Wyoming River Trips
UPDATES: Hiring for Summer 2021!
Hiring:
Raft Guide General
Please email info@wyomingrivertrips.com after you submit an application to let us know that you submitted. We have been having issues with our forms. *strength is not the key to being a good raft guide. Passion for nature, people, paddling and a willingness to learn. We encourage those with finesse, a willingness to teach and learn to apply.
Raft guide on the Main Fork of the Shoshone River will be facilitating a unique experience for locals and visiting guests alike. Cody has a lot more to offer than gunshows and rodeo (though we love those things too). We want our guides to facilitate a river adventure and experience of the natural world that our guests will remember.
Guide will be expected to be available to work 5 days a week from May 1st – mid September. If you have availability in April or October, please let us know when you apply. Guide may end up taking trips down in inflatable kayaks at times. If you are able to paddle a kayak and maneuver your boat while coaching others, let us know. In the month of July, guide may be asked to work more than 5 days a week as this is the busiest month of our operating season. On occasion guide may be asked to cover a few office hours. Rate of pay will be $15/ hour.
Pay
DOE: Starts at $30/short trip + tips and $40/long trip + tips. Guides generally work 1-3 trips per day June-August.
North Fork Guides start at a higher rate. All new hires will have the opportunity to work into North Fork Guiding.
Required Experience:
0-1 season boating/ rafting experience
Experience traveling in and managing risk in back country/ remote environments
21 years or older
Clean driving record (no more than 1 ticket for something minor in last 3 years) and valid driver’s license.
Excellent communicator
Excellent customer service skills
Ability to work as a team with other guides
Eager to learn more and develop skills
Ability to maintain calm demeanor and make sound decisions in the face of uncertainty
Passion for the natural world and ability to share that knowledge with guests in a meaningful way that adds value to their experience
Ability to maintain a positive and encouraging attitude
Willingness to abide by and enforce Covid safety measures as outlined by WRT for the duration of the rafting season and anytime you are on WRT property and on boats or with clients
Bonus: forms genuine connections with others quickly
Rescue and First aid certifications:
CPR and Wilderness First Aid or Higher – WRT is providing a training at the end of April
Swift Water Rescue certification – WRT is providing a training at the end of April
Experienced Guide
Please email info@wyomingrivertrips.com after you submit an application to let us know that you submitted. We have been having issues with our forms
The North Fork of the Shoshone River is near a road but considered remote due to: lack of cell service, the challenge of accessing the road by emergency vehicle in the height of Summer, proximity to Yellowstone, presences of wildlife such as grizzly bears and its location on National Forest Land.
North Fork Guides will be responsible for outfitting clients at the office with WRT gear, making sure lunch is packed and driving to the put-in. North Fork Trips will be self-supported trips. Guides will drive clients to and from the put-in/ take-out, provide lunch and entertain the for the duration of the trip—on and off the river. Guides will be expected to uphold LNT ethics while on the river and get buy-in from reluctant guests. Guides will be expected to take photos of other North Fork Trips when they are not actually guiding on the river. Either a) there will be a driver who takes photos or b) one guide will be on the river and the other will act as driver, photographer and emergency contact.
Guide will be expected to be available and work 3-4 days a week from May 25th – September. Guide may end up taking trips down in inflatable kayaks when the water is lower if this is appropriate for the guide's skill level and experience. In the month of July, guide may be asked to work more as this is the busiest month of our operating season. On occasion, guide may be asked to cover a few office hours. Rate of pay will be $15/ hour
Pay
DOE starts at $80/day" Guides generally work 1-3 trips per day June-August.
North Fork Guides start at a higher rate. All new hires will have the opportunity to work into North Fork Guiding.
Required Experience:
2-4 years boating/ rafting experience. Ability to paddle multiple types of crafts.
Experience traveling in and managing risk in back country/ remote environments
21 years or older
Clean driving record (no more than 1 ticket for something minor in last 3 years) and valid driver’s license.
Excellent communicator
Excellent customer service skills
Ability to adapt and creatively solve problems
Ability to use the strengths of a group to achieve goals
Ability to maintain calm demeanor and make sound decisions in the face of uncertainty
Ability to work as a team with another guide in another boat
Natural history knowledge and ability to share that knowledge with guests in a meaningful way that adds value to their experience
Passion for the natural world, rivers and experiencing the world with others
Willingness to abide by and enforce Covid safety measures as outlined by WRT for the duration of the rafting season and anytime you are on WRT property and in boats or with clients
Bonus: forms genuine connections with others quickly
Bonus: knowledge of haul systems, gear limits and vector forces
Bonus: Past experience instructing others in a back country or guide setting or in small, individual boats.
Rescue and First aid certifications:
CPR and Wilderness First Aid or Higher – WRT is providing a training at the end of April
Swift Water Rescue certification – WRT is providing a training at the end of April
Special Benefits:
Those hired who commit to a full Summer of work get their WFA and Swiftwater rescue paid for by the company (we host this for our full -time hires)
All new hires will have the opportunity to work into North Fork Guiding.
On-premises camping or vanlife options. Rent can be a challenge in Cody. We let our guides camp in the back lot and are actively working on developing more dedicated guide space in the lot. Right now the office has a bathroom and a shower that camping guides can use.
Additional Information About Wyoming River Trips
Our company has been featured in many national publications such as; Travel and Leisure, Better Homes and Gardens, and Mature Outlook magazines. We have also been featured on the Travel Channel and the Outdoor Life Network.
Humble Beginnings
Brothers, Rick and Ron Blanchard were born and raised in Port Arthur, Texas. From humble beginnings, their trail from Texas to Cody had plenty of detours along the way including: work on the Alaska Pipeline, Pro Rodeo careers, and guiding river trips on the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon. They were first drawn to Cody for its reputation as a world-renowned rodeo destination, but after spending some time in the area, they fell in love with the town, the people, and the natural beauty northern Wyoming has to offer.
Wyoming River Trips was founded in the winter of 1978 with Rick and Ron personally escorting trips that following summer. Since its inception, Wyoming River Trips is the only continually owned and operated rafting company in the Cody area, focusing on providing safe, family whitewater adventures that are accessible and approachable to all.
Culture
Besides creating family-focused river trips, in it’s 43 year history, WRT has cultivated a family culture within the business itself. Consistently hiring personable, hard-working, capable staff has not been an accident. Instead, it has been an intentional decision from day one. Couple that with high levels of training and attention to detail, and you begin to see a company that is committed to providing more than a fun trip down the river — you see a company that is committed to our clients, staff, and community.
Moving Forward
During the winter of 2020/2021, Landon Blanchard and Elyse Guarino took over ownership and operations at Wyoming River Trips, moving the company into its second generation of continual ownership. Additionally, Leighton Blanchard has stepped into to oversee operations. This transition period has been an exciting time for the whole family!
Landon grew up within the company and began guiding trips at an early age, growing into leadership and management roles over his 11 season with WRT. Elyse has spent the last 13 years working as a professional outdoor leader and guide with NOLS, facilitating outdoor leadership courses for novices and professionals alike. Together, Elyse and Landon founded Wyoming Rivers Cooperative in the winter of 2019/2020 — a company specializing in small, customizable, multi-day packrafting and rafting trips throughout Wyoming — building upon their combined outdoor skills and their passion for water, wildlife, and land conservation. Leighton Blanchard will take over operations of the company, relying on his nearly 11 years with WRT. The three will bring decades of professional outdoor leadership and guiding experience to Wyoming River Trips, building upon the foundation put in place by Rick and Ron, and growing the professional guide and river community in Cody, WY.
Why Work for Wyoming River Trips?
Wyoming River Trips prides itself in hiring all types of individuals that specialize in safety and enjoyment. From College students to teachers; ski instructors to retired couples, we are looking for diverse and highly motivated self-starters to join our team. There is no better way to add experience, knowledge, and fun to your Cody summer experience!
WRT is a launchpoint for new guides and those looking to start an outdoor career AND a place for experienced guides to build leadership skills, coach new guides and impact the next generation of guides and educators.
New guides can expect:
training and certification paths + financial support in acquiring them.
competitive pay
to be part of a creative, collaborative, conservation and sustainability minded community.
to learn to guide on various stretches of river through canyon and forest environments that will help hone skills and risk management.
regular coaching and check-ins.
goal setting and acheivement sessions.
Experienced guides can expect:
all of the above.
to work with management to find a schedule that supports lifestyle and other professional goals.
advanced guiding opportunities with our sister company, Wyoming Rivers Cooperative (3-6 day backcountry packrafting expeditions