UWild First Year Adventures Field Guide

Department Description  

UW Recreation is a department within the Division of Student Life. We provide safe, accessible, and dynamic recreation experiences to engage students in growth and wellbeing. UW Recreation serves over one million students, faculty, and staff each academic year through informal and formal recreation, including fitness and sports classes, intramural and club sports, outdoor education, mindfulness programs, and more. 

Job Description  

The UWild First Year Adventures (FYA) Program is a division of UW Recreation that focuses on helping first-year students make friends, gain outdoors skills, and learn more about UW before their first day of school.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead groups of 8-12 first-year UW students on multi-day, overnight camping, backpacking, and kayaking trips throughout the Pacific Northwest.
  • You will work with one or two other Field Guides on each trip.
  • You will work 10-12 hour days in a variety of outdoor settings under a range of weather conditions.
  • Trips range in length from 3-6 days
• Transport equipment and passengers to and from activity locations in a 8-passenger SUV (with trailer)*.
• Plan trip meals. This includes ordering ingredients, packing and preparing food for transport in the backcountry, and cooking all meals for students throughout the trip on camping stoves.
• Load, unload, and manage equipment and gear, ensuring it remains in good condition and is always returned to its proper place.
• Curate a positive group energy! Engage trip participants in group bonding, conversations and fun. Create and maintain group unity by making everyone feel a part of the group.
• Work with participants experiencing a range of disabilities and think critically to meet their needs by leveraging adaptive equipment, behavioral support, or other creative solutions.
• Provide students educational lessons on outdoors topics such as Leave No Trace principles, tent setup, and risk-management.
• Manage risk and respond to emergencies when necessary.
• Clean and maintain vehicles as well as our meeting and gear storage space

Required Qualifications

• University of Washington matriculated student 
• Hold a valid driver's license and are comfortable driving a large vehicle in various weather and road conditions

Additional Qualifications

• Ability to carry loads up to 50lbs for 5-10miles and hike trails with steep climbs, mud, rocks, roots, or sand. 
• Wilderness medicine certification (preferred, but not required)
• WA Food handlers permit (will be paid for if you do not have one). 
• Passion for outdoor activities and natural environments. 
• Basic knowledge in hiking, backpacking, and kayaking.

Desired Applicant Traits 

• Strong and safe driving skills 
• Strong and outgoing interpersonal skills and ability to build trust and rapport with students
• Excellent organizational skills   
• Excellent problem-solving and conflict resolution skills
• Respect for supervisors, co-workers and participants 
• Accepting of all races, cultures and sexual orientations 
• Positive attitude. Ability to gracefully adapt to changing schedules, weather conditions, and student needs

NOTE: If you don’t have every single one of these qualifications/experiences, we still would love to hear from you! UWild understands that students come from a range of backgrounds, and access to the outdoors is a privilege that many students don’t have access to. Each summer, UWild hosts a mandatory staff training where you will learn skills like stove setup, risk management, communication policies, and wildlife safety! The most important qualifications you should have are a willingness to learn and an excitement about the outdoors.

Important Dates

• Ability to work throughout Mid July - Mid September, including weekends
• Attend mandatory 3-day training in July for all guides. 
• If you do not hold a wilderness medicine certification you will have to make yourself available for a Wilderness First Responder certification program in June (often 40 hours of online prep work, 40+ hours of in-person training over 6 consecutive days)
  • UWild will pay for your certification course*
     

Pay Rate

The starting daily rate is $180/ $20.67 an hour. 

Application Instructions  

Apply through Handshake.  

The University of Washington is committed to fostering an inclusive, respectful and welcoming community for all. As an equal opportunity employer, the University considers applicants for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, citizenship, sex, pregnancy, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, disability, or veteran status consistent with UW Executive Order No. 81. 

To request disability accommodation in the job application process, contact the Disability Services Office at 206-543-6450 or dso@uw.edu.