Chilkat Guides

Hiring:

The Haines Raft Guide’s main responsibility is to carry out the company’s mission of providing passengers with a safe, enjoyable, and educational wilderness experience. The Haines Raft Guide will lead passengers by raft through the Chilkat Bald  Eagle Preserve safely and enthusiastically with an ultimate goal of satisfied passengers at the end of each trip. Our rafts are 18 ft. oar-rigs and we will take up to 8 passengers at a  time on either the Tsirku, the Klehini or the Chilkat Rivers. During our trips, we will spend about 1.5 hours on the river and our guides will also be expected to help with the  setting up and taking down of our rafting equipment. The Haines Raft Guide reports to  the River Manager, the Haines Program Manager and the Haines Program Assistant  Manager. 

TOUR DESCRIPTION: 

Raft through the Bald Eagle Preserve, home to the world's largest concentration of eagles. Explore the Lynn Canal, North America's deepest Fjord, by boat. Watch for wildlife such as eagles, bear, moose, whales and more. Visit historic Fort Seward.  Throughout your journey the scenery will be world class, so don't forget your camera. 

Combine a scenic raft trip in the Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve with an exploration  of the spectacular Lynn Fjord. Your quest begins onboard a jet-powered catamaran as  you watch for whales, sea mammals, and cascading waterfalls en route to the historic Fort  Seward. A narrated 40-minute drive up the Haines Highway, a National Scenic Byway,  brings you to the Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve. Watch for moose and swans in the  marshlands along the way. At the Preserve your guides await to begin your rafting adventure. Floating silently down the river is the best way to observe the eagles drawn to the river to feed on the plentiful salmon. You will spend about 1.5 hours floating through the Preserve before returning to your cruise ship. A riverside picnic is provided. This trip has no whitewater. The minimum age is 7 years old. 

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES: 

• COMPLETE TRAINING *****ALL HARD SKILLS AND TRAINING  CHECK-OFFS. 

• Guest Safety first, then engage guests with questions, entertain guests, and last but  not least, educate guests about the area.  

• Must possess a positive attitude that is friendly, considerate, strong, and energetic. 

On tour:

• Maintain safety of guests at all times. 

• Greet clients, facilitate introductions, get clients excited for rafting.

• Collect waivers, tickets and make sure all guests have signed waivers.

• Outfit clients in boots and PFD’s (with instruction on their wear and fit).

• Give safety talk to clients and complete safety talk checklist. 

• Maintain group control and spacing while getting guests geared up and on the  river. 

• Help load and unload gear while keeping the guests engaged. Responsible for  following a strict daily schedule. 

• Complete appropriate guide checklists & paperwork at the end of each shift. 

At all times: 

• Assist with other jobs/projects as needed by CG administration, this may include  but is not limited to: 

o Driving vehicles with guests or with our equipment. 

o Assisting with food prep for cruise tour programs. 

o Associated program maintenance needs. 

Must at all times be clean, well groomed, courteous, honest, and reliable.

Must be willing to work as a strong team member, assisting in the maintenance of  group morale. 

• Must possess the desire to continually improve his/her knowledge and skills.

SPECIFIC JOB REQUIREMENTS: 

In General: 

• Possess a friendly, outgoing, professional demeanor at all times during  interactions with the guests and other CG employees. 

• Follow CG policies and procedures at all times. 

• Must possess strong work ethic. 

• Prior guiding, leadership, and tourism experience helpful. 

• Must be willing to become certified or possess current certification in at least  Wilderness First Responder (WFR), CPR, and Swift Water Rescue. 

• Must be able to lift up to 80 pounds repeatedly throughout each day. Must be able  to carry loads over uneven ground. 

• Must be willing to occasionally assist the catering staff in preparing lunches for  our cruise tour programs. 

As a Raft Guide: 

• Completion of CG Haines program training which includes being checked off to guide 18 ft. oar-powered rafts through glacially braided river systems.

• Attention to safety, including learning and appropriately demonstrating the Raft Safety Talk, and having awareness of weather and river conditions and obstacles.

• Must be willing to learn how to drive our gear trucks and participate in gear truck operations. Diesel box trucks with raft trailers attached.

Alaska Mountain Guides (AMG) operates an exciting ATV tour program for guests on cruise ship-based day trips. The trips are held in the beautiful mountains outside of Haines, AK. ATV guides are responsible for driving busses to and from our remote ATV staging area, leading guests while on trail, emergency response, site setup/takedown, daily maintenance, and assisting in other areas of the company as needed.

TIMEFRAME: May 1st-October 1ST 

COMPENSATION: $12/hr + tips, with opportunities for advancement. $15/hr while driving  busses requiring a CDL. 

QUALIFICATIONS: Wilderness First Responder and CPR certification, CDL Class B with  airbrakes and passenger endorsement. (We can assist in obtaining all certifications) 

REQUIREMENTS:  

• Be at least 21 years old. 

• Have or agree to obtain a CDL class B within the first 45 days of employment. We will  assist you with training and reimburse licensing costs.  

• Ability to operate ATVs proficiently and have basic ATV maintenance abilities.

• The ability to carry up to 60 lbs. of gear repeatedly throughout the day.

• Completion of AMG ATV program training. Training is generally 7 days but may be  longer. Training will include policies and procedures, maintenance and emergency  response.  

JOB DUTIES:  

• Guest Safety first, then Entertain guests, Engage guests with questions and, last but not  least, Educate guests about the area. 

• Greet clients, facilitate introductions, get clients excited for riding. Entertain guests with  narration during the drive to and from the ATV site.  

• Attention to safety, including learning and appropriately demonstrating the ATV Safety  Talk, driving safely and having awareness of weather and trail conditions. 

• Outfit clients with helmets and any other applicable equipment (with instruction on wear  and fit). 

• Give safety talk and driving instructions – complete and sign safety talk checklist.

• Maintain group control and spacing while getting guests geared up and while riding.

• Respond to vehicle breakdowns, injuries, and wildlife encounters.  

• Help load, prepare, unload and de-rig gear while keeping the guests engaged.

• Follow a tight time schedule and be on time with your trips. 

• Be able and willing to perform any basic vehicle maintenance necessary to for ATV tour operations.

Living Space and Rent Structure 

Camping and/or vehicle housing at our warehouse yard in Haines is available for employees on a  case by case basis for a nominal fee. Guides must register with the office in advance. Space will  be given on a first-come-first-served basis while taking into account seniority. 

*Our employees are also welcome to pursue their own housing options in town* 

Leadership and Guide Training Courses (IWLS) 

Chilkat Guides, Alaska Mountain Guides and Climbing School, Mountain Guides International,  and the International Wilderness Leadership School offer a wide range of long trips, courses and  guided and educational programming in Alaska and around the world.  

AMG frequently selects candidates who complete guide training courses to continue in other  employment and long trip opportunities with the CG and AMG companies. AMG evaluates  employees through all aspects of their employment and selects the best candidates for  opportunities in other programs, including expedition guiding. 

TOUR DESCRIPTION: (What guests see) 

Drive ATVs into the Alaskan wilderness. Scenic mountain and river views with wildlife viewing opportunities abound.  

Your knowledgeable guide will meet you at the dock in Haines. A scenic 26-mile drive along the National Scenic Byway and through the Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve brings you to our remote staging area. At the staging area, you will receive an orientation and safety briefing on our ATVs from your guides. Guests wishing to drive must be at least 21 years old and bring a valid driver's license. There are a combination of 2-person and 4-person machines to accommodate varying group sizes and families. There are several spots along the tour where we can swap drivers to give everyone some time at the wheel. The ATVs are automatic transmission and drive similar to a car for ease of operation. These high-performance ATVs are fun to drive and a great way to explore the Alaska wilderness.  

Over the next 15 miles of gravel road, your guide will lead you through a series of remote areas, and we’ll explore the wilds of Alaska! As we drive along beaver ponds and mountain meadows we may spot swans, salmon, eagles, bears or moose along the way. We’ll cross over  Little Salmon creek and ascend to a series of viewpoints overlooking the Klehini, Tsirku and  Chilkat River Valleys.  

From our high point, we’ll enjoy a picnic lunch while we bask in the surrounding mountain views. After lunch, we’ll descend the mountain and make our way back to our private staging area before returning by bus back to Haines. 

Additional Information About Chilkat Guides

Becoming a guide with Alaska Mountain Guides (AMG) / Chilkat Guides in rugged  southeast Alaska requires verification of your technical competency, leadership skills,  sound judgement, and knowledge of company policies and procedures. Over the length of  required training there will be a segment of unpaid training and a segment of paid  training. The unpaid portion will comprise of courses through the International  Wilderness Leadership School (IWLS). IWLS is an accredited, recognized leader in  experiential education.  

These courses will develop your technical, decision making, and leadership skills.  Successful completion of these courses will grant you IWLS certifications. These skills  are transferrable and can be used with any similar employer or even for recreation  purposes. For over 30 years, our clients have been participating in the same courses often gaining college credit. The paid portion of the training will focus on company  specific policies and procedures. This segment will take the skills taught in the IWLS  portion and teach you how to utilize them successfully as an employee of AMG/Chilkat Guides. Training length may vary depending on class size and how quickly you  demonstrate leadership and technical proficiency.  

Guide Professionalism 

Chilkat Guides employees represent the company whether they are working with clients  on the river or sitting at a restaurant in Haines. CG expects its employees to hold  themselves to the highest standard of character at all times and provide a leading example  in the community for the type of behavior associated with a high quality guide service!! 

Long Trip Opportunities – CG, AMG, MGI & IWLS 

Chilkat Guides, Alaska Mountain Guides and Climbing School, Mountain Guides  International, and the International Wilderness Leadership School offer a wide range of  long trips, courses and guided and educational programming in Alaska and around the  world.  

At Chilkat Guides, we are always looking for our top employees to progress as far as  possible in their careers. Employees who are able to rise to the physical challenges of the  job and have demonstrated a keen aptitude for group dynamics and entertainment will  often have opportunities to begin to be involved in our expedition programming.  

Pre and Post Season 

The tourism season follows a cycle that controls workloads. Cruise ships start arriving in  the first week of May and the season ends in the last week of September. Generally, employees will work from 20-30 hours/week in the shoulder months of May and  September. Hours will increase through June to full capacity of 30-40+  hours/week. These shoulder periods are an excellent time to tour the area and do some  outdoor exploration. 

Mid-Season Operations 

Early to Mid-June through Late August is the height of the cruise line season. In this  period guides may be required to work up to 40+ hours/week. 

During the height of the season long periods of time off will likely not be able to be  provided. This is the heart of the season and flexibility and dedication are required from  the staff to meet the demand of our cruise ship operations and our other long trip  programs.  

Living Space and Rent Structure 

Camping and/or vehicle housing at the Chilkat Guides warehouse yard is available on a  case-by-case basis for a nominal fee. Guides must register with the office in advance.  Space will be given on a first-come-first-served basis and taking into account seniority. 

Our employees are also welcome to pursue their own housing options in town.