by a busy period with multiple daily tours and twice-weekly overnight tours, culminating in a rapid conclusion. Compensation ranges from $16.76-$24/hour based on experience. Comprehensive kayak training will be provided at no cost before the season starts, and there is an opportunity to achieve the ACA Trip Leader award post-training. Applicants must be at least 21 years old, possess a valid driver's license, and maintain a clean driving record. Preference will be given to candidates with previous kayak guide or other guiding experience, current certifications, and those already established in or pursuing a career in the outdoor industry. If you are hardworking, flexible, positive, punctual, detail-oriented, and passionate about the outdoors, kayaking, and working with the public, please complete the online application.

• Becoming a Guide for Discovery Sea Kayaks requires a true desire and dedication to learn about kayaking, leading kayak tours, and hard work. Seasonal work is a team effort, and jumping in to help when needed is always appreciated. Expect to lead trips daily in the high season months running multiple tours per day!

Outdoor Leaders create the magic at Wilderness Inquiry — leading life changing outdoor experiences for people of all backgrounds and abilities!

With a home base in St. Paul, Minnesota, Wilderness Inquiry sits right on the bank of the Mississippi River. From this main office and warehouse location, staff are sent to countless locations across Minnesota and Wisconsin, as well as throughout the U.S., including popular National Parks such as Yellowstone and Glacier.

Whether you're an expert or beginner in outdoor recreation and education (or not particularly outdoorsy at all!) there is a place for you at Wilderness Inquiry. Like participants, staff come from all backgrounds, skillsets, and interests, with one thing in common: we are all passionate about making the outdoors a more diverse, equitable, inclusive, and accessible community for all. With various program models, staff can enjoy working on extended trips across the country or spend their days working locally and returning to their own homes every night. Over the course of a single trip, Leaders will embrace many roles including educator, guide, leader and more. Seasonal positions are offered from March through October, with staff training dates available each season. Compensation ranges from $19-$24/hour for day programs and $182-$232/day for overnights/extended tours. Staff housing, meals on extended trips, and professional service stipends are also provided. If you're looking for a place to make friends, participate in cool experiences, get paid to spend time outside, and work with a crew of amazing individuals where you feel like you truly belong and make a difference, learn more about the Wilderness Inquiry community.

Take a virtual tour of the Wilderness Inquiry Apostle Islands Base Camp!

• Inspiring personal growth, enhanced awareness of the environment, and community integration, Wilderness Inquiry adventures encourage people to open themselves to new possibilities and opportunities—and to each other!

For over 25 years, Calleva has built a reputation for excellence and innovation in outdoor education and outdoor adventure programming.

Introducing kids and adults to gorgeous wilderness areas in the DC area, Calleva provides outdoor adventure, sustainable farming and nature immersion programs for groups in Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia. Calleva's unique blend of fun, learning and challenge helps people take risks, develop confidence, learn new skills, and excel in a team environment.

Instructors/Facilitators will lead land and water-based outdoor adventure programs that include canoeing, kayaking, rafting, stand-up paddle boarding, sailing, surfing, fishing, rock climbing, mountain biking, environmental education, farming, horseback riding, and general camping. Positions are available for 3 seasons (April to mid-November), summer camp (June to August) and the fall (early August to mid-November). In addition to financial compensation ranging from $600–$1,500/week, benefits include meals for all overnight trips, 5-10 days of paid training and summer preparation, pro deal purchases, use of program equipment for personal adventures, and compensation for advanced training or certifications in specific areas. Applicants must be at least 21 years of age and be passionate about sharing their love of the outdoors with children. You must also be able to demonstrate solid outdoor skills, hard skills and proficiency in the activity of your choice, and excellent all-round soft skills. Calleva values people with diverse life experiences who seek adventure in their personal lives. Explore Calleva.org for all the details.

• Ready for an adventure?
Calleva is seeking passionate individuals who are excited about coming to work every day — people who aren't afraid of getting dirty or being in the river all day, and who can roll with the punches and have a good time doing it.

Do you believe in the power of wild places? Lead high-quality, adventure-based, outdoor education programs in backcountry environments throughout the mid-Atlantic region!

Nestled in the heart of Appalachia lies Experience Learning, a 400-acre high preserve located just below the base of the highest mountain in West Virginia — Spruce Knob. With minimal trail systems and a million acres of the Monongahela National Forest, Instructors will lead participants on adventures they never knew possible. Experience Learning programs serve students in the 5th–12th grades, and include both residential and wilderness field courses based out of the Spruce Knob Mountain Center campus. Facilitating beyond the classroom wilderness learning programs, Outdoor Field Instructors help students gain the confidence, experience, and appreciation for our natural world through lessons and activities that include hiking, backpacking, camp craft, orienteering, caving, environmental education, rock climbing, canoeing, and survival skills. In addition, Instructors tailor courses to meet the thematic goals for each school served, leading students in discussions and initiatives around leadership, communication, environmental stewardship, teamwork, and creative problem solving.

Pay ranges from $65-$115/day DOE, shared housing, meals during programming, access to pro deals, 1 day of paid health leave/month, and opportunities for organizational advancement. Applicants must have a Bachelor’s degree or equivalent life experience with current WFA/CPR certification (an onsite WFA/CPR class is offered during the spring and fall). If you are a Jack or Jill-of-all-trades with a curiosity of our natural world, passionate about teaching and leading young people, and have a strong work ethic and keen judgment, fill out the online application or contact Katrina Weyland for more information.

Work in hand constructed yurts on the highest point in West Virginia! View a taste of the beyond-the-classroom learning experience.

• Blending adventure and learning together in a rigorous and challenging environment, Experience Learning programs highlight physical, emotional and intellectual growth through outdoor learning and discovery. Field Instructors will find hard work is balanced with a tight community of adventurous, dedicated and conscientious professionals who work hard to make positive change in our world.

Located just 2½ hours north of New York City in the heart of the Catskill Mountains, Frost Valley YMCA is a camp, retreat destination, and environmental education center offering people of all ages and abilities enriching outdoor experiences, adventure, growth, and fun. Off-site summer teen adventure programs take campers on trips to beautiful and awe-inspiring places in the Northeast as they work together to explore, problem solve, and achieve common goals.

• Adventure Trip Leaders along with a co-leader supervise and care for campers as they engage in service elements and/or backpack, climb, hike, kayak, canoe, whitewater raft and sail throughout natural spaces over a two-week period. Responsibilities include preparing food and gear logistics for each assigned trip, teaching backcountry cooking skills, fire building, campsite selection and maintenance, Leave No Trace seven principles, and fostering an environment where campers can gain confidence, leadership skills, conflict resolution skills, and other interpersonal skills.
• Adventure Trip Logistics Coordinators assist in creating a successful pack-out, return and safety of all off-site overnight trips, mentor trip leaders, directly oversee the food and/or gear room, and keep the Trip Center in outstanding running condition.
• Adventure Village Counselors oversee camper day-to-day needs and provide safe, fun entertainment and wholesome activities. Counselors run programming specifically for kids interested in adventure activities at camp and lead 3-5 day hiking, climbing, and canoeing trips closer to camp.

Summer camp runs from mid-June to mid-August. Compensation ranges from $475-$650/week plus room, board, and the opportunity to explore the Northeast. Adventure applicants must be at least 21 years of age, have a clean driving record, minimum WFR certification, and experience working with kids ages 10-17 in an outdoor setting, or a strong desire to gain experience in such an environment. View all current summer job openings and apply online.

View the Frost Valley Y adventure camp experience »

• Are you looking for a fulfilling job where you can make a difference in the world? Whether on an adventure trip to beautiful and awe-inspiring places in New York or on a service learning trip, Frost Valley YMCA's adventure programs are all about character building, challenging yourself, making lasting friendships, and experiencing first hand the difference you can make.

Join a dedicated community of outdoor professionals for an enriching experience in Virginia's Blue Ridge Mountains. Situated on 500 picturesque acres, Wilderness Adventure at Eagle Landing year-round programs focus on developing confidence, leadership, and teamwork.

The Summer Adventure Camp offers 1-3 week backpacking-based trips for ages 9-17. Throughout each adventure, Summer Trip Leaders guide participants through a wide variety of adventure activities: rock climbing, caving, canoeing, kayaking, whitewater rafting, mountain biking, high & low ropes teambuilding courses and more! When not on the trail, Group Leaders work with lodge-based clientele staying on the property who range from middle & high schools, colleges & universities, corporate retreats, youth groups, and more. Group Leaders also help work a variety of special events (Music Festival, Roanoke Go Outside Festival, Mountain Biking Weekend, and more) and are often assigned support, maintenance, and hospitality duties as needed. Compensation includes $80-$120/day (dependent on level of experience and certification) onsite housing, staff meals, advanced training in outdoor adventure skills, facilitation, and leadership development, WFA certification, and pro deals. Most staff are in their mid-twenties, but applicants may apply as young as 18 for Assistant Leader positions. Experience in the outdoors and a desire to work with children is a must. Wilderness Adventure seeks individuals committed to enhancing their leadership abilities, learning continuously, and confidently making decisions in challenging situations. If you are interested in creating impactful experiences through adventure, please complete the online application or contact Logan Paone for more info. The hiring process typically takes 1-2 weeks with an initial Zoom interview.

• Get paid to hike, paddle, bike, and climb with awesome kids.
• Work with a tight-knit, high-energy team who supports and pushes each other.
• Gain hands-on experience in outdoor education, youth development, and risk management (hello, resume boost).
• Let the adventures begin. View testimonials from staff and participants.

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