Finding Outdoor Jobs: Get Paid to Play
Once, while whitewater rafting as a child, I remember thinking to my self, wow, what an awesome job. I made a promise to myself then and there that I would never have a real job or sit behind a desk all day, and so far I have kept that promise. I spend most of my time rafting white water and running sled dogs.
We have all seen people just like our selves manning these exciting lifestyles. So if you have ever longed to hustle guests down the Colorado River or get paid to patrol the back country trails of Rocky Mountain state park then here’s some information to get you started. Below are five of some of the most exciting outdoor jobs. No matter if you want to spend your days out at sea or hugging trees here is some useful information for the beginner.
The following will help you find out what skills you need for the job, how to get it, what it pays, and when the work starts.
PARK RANGER
THE JOB
Working as park ranger is probably the ultimate job for those who love the outdoors. Not only can you spend your days getting paid to live and work in some of the most remarkable landscape in the country but you can help educate visitors on how to enjoy the wilderness in an environmentally friendly way.
Your duties as a park ranger may vary from park to park. You may find your self patrolling the back country trails for days at a time or perhaps giving educational lessons to a group of wide eyed children on how to survive in the woods should they get lost. If you are truly inspired by the national park service there will be plenty of opportunities to work behind the scenes, learn more about the world around you, and enjoy your days as a park ranger.
THE COMMITMENT
It takes a dedicated person to work as a park ranger, willing to dedicate a certain mount of time. Each park has its own set of time requirements; most are generally around 3 months to a year.
THE FIRST STEP
With the national park service encompassing over 83.6 million acres and 370 national sites the odds of finding a job are in your favor. Positions at the parks are usually open year round and most take just a phone call to the right person to find out how to apply locally. If you don’t feel like working in the picturesque parks of the four corners region you can check on the national park service website on-line at www.nps.gov for more information.
THE PAY
When your first start your internship as a park ranger you will get a small monthly stipend. The pay isn’t great but odds are, if you’re trying to get a job as a park ranger money isn’t a big concern for you. Along with your monthly stipend you will usually receive free room and board in the park. If you have your own trailer or RV you may also be able to get your own camping site for the duration of your stay.
THE REQUIREMENTS
As always, CPR and first aid are a good start. Applicants should, of course, be people friendly and enjoying working with the general public. A background in natural science or natural history will definitely help you get your foot in the door.
WHITEWATER RAFTING GUIDE
THE JOB
With so many impressive rivers in the four corners area it makes it easy to get your feet wet in this adrenaline rushing day job. “Its one of the only jobs I’ve ever had that I don’t mind having to get up at seven in the morning.” says river manager, Brett Baudet, of Eagle Adventures. With the boat as your desk, the river your office, and the tourists your employees you may just become addicted to your work. You will spend your days giving safety talks, guiding the river, chatting it up with your customers, and the hardest part of your job will be loading and unloading the boats from the trailer or bus. A whitewater guide’s life is full of endless days on the river and even more endless nights partying with fellow raft guides.
THE COMMITMENT
You won’t think twice about having to give up your summer for this white water rafting job. The major part of the rafting season, for most places, is Memorial Day to Labor Day. If you’re really addicted you can start earlier and stay later in the season but you won’t get as many trips after the gut of the season. Jobs will often go to returning applicants first and then to those who are willing to work the season in its entirety.
THE FIRST STEP
A good way to get some insight to working on the river is to talk to a first year guide. Ask the rafting company you’re interested in working for to put you in touch with some of their guides who were newbie’s during the previous rafting season. These past employees can shed great insight on what to expect during your first summer on the river, should you choose to work there.
Once you have decided on a company to spend your summer with you will want to get in touch with them as soon as possible. Most companies train guides during the post season rush so you want to make sure you
have your application in plenty of time.
THE PAY
Most rafting companies pay on a per trip basis. For obvious reasons first year guides are at the bottom of the pay scale. But if you return year after year your pay will increase each season. It is also likely that you may get paid bonuses for simple tasks like carrying the first aid kit on your boat, taking an extra customer, or giving the group safety speech. These bonuses are not much but they do add up. Where the money really comes from is the tips. If you are good with people and can keep them happy you can make some
serious money. Tips can range from $20 to over a $100 depending on your group and how good of a time you show them.
THE REQUIREMENTS
Whitewater rafting isn’t as hard as it looks. If you have strong confidence in your self, a sense of adventure, are a quick learner and good with people, you have what it takes to be a whitewater rafting guide.
Most companies have a training session before there major season starts. These trainings are usually free but some companies require you to pay a fee for the training. This is to help ensure that only those who really want to work on the river apply and filter out people who are just looking for a free ride down the river. First aid and CPR are also required along with a swift water rescue class. These certifications are usually offered during the training at a discounted rate but it can’t hurt to have them done ahead of time.
SKI PATROL
THE JOB
There’s no shortage of great ski resorts in the four corners area so why not spend your winter months on the slopes? Working as a ski patrol, however isn’t all fresh powder and snow bunnies though. If it’s your first year as a ski patrol you should expect your days to be filled with training and chores. On a normal day you’ll be getting up around 7:00 or 8:00 a.m. and working until 5:00 p.m. Once you get your ski boots on you will spend the day checking trail conditions, keeping avalanche devices up to date, helping injured skiers, and much physical work.
THE COMMITMENT
Winter staff at ski resorts are usually hired starting around November until around April. If you are a rookie with no past experience you will want to offer to stay for the entire season. Applicants who are willing to stay the entire season are picked above those who are only interested in working a few months for some free skiing. The ski resort season typically lasts from December to April.
THE FIRST STEP
Most, if not all, ski resorts have information about their job openings and the surrounding area. For better odds at scoring a job on the slops apply early. Some resorts start hiring as early as September so get your applications filled out and mailed in before November and you will be a step above the rest even if you aren’t as qualified.
THE PAY
As a first year ski patrol you won’t make very much money. Don’t expect more than about $9.00 an hour. The more experience and certifications you have though, the more you will be paid. A ski patrol master can make up to $35.00 an hour.
THE REQUIREMENTS
All ski resorts require some degree of first aid training. Depending on the size of the resort you want to work at you may only need your basic first aid and CPR. Other larger resorts, or ones that offer first responder services, will require higher certification such as wilderness first responder basic. Even if you don’t have the required first aid certifications you are still encouraged to apply. If you have some good work experience most resorts will offer to train you before the season starts.
SLED DOG HANDLER
THE JOB
People that work as dog handlers are usually people who really enjoy dogs and want to learn more about the sport. You’ll learn everything from how to feed dogs to the different gaits (ways the dog runs) a dog has. You will go on long 50 mile runs that may take anywhere from 5 hours to 7 hours. Standing on the back of a sled for that long may not seem like hard work but you are definitely tired by the end of the day. Occasionally you may even go on camping runs. This may not prove, however to be as exciting as it sounds. On camping runs you run dogs for 6 hours, rest for 4 hours, then run dogs for 6 hours, rest for 4 hoursâÂ?¦..you get the idea. Generally speaking, it’s very wearisome work that must be endured and if you have trouble working with little sleep this may not be the job for you.
THE COMMITMENT
Musher’s are looking for handlers on a year round basis. It’s a lot of work to keep sled dogs in shape. Even if the musher only has 50 dogs he is constantly looking for good help. If you are planning on working during the winter months you will be expected to stay the entire winter. The season is usually from November to around April. This may be longer or shorter depending on the musher you work for and the size of their kennel.
THE FIRST STEP
The best way to find a job as a handler is to look around online. The Sled Dog Central website (www.sleddogcentral.com ) is a great place to start. There you will find big name musher’s as well as musher’s with private kennels looking for help all year long. Find a musher you are interested in working with and then shoot them an email filled with questions you have about the sport and the way they do things.
THE PAY
Most musher’s don’t pay their handlers. If they do it is only a small amount each month. Most people that work as handlers do it for the love of the sport. Musher’s will generally provide you with free room and board. Don’t expect much more than a small one room cabin with no electrcity or water though. If you have experience, you may be lucky enough to find work with some of the better known musher’s with successful careers. These musher’s have a larger budget and can afford to pay handlers. These musher’s generally pay around a $100 a month during race season.
THE REQUIREMENTS
Believe it or not you don’t need any experience to get a job as a dog handler. In fact, most musher’s prefer a lack of experience. Every musher has their own way of doing things and they will want you to do the same. They will teach you everything you need to know. All you really need to become a dog handler is a love for dogs, a strong work ethic, and be able to work in rough conditions. Most days you will be getting up early in the morning to feed the dogs and then you’ll spend the rest of the day outside running trails, cleaning the dog yard, making repairs, and watching over the dogs.
ALASKA
FISHERMAN
THE JOB
If you laugh at the thought of working on a guided hike up Mt. Everest and the thought of death doesn’t make you blink then maybe you’re cut out to work on an Alaskan fishing boat.
Working the cold waters of Alaska’s coast is one of the most dangerous jobs in the world. Expect long hours, cold weather, and short amounts of sleep if you’re interested in spending your months out at sea. Alaska
fishermen spend long hours sitting outside in the cold working on pulling in fish, tying lines and standing watch. Everyone in the crew takes turns eating, sleeping, and manning watch. There is always something that needs to be done during every hour of the day.
THE COMMITMENT
Once you sign up for work as a deckhand you will have no choice but to work for the full amount of time you signed up for. After all, it’s pretty hard to leave your job when you’re stuck out at sea. You can sign up for as little as 2 months during the summer to a year on a fishing boat. Some college students will spend the summers working for some extra cash while others who simply love to fish will spend their days moving with the fish and finding work year round. Working on a boat, you are also provided with free room and board.
THE FIRST STEP
It’s always time to fish for something in Alaska. To get information about finding work on a boat the best place is to check out www.fishingjobs.com. They are a subscription based company that helps people acquire jobs in the Alaska fishing industry.
There are a few other sites much like the one mentioned above if you want to check them out. If you are near Seattle or Alaska you can always just go down to the docks and ask around about boats that need a crew for the upcoming season.
THE PAY
Fishing boats pay is based on the catch. If your boat doesn’t catch anything then you don’t make any money. If your boat catches a ton of fish then you’ll make a ton of money. Get the idea? Since the job is one of the most dangerous in the world the pay tends to be pretty lucrative if you have a good catch. Crab fishers have been known to make $10,000 on one trip out to sea.
THE REQUIREMENTS
The only real requirement to work in Alaska is that you need to be 16 years of age. There are no prerequisites or training needed. Rookies and newbie’s are always around and always being trained. Be ready for some hands-on learning and intense training your first week out at sea.
