MICA Guides

UPDATES: Hiring!

Hiring:

Join our crew and experience some of Alaska.  We hire Professional Guides, Logistics Team, and Apprentice Guide Interns for a busy season helping our guests enjoy glacier trekking and ice climbing, backpacking, zipline, helicopter adventures and more.

We're located in beautiful Glacier View Alaska, about 100 miles NE of Anchorage and far from the throngs of tourists in Denali. It's called "Glacier View" for a reason, with stunning views of the Matanuska and other glaciers all around.

Hiring for Summer 2024: Apprentice Guide Interns, Logistics Team Interns

An internship is a great opportunity to get on board with us. Since many of our crew return year after year, there are often few available professional positions but our best Interns are invited back in professional positions after their first season.

We’re committed to providing the opportunity for a fun, educational and rewarding opportunity for our Interns. In return for a lot of hard work, Interns get: a stipend to help cover living expenses, extensive training in their job, an end of season bonus, reimbursement for airfare, access to the crew gear cache, tips, and the potential to return in a well-paid professional position with us.

These are training positions and we take that training seriously. Interns are either Apprentice Guides (AG) or Logistics Team (LT).

Apprentice Guide Interns, AGs, have the opportunity to develop skills and learn how to use them to help others enjoy the outdoors. The position is for aspiring guides and outdoor educators.

Competitive applicants have a minimum medical training of Wilderness First Responder,  other relevant certifications, a good driving record, and a strong foundation of outdoor skills.

Once trained and “checked off”, they will lead our Ice Fall Trek. An AG will get a lot of experience working with and leading groups of all types on the Matanuska Glacier.

Apprentice Guides may also assist on ice climbing trips, lead zipline tours, act as a camp host, assist with housekeeping, prepare guest meals and more.

AGs lead treks.  Lots of treks. They do not have the same diversity of role as LTs but they do learn to belay, build anchors, teach ice climbing and operate the zipline.

LTs have the opportunity to learn about how a small business operates and what it takes to be a successful company. LT Interns work in the office, at MICA Mocha, at the zipline and at Glacier Camp. This position is designed for organizational thinkers who enjoy some guiding, but want to learn the skills needed to run a small business.

The LT needs to have a great customer service attitude, admin experience, a good driving record, and a solid foundation of computer skills.

These Interns get basic glacier training, have access to many of the same courses in outdoor skills as the AG Interns, receive basic helicopter training, and spend about 25-35 percent of their time living and working on the glacier at Glacier Camp as the host and “Camp Boss”.

LT Interns also learn our reservations system, operate our zipline, make great coffee, sell tours, collect and manage our media and much, much more.

Guiding the zipline is one of the many jobs of the LT, spending a few days a week there. LTs also work and live on the glacier for 5-6 days at a time throughout the season.

Additional Information About MICA Guides

Our community of outdoor enthusiasts work hard and play hard in Alaska and around the world. Joining us is not just a job, but becoming part of an adventurous family that believes in getting off the couch and getting things done, professionally and personally.

Four great companies. One awesome crew.

While some positions may work more in one part of the operation than another, it’s all the same team that lives, works, and plays together for the summer, and often beyond.  You’ll be hard-pressed to find a tighter team.  Consider joining us and you might even make some of the best friends you’ll ever have.

It’s not easy to get a job with us because many of our employees come back year after year. Our Senior Staff are the leaders of the program and gain valuable management experience in addition to honing outdoor skills.

If you like to work hard and are looking for a challenge, we’d like to hear from you.

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The Employee Experience

We grow our own!  Since many of our professional-level staff return year after year, most of our new hires start as Interns.  Our Internship program is a big part of our culture and we put a lot of effort into the intern experience. Interns get extensive training in their job as well as other "Alaska life" areas from splitting firewood to construction to survival skills.  

Over 90% of our top guides and managers started as Interns and they're dedicated to the program since they've been there.  Successful new crew members show up eager to learn and humble enough to be willing to put in the time and pay their dues.  Opportunity abounds but our belief is that it has to be earned.  

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Ideal Candidate

We’re not for everyone.

But if you enjoy the fresh mountain air, stunning views, good beer, strong coffee, great people, a fun environment, and hard work we might be for you.

We’re not for everyone, but many come back year after year. While working with us, quite a few people have found partners to go on to other adventures. A lot of relationships, several marriages, and a few children have come out of our little community (no promises!).

You should know that almost everyone on the team does almost everything. Everyone takes care of the vans, no one is too good to clean the bathrooms, all of the buildings on site have been built by the crew when they weren’t doing their “regular” job. So if you’re the type of person that would say “That’s not my job” then look elsewhere for something to do this summer.

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Room, Board, & Employee Perks

The Crew all live together at our Base Camp overlooking the Matanuska Glacier.  You’ll live in your own tent for the summer and share the Crew Kitchen and a cabin to hang out in.  Our Base Camp has electricity, wi-fi, and a bouldering wall.  There is no charge for camping for the summer.  Showers and laundry are available at nearby lodges.

Professional Guide compensation is competitive and most do quite well with tips.  Interns receive a stipend for room and board, airfare reimbursement, gear allowance and a end of season bonus. Interns receive extensive training and returning staff are eligible to tap into the Training Scholarship Fund as well as the Profit Sharing program. Logistics Team interns receive professional compensation once fully trained (3-5 weeks).

Other perks include discounts on gear and helicopter rides to bump up your adventures.  

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For more information about working at MICA Guides or joining us as a professional guide, follow this link: https://micaguides.com/employment/