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Outdoor Jobs, Internships & River Careers
You are destined for GREATNESS
Get a job that will give you unforgettable memories
PEOPLE
PLACES
EXPERIENCES
WHAT WILL MY DAILY EXPERIENCE
at Pro Rafting Tours look like?
Prepare
Train, learn & prepare with the Pros. With 40+ years of river experience, Pro Rafting Tours is an authority on whitewater river excursions. On the PRT Team, you receive on-going innovative training that covers technical skills, safety protocols & client relations. On-going training advancements include cutting-edge techniques, equipment updates & environmental education with programs such as: Swift water rescue, wilderness first aid, Leave No Trace practices, GPS / communication systems protocols & more!
Lead
River guiding requires adaptability to changing conditions & unexpected challenges. You will learn to assess risks effectively & make informed decisions in real-time, refining your judgment & response skills. Serve as an ambassador for the natural environment, instill a sense of stewardship & awe among guests. You will focus on highlighting the importance of preserving river ecosystems & minimizing human impact. Lead by example, promote responsible river use, foster understanding of environmental issues & inspire guests to acquire long-term appreciation for rivers.
Give
Exceptional guiding goes beyond technical expertise; it's about creating meaningful connections with guests. Your ongoing training emphasizes customer service skills, such as active listening, conflict resolution & storytelling. Tailor your interactions to match the needs & interests of diverse groups, fostering a welcoming & inclusive atmosphere. Use interpretive techniques to enhance the educational value of trips, share information & stories, encouraging guests to deepen their appreciation for the rivers, canyons, human history & natural world.
WHAT MAKES WORKING AT
PRO RAFTING TOURS A GREAT EXPERIENCE?
- Adventure & Excitement: Whitewater rafting & float trips are inherently fun. Working as a guide will allow you to immerse yourself in this dynamic environment daily, experiencing the excitement of each trip alongside guests.
- Outdoor Lifestyle: You have an opportunity to live & work in some of the most scenic & pristine natural environments. Spend your days surrounded by breathtaking landscapes, from rugged canyons to lush river valleys, fostering a deep appreciation for the outdoors.
- Teamwork & Camaraderie: You need strong teamwork & communication skills & work closely with your fellow crew members to navigate rapids safely, assist guests & overcome challenges together. This fosters a sense of camaraderie & mutual support among team members, creating lasting friendships & memorable experiences.
- Connection with Guests: As a guide, you have the privilege of sharing your passion for rivers with guests from all walks of life. Building rapport with guests, sharing stories & creating memorable experiences fosters meaningful connections & often leads to lifelong friendships. You have the opportunity to positively impact guests' lives by instilling confidence, promoting outdoor recreation & fostering a deeper appreciation for nature.
- Personal & Professional Growth: Working as a guide will challenge you both physically & mentally, promoting personal growth & development. You will learn valuable leadership, decision-making & risk management skills in a fast-paced & dynamic environment. Ongoing training & certification opportunities will enable you to continuously improve your skills & advance your career.
- Environmental Stewardship: Pro Rafting Tours prioritizes environmental sustainability & conservation efforts, so, as a PRT guide, you play a vital role in educating guests about the importance of preserving river ecosystems, practicing Leave No Trace principles & minimizing their impact on the environment.
Work with us & receive a fulfilling & rewarding experience characterized by adventure, teamwork, connection with nature & personal growth. It's a profession that may allow you to combine your love for the outdoors with opportunities to inspire & educate others, creating unforgettable experiences on the river.
Our Guides Describe Themselves as:
Caring
PRT Guides are empathetic & we try to understand others. We nurture relationships with our guests & with each other. PRT guides are kind, supportive & encouraging. Our support creates safe & helpful atmospheres where guests feel valued & empowered to pursue their river trip & recreational goals & aspirations. The fact that PRT guides are caring creates transformative experiences that enrich our lives & our clients' experiences.
Interesting
PRT Guides enjoy meeting people & leaving lasting positive impressions. We like to spark engaging conversations on a wide range of topics. PRT Guides are well-informed, curious & eager to share. We are passionate about what we do & love to tell stories. Our self-assurance, willingness to learn every day & our authenticity are magnetic, drawing others in & inspiring admiration & respect.
Physically Fit
PRT Guides inspire a vibe of well-being, energy & capability to take on the aspects of "guide life." Characteristics we PRT Guides show are: Energy & vitality, strength & endurance, flexibility & mobility, mental clarity & focus, resilience & stress management & overall well-being. PRT Guides are people from all walks of life & the thing we all have in common is that we are vibrant, physically capable to do what's required of river guides & we live life to the fullest every day.
Become rich in adventure, story, places & people
Don’t wait to tell your story. Live it now! Join our team!
Frequently Asked Questions
The following are FAQs about hiring & jobs with PRT. Please read this thoroughly before submitting your application. If you have additional questions, be sure to ask them during your interview. Our training for new guides starts in May each year. You must be available for work from your hire date to at least August 15th of each summer.
Current open positions.
- River Guide • May - October (earliest end date is August 15th) Full to Part-Time
- Shuttle Driver (no CDL required) • May - October (earliest end date is August 15th) Full to Part-Time
- Event Caterer • May - October (earliest end date is August 15th) Part-Time
- Sales Reservationist • April - October (or year-round) Full to Part-Time
To apply, email to info@proraftingtours.com & request an application. Once you receive the application, just follow the directions & apply. All potential guides must complete an application before they will be considered into our hiring process. Our entire application process is on email so be sure to check your email regularly.
Yes, but only for those who can commit 100% to a definite & predetermined part time schedule in writing & can commit to our mandatory weekly meetings on Wednesdays at 9 AM. The application process is still the same & training is still mandatory even for part-time employment. Part-time staff are accountable to perform in a way that helps accomplish our team goals. If you are interested in part-time work, complete an application to discuss potential part-time opportunities with our Team Lead.
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, or disability, and will not be discriminated against on any of these bases.
We are looking for people who have an established work history & who have a willingness to be authentic & outgoing with our customers. We teach our staff everything they need to know about the job. We train & assist as their skills develop, so previous river guiding experience is not required. Like any job, we need responsibility, wisdom, the ability to make sound decisions based on experience, self-awareness, common sense & a willingness to be taught. Here’s a hint: We assume you love the outdoors or you wouldn’t be applying. Let us know what makes you authentic. Information like, “I’m really an outdoors person,” is common. Statements like, “I once lived an entire winter in a snow cave”, or “In my spare time, I volunteer at a homeless shelter”, or “I once won a Dungeons and Dragons tournament” are individualistic. Let us know some of your past work-related, volunteer & hobby experiences that make you uniquely you.
PRT cannot permit guides or staff to drink alcohol, take illicit drugs, smoke, vape, chew tobacco, or do anything similar while on the job, on company property or in company vehicles. PRT has very detailed safety, operations & catering protocols that are essential for ensuring consistency, efficiency & professionalism, ultimately contributing to the success of events & the satisfaction of clients & guests. PRT staff must strictly follow these guidelines. If there is a question, feel free to ask about this in your interview.
Pro Rafting Tours provides comprehensive technical, operational, client service, emergency preparedness & issue-resolution training for all of its staff. Many river guiding outfitters charge their job candidates money (from $500 to $2,000) for their river guide river navigation & swift water training, but PRT does not charge. Training is free to candidates who plan to take a guide position. Some river companies have "competitive training" which means that they will invite 10 job candidates on training with the intention of only hiring 5 people. PRT does not do this. We reserve the right to rescind our offer of a river guide contract if you do not demonstrate the necessary skills & pass our river guide skills tests & exam. You also have the right to turn down your guide contract offer if you do not like what you learn during training. Pre-season river guide training is mandatory. It starts in May & continues throughout June as our yearly PRT team assembles.
As a new guide, you will start on the Provo River, near Provo, Orem & Heber City, Utah. PRT also runs trips on the Kern River, California, the Weber River, Utah & the Salmon River, ldaho. Experienced guides typically work on our week-long Salmon vacation trips in Idaho, but you may be invited along as a trainee if you are interested in training to become a Salmon guide. We have mandatory weekly meetings for full-time & part-time guides on Wednesdays at 9 AM where everyone gets together.
For full-time guides, pay is by the “season”. For part-time guides, pay is by the “trip” or by the “river day”. Your pay goes up as your experience and responsibility increases. We pay extra for Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) and Wilderness First Responder (WFR) certificates. There is also hourly work available, and if you have a Commercial Driver’s License or other specialized skill, such as welding, construction, or auto mechanics higher hourly rates may be earned.
Because pay rates may change from year-to-year, actual rates will be discussed in your interview.
It is possible to receive increases in any of these amounts based on merit, level of responsibility & previous experience. Guides also receive gratuities from their trips. This can be a significant amount of money above & well above your base wages.
PRT does not provide staff housing on the Provo River, Utah. Most new Provo River guides reside in private housing & live in cities near the Provo River. Kern River, California guides may reside while camping on the owners' property & using the residence in Weldon, California. Salmon River guides reside & travel as a team on-the-road, have group housing & lodging & frequently camp anywhere on the Salmon River & within its nearby towns & communities in Northern Idaho, Washington & Montana. For further details, please ask.
If you work on the river & catering is served, you are invited to enjoy our catered meals as much as you'd like. In fact, on many occasions, you & your fellow guides will prepare the meals. While traveling, if on the job, meals, snack & hydrating beverages are provided. Otherwise, for day trips, lunch breaks are scheduled so you can break to buy or bring your own meals, snacks & hydrating beverages.
Many river guiding outfitters require their river guides to purchase all of their own personal river gear such as: Personal flotation device, guide paddle, throw bag, splash jacket, wetsuit, drysuit & other items.
We provide all of our guides with the river gear you will need for the season. You not not need to pay for additional river gear. However, if you want to purchase your own personal gear, you buy gear through PRT with our outfitter pricing discounts for any personal NRS items you are interested to buy.
A current First Aid, CPR & AED certification from a certified training course is required. This certification is a candidate's responsibility to pay for out-of-pocket & on your own before you start. The reason candidates pay for their certifications is because individuals take the certifications with them where ever they go & the 2-3 year certifications can be used for what companies with whom they choose to work. FA, CPR & AED, WFA certifications can range in price from about $35 to $700 depending on which certification you obtain.
To guide with us, you need at minimum, a First Aid (FA), CPR & AED certification. Lifeguarding certifications are not necessary, but a huge plus.
The PRT training program has a First Aid, CPR & emergency responder component. Trainees will learn PRTs emergency preparedness & response protocols.
If you have a current EMT or WFR certification, please let us know as those certification are required for higher-level multi-day wilderness guiding.
Expect to also be responsible for your own transportation to and from work. Mileage or gas money for routine commuting to scheduled river or office work is not part of compensation.
For guides, your season begins in May. If you are a college student, check your finals schedule. If you are a high school student, check your last day of classes.
Our training program is required, even if you have previous guiding experience. You will spend at least three (3) weeks training. Most of the time, you will be on the water.
All guides are expected to work until the end of August. For many of you, this will be right up until you return to school. There is work available well into late October. In subsequent years, you may start guiding as early as March.
If you are still in school in May and want to work, don’t let that deter you from applying. Please apply & be very clear about your schedule & availability & we will do our best to work with you.
Guiding is a seasonal summer service job. If you want to make a specific amount during a summer season, this is dependent on the number of days & hours you work & guest gratuities (tips.) We will collaborate with you to schedule you at the days/hours you want. We expect that guides stick to their schedules.
Yes, you may, but all time off should be finalized and approved by the first week in June. Exceptions can be made, but this is a seasonal job & we expect you to commit to the schedule you agreed to. If you have not specifically requested a day off, we assume you are available to work. Even if there are no guests scheduled on the day you are scheduled to work, you must be on call and ready to work that day. Guests schedule trips last minute & as a guide, you will be assigned to those trips if they are booked.
River trips are seasonal. Guides describe themselves like farmers in that we have to make all of our money in a short period of time. We make it when the rivers run. Getting a lot of time off for family vacations or other events does not work well with this job.
All guides are needed, most of the time, during the May - August season. Please consider this before applying. We do not want to be harsh, but we simply do not have scheduling capacity to have summer guides who are constantly asking for time off.
Also, if you intend to work sporadically without a schedule, please do not apply. If you plan to go on a two-week or longer vacation during the busy part of our summer (June 8th - August 30th) please do not apply.
This job is a paradox. Guiding can be difficult & exhausting & at the same time, guiding can be the most fun & exciting experience. We need people who can get up early, demonstrate positivity & enthusiasm & keep pushing even when the weather is cold, hot, rainy or windy. We need people with an optimistic, upbeat outlook on physical outdoors work & relating positively with people from all walks of life. If you need a lot of “me time” or prefer to be alone, this is not the job for you. This job requires constant teamwork & collaboration. It is an extremely client-focused job & you will be engaging with people all day long.
PRT is extremely proud of its guides & staff. We appreciate our teams of the past & present & look forward to our future teams.
At PRT, we try our best to maintain a work environment & culture that is supportive, kind, appreciative, innovative, cutting-edge & best-in-class that our staff & guides are proud to be part of.
At the same time, we are just like any other business that expects a reciprocal commitment from our staff.
Our staff & river guides MAKE what PRT is today. When you come on-board with us, we will treat you with kindness, fairness, appreciation, meaningful experiences & learning & growth opportunities & welcome your suggestions & ideas.
PRT enjoys so many 5-star reviews from our happy clients & guests... This is because of our team. If you're ready for this line of work, please apply by emailing us at: info@proraftingtours.com.
AND that’s it for our most frequently asked questions.
NOTE: If you have additional questions, please write them down & ask when you talk with your recruiting manager.
I will be assuming you will have read carefully each of the answers to these questions thoroughly before we reach out to you for a potential phone interview.
Remember. . .
Guiding People, Leading People & Caring for People is our job.
Does that describe you. . .?
We will be in touch!
“Guiding People. . .NOT Rafts!”
Your Friend from the River,
Donny Hazard, PRT's Founder & Owner
What do our guests say?
