Evergreen Escapes
UPDATES: Hiring for 2025!
Hiring:
Naturalist Tour Guide
Please review the requirements and expectations above. You will want to reflect on the job description and address why you think this job is a good fit for you. Send your resume and a cover letter to: Kenzi@evergreenescapes.com
Although it is preferred, you do not need to have all these skills or qualifications in order to apply. If there are any missing, we expect that you will be eager to bridge the gap if you are hired.
Position
Naturalist Tour Guide in Seattle, WA, with Evergreen Escapes for small, luxury nature adventures and urban tours in the Pacific Northwest region.
General Info
Evergreen Escapes guides lead small (generally 10 guests or fewer) public and private nature adventures that depart from Seattle, WA. Evergreen Escapes is seeking guides for the 2025 peak season with the possibility of long-term positions for the right candidates. We operate tours year-round; tour volume is highest May through October, during which time we need Full Time Hourly and Part Time Hourly guides to join our team.
Duties
Able to work without supervision
Demonstrates solid teamwork
Clearly communicates any problems, enacts solutions
Promotes safety on all aspects of the tour
Drives smoothly and incredibly safely
Safety talk conducted before leading first hike
Passes driving test with GM or Ops Manager
Facilitates a worry-free experience for guests
Sets expectations at the beginning of the tour and keeps communication open
Responsive to and anticipates guests’ needs, strives to exceed expectations
Set up and clean up lunches
Setting up lunch in a presentable manner
Presenting the lunch to guests and making sure any dietary restrictions are communicated.
Interpretation for guests
Research areas, parks, notable sites
Share area info in a manner that works for the guests
Completes tour administration tasks in a timely manner
Post-trip paperwork
Keeping all certifications up to date
Suggests improvements or updates to tours and processes
Skills and Qualifications
Required
21 years of age or older (required for our insurance)
Resident of the greater Seattle area or willingness and ability to relocate by May (a must).
Experience in environmental, outdoor, and/or adventure education (semi-confident naturalists required).
Responsible, independent, creative-thinking, self-starting, charismatic individual.
Able to provide 5-star guest service for individuals from various backgrounds, beliefs, and cultures.
Clean driving record.
Comfortable driving 15-passenger vans, crossovers, or SUVs in all conditions (city streets under heavy traffic through winter mountain roads requiring chains to be installed/removed).
Valid Wilderness First Responder or Wilderness First Aid Certification
Valid Washington State Food Handler’s Permit (within 30 days of hiring)
Ability to pass a DOT medical examiner's certificate (physical) and an internal driving exam
Ability to lift 40 lbs./18 kg.
Desired
4-year degree or higher
Experience in Leadership development, team building, and/or group facilitation
Minimum 1 year experience as an educator and/or interpretive guide
Knowledge of naturalist specialties which may include: anthropology, birding, botany, geology, glaciology, volcanology, or similar.
Pertinent adventure certifications, including: Certified Interpretive Guide, Leave No Trace, Avalanche Level 1, or similar.
Multilingual.
Innate desire to be a more kind, more curious, and more-frequently outdoors human being.
Compensation & Expenses
Our base pay is $20.76/hour with opportunities for advancement and raises. As a first year guide you can expect to make approximately $270 per trip, plus tips. All guides are paid hourly – this is just an average based on a typical 13-hour day.
We offer higher starting salaries to those with relevant guiding experience and specific certifications. Compensation will increase as guides learn and become proficient in leading multiple itineraries with our company and for those who return in subsequent seasons. Finally, we offer an employee bonus program for those who achieve certain milestones.
Tour expenses will be paid via a company credit card provided to the guide at the beginning of each tour day.
Additional Information About Evergreen Escapes
Schedule
We offer Full-time and Part-Time naturalist guide positions.
Full-time guides will lead up to 3 trips per week.
Part time guides will lead around 3-8 tours per month.
The schedule will vary week to week as tour demand changes throughout the season. Guides will be expected to work weekends and holidays during the peak season, however, we do our best to give everyone one weekend off each month, depending upon availability and business demands
We expect new team members to commit during the entire peak season and not take any extended vacations from May-October.
Hiring & Training Timeline
Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis between January and March, or until all positions have been filled.
Qualified candidates will be invited to an initial interview with a member of our team.
One of the best ways to learn the style and expectations of this role is to come out and see it for yourself. Final candidates will be requested to shadow a complimentary tour with our team as our guest. This offers you the opportunity to see if this position will be a good fit for you and a chance for our team to get to know you even more. You will not be expected to work or hold any responsibilities during this experience.
Newly hired guides will be required to attend our team trainings on all the following dates:
1. Onboarding Week: April 28 – May 2, 2025
2. Field Training: May 20 – May 22, 2025
In addition to our internal training days, each new guide will be expected to shadow a variety of tours before they begin leading their own trips. Most guides will shadow between 3-5 tours in total.
A few more good things to know:
Car: We recommend that people have their own motor vehicle. Due to the early mornings and late returns, we think it works best for applicants to have a car once they become employees.
Age: All guides must be at least 21 years old to work for our team. This requirement is set by our insurance company to allow you to drive our company vehicles and is non-negotiable.
Hours: This is a hospitality position that will require you to be “on” with your guests for 10-12 hours at a time. This type of work is not for everyone, but can be incredibly rewarding for those who thrive by connecting with others and being in the outdoors.