Wilderness Trip Leader

Trip Leaders are experienced outdoor wilderness adventurers who love the great outdoors and want to share that love with campers. Each session, every cabin goes on either a canoe or hiking trip. Trip Leaders help plan, organize and lead each trip — a multi-faceted role that includes route navigation, preparing and cooking meals for the group, telling stories around the campfire and building friendships that can last a lifetime. Many campers do not have the opportunity to camp in tents and go canoeing at home, so Trip Leaders can impact the next generation with a greater appreciation for the great outdoors.

Who We Are

North Star Camp is a residential boys summer camp located in Hayward, Wisconsin. Every summer, approximately 300 campers come to the shores of Spider Lake to make new friends, learn new skills, grow as individuals and make memories that last a lifetime. Our incredible staff come from all over the world to create a nurturing and fun environment. We are actively hiring great role models who are energetic, collaborative and hard working to join the team for this summer. Ready to make a difference and have the best summer of your life? We’d love to have you apply!

The Wilderness Trip Leader Role In A Nutshell

We’re looking for Wilderness Trip Leaders to lead our cabin trips throughout the summer. Each session, every cabin goes on a cabin trip (hiking or canoeing) in Wisconsin, Minnesota, or the Boundary Waters of Canada. The trips vary in length and difficulty depending on age group (as short as an overnight trip on a local river and as long as a 9-day/8-night canoeing and portaging trip in Canada’s Quetico Provincial Park). If you love the outdoors, love working with kids and want to have the best summer of your life, we want you to apply! Training for the position begins May 28 and the camp session runs from June 17 – August 9. There is the opportunity to work post-camp through late August.

A Typical Day Before A Trip Departs (Even Though There’s No Such Thing As A Typical Day At Camp…)

• Eat breakfast with the cabin you’ll be departing with the following day. Begin to get to know the awesome campers you’ll be spending a few days in the wilderness with.
• Head back to the Trip Shack to begin packing out for the trip. Make sure there is enough food for every camper and staff for every meal and that the food is packed properly in the cooler.
• Meet with the Trip Director to go over routes and emergency procedures for the river. Double-check the weather report to be sure there isn’t any inclement weather to be worried about on the trip.
• It’s lunch time! Grab some quesadillas and chips & salsa and sit with some of your other tripper friends.
• After lunch, you’ll meet with the health center staff to make sure you know that cabin’s medical needs — allergies, medications to be distributed and anything else of concern.
• Now that the food has been packed, it’s time for you to pack your gear. Head to your cabin to pack your clothes for the trip before heading back to the Trip Shack to pack additional throw ropes, get your propane ready with the grills, and anything else on your tripping checklist.
• It’s dinner time! You sit with the cabin again and play some tabletop games to continue the fun of getting to know them.
• After Evening Program ends, you head to the cabin and help the campers pack for the trip, making sure they have enough warm gear, a sleeping bag, water shoes and more!
• Head back to your cabin to get a good night’s sleep for the trip’s post-breakfast departure the next day.

This Wilderness Trip Leader Job Might Be For You If:

• You love the great outdoors. Our wilderness trip leaders spend a majority of their time at camp on trips, so being one with nature is super important. We practice Leave No Trace principles on trips and our tripping program is one of the pillars of our overall camp program. One of the major perks of the job is that many campers have never gone on camping trips before, so you are able to share your love and enthusiasm for nature with the next generation.
• You’re organized and a master of logistics. Route planning, food preparation, camping supplies, tents, camper medication, weather forecasts…there are so many things that will be on your plate before, during and after trips. You’ll need to make order out of chaos in this role to ensure the trips run smoothly.
• You’re responsible. There are inherent risks with being out in the wilderness, far from civilization. Whether it is dangerous elements on the river or trail, or even around the campsite, you’ll make sure you are putting safety first while at the same time making the trips super fun and memorable.
• You’re a good communicator and team player. Each trip that you lead will be with a different cabin, meaning new campers and counselors that you don’t know very well. You’ll want to build relationships quickly and be able to communicate what you need from them to keep the day’s plans on track. Good communication helps make trips run smoothly.
• You’re calm under pressure. Things can pop up when you’re out in nature. An ominous storm cloud coming in fast? A capsized canoe trying to cross some rapids? When a problem arises, you’ll need to be cool under pressure and spring into action to help solve it safely and efficiently.
• You’re willing to share your hidden talents with camp. Can you jump rope while balancing a cup of water on your head as you sing “Wagon Wheel” with perfect pitch? Know how to play the ukulele and harmonica? Campers love to see our staff members’ hidden talents and we’d love to see yours too!

Perks Of The Job

• A competitive salary
• Room and board (3 meals a day and snacks at night) for the entire summer
• Travel expense reimbursement
• A beautiful camp surrounded by a stunning waterfront
• New friendships and memories that will last a lifetime
• All the s’mores you can imagine

Qualifications Needed For The Wilderness Trip Leader Role

• Must be 19 years of age
• Must be Wilderness First Responder (WFR) certified
• Must be Lifeguard certified

Essential Functions Needed For This Role

• Ability to lift 50 pounds
• Ability to be on your feet for extended periods of time
• Ability to get in and out of a canoe quickly in case emergency assistance is needed.
• Ability to keep up with a group of 9-16 year old’s on a trail or on a river
• Additional tasks and duties as assigned

Interested In Applying to be a Wilderness Trip Leader?

Great! We’d love to hear from you. Submit an application today!