Interpretive River Raft Guide, Edmonton & Calgary (Fall 2024)

Attention River Raft Guides or Environmental/Earth Science Grads in YYC/YEG, this is for you!

The RiverWatch Institute of Alberta is NOW HIRING Interpretive River Raft Guides for our Fall 2024 School Science Floats in Calgary and Edmonton!

Calling All River Guides! Your Perfect Job Awaits!

Are you an experienced River Guide looking for an exciting opportunity between the summer float season and ski season? Do you love the outdoors and want a job that’s not just GREAT but incredibly rewarding? Look no further! If you have river-guiding experience, this position is PERFECT for you!

We’re thrilled to announce that seasonal positions are now OPEN for our Fall School Science Float Programs in Edmonton and Calgary. But that’s not all—this role is also ideal for environmental science grads (or those in related fields) and anyone with nature-interpretive and paddling experience. Imagine working with a fantastic team in a great culture where you can make a real impact on the next generation.

This is a seasonal full-time position running from early September to the end of October. Don’t miss your chance to be part of something extraordinary!

SECTION 1: THE RIVERWATCH EXPERIENCE – “EVERY MOMENT COUNTS”

At RiverWatch, we work with a diverse, vibrant, and curious group of people who share a passion for our waterways. The RiverWatch Institute of Alberta is Alberta’s largest river rafting organization, dedicated to promoting adventure, science, and stewardship. As an award-winning nonprofit, we provide guided river experiences for local schools and the public, along with citizen-science water monitoring for watershed groups across Alberta. We excel at creating hands-on experiences through water science education and interpretive storytelling, showcasing the extraordinary history, culture, and biodiversity of our waterways. Our #1 goal is to exceed the highest standards in education, tourism, and hospitality.

Is this for you?
Every year, our Interpretive River Guide team is handpicked from hundreds of applicants to be the heart of our float experience. Together, we create impactful and unforgettable educational experiences for our students. As a RiverWatch Interpretive River Guide, you'll be part of a close-knit team that leads by example, ensuring every float runs smoothly both on and off the water.

Who is a RiverWatch River Guide?
You’re the kind of person who can lead a pack of squirrels to safety while explaining the life cycle of a fern. Your charisma and down-to-earth nature make even the fish feel at ease! Your confidence and leadership would make a pack of wolves jealous. Your passion for nature, science, or the environment is so infectious that even the trees lean in to listen. You’re a storyteller who could keep a rock entertained for hours, and your attention to detail is impeccable—you remember the name of every duck in the pond. In short, you’re the outdoor guru who makes every river adventure unforgettable.

Still interested?
If all the above sounds like you, and you have a background in environmental science or related disciplines, along with nature-interpretive and paddling experience (canoe/raft), keep reading.

SECTION 2: TRAINING

At RiverWatch, fun and learning are in our DNA. Professional development is crucial to finding and retaining great people year after year. We build teams of professionals dedicated to our mission, and many of our Guides return season after season. These individuals possess the character and skills to elevate RiverWatch to new heights, and it’s our responsibility to nurture that growth.

Safety is our #1 priority.
Training for RiverWatch guides begins in April with an intensive week covering topics such as rafting, emergency response, health and safety, equipment maintenance, natural history interpretation, science curriculum, and wastewater tours. This comprehensive program ensures that our professional river guides are fully prepared to work with students and guests on Alberta’s rivers.

SECTION 3: FLOAT SEASON (NOTE: THIS JOB IS FOR THE FALL SEASON)

Our river guide teams are based in Edmonton and Calgary, delivering float programs throughout the spring, summer, and fall. All positions are Interpretive River Guide roles and may include elements of water monitoring aligned with school curriculum. RiverWatch float programs impact over 10,000 students each year.

Pre-Season Training:
All seasonal staff will be onboarded with self-directed module-based training. Mandatory in-person training, including first aid, on-water river guide training will place when required.

Spring Season:
The Spring School Science Floats kick off the season in late April/early May on weekdays, with guide hours generally from 7:30 am to 4:00 pm.

Summer Season:
In mid-June, Guides transition from school science floats to our public EcoFloat programs. This season runs from mid-June to the end of August, with guide shifts ranging from morning to evening hours on both weekdays and weekends, depending on the float schedule.

Fall Season (THIS IS SEASON WE ARE HIRING FOR)
As summer ends, we switch back to school floats once classes resume. The Fall School Science Floats start in early September and run on weekdays until the end of October, with guide hours generally from 7:30 am to 4:00 pm.

THE RIVERWATCH RIVER GUIDE ROLE

Responsibilities:

• Guide rafts with crews of varying sizes, ages, and numbers.
• Implement risk reduction in navigation, communication, and decision-making.
• Provide top-notch educational instruction and service to all guests, before, during, and after their trip.
• Participate in off-the-water tasks, including moving, loading and unloading rafts, assisting guests with gear, delivering instructional talks, and organizing gear and equipment.
• Perform additional tasks as assigned, such as driving vehicles, repairing and maintaining gear or facilities, guest check-in, and assisting other departments.

Qualifications:

• Valid - Basic First Aid & CPR are required.
• Wilderness First Aid or higher is encouraged.
• VALID PROAOA Raft Guide or Swiftwater Rescue License/Certificate is highly encouraged/required.
• Effective communication skills and the ability to motivate small and large groups.
• A strong sense of guest service.
• Accountability for your actions and performance.
• Enthusiasm for teaching science, nature, and sharing outdoor activities with others.
• The ability to take direction from supervisors and managers.
• Good judgment in decision-making.
• The ability to work well under pressure and respond quickly to emergencies with appropriate judgment.
• A can-do attitude and ability to work in a teamwork-based environment.
• The ability to speak clearly and with authority while guiding.

Physical Demands and Working Conditions:

• Must be physically capable of maneuvering rafts for the duration of the season, both on the water and on land by carrying and lifting.
• Applicants should be able to lift 50 lbs repetitively.
• Applicants should be comfortable sitting in a raft for long periods, standing for extended periods, and performing tasks that involve bending, stooping, and twisting.
• Applicants should be comfortable working outside in varying weather conditions (heat, cold, wind, rain).
• Due to the seasonal nature of this position, hours and schedules will vary from week to week based on business demands.

HOW TO APPLY

Hiring is ongoing until the positions are filled.
To apply, please include your resume and a cover letter describing your paddling experience.

Job Types: Full-time, Seasonal
Contract length: 2 months

Pay: $160.00-$180.00 per day

Benefits:

• Flexible schedule

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Day shift
• Monday to Friday

Application question(s):

• Do you have experience as a river guide and/or led groups on canoe or wilderness experiences?
• Do you have experience delivering interpretive programs to students and the public in science, nature, education, or related settings?
• All RiverWatch guide training is mandatory participation. Our in-person, on-water river guide training is one week long and starts early september. Can you attend?
• Our fall float season lasts from early/mid-September and continues to end of October. Can you commit to working FT during this entire time.
• Have you obtained a post-secondary degree or diploma in Environmental Science or a similar field related to Earth sciences? Alternatively, are you currently pursuing studies in these or other science disciplines?

Licence/Certification:

• current first aid certificate (required)
• PROAOA Raft Guide or Swiftwater Rescue License/Certificate (required)

Work Location: In person

Application deadline: 2024-08-25
Expected start date: 2024-09-10