Sea Kayak Guide / Naturalist

When looking for an employer, it’s important to make sure your personal core values align with the organization! Here’s a little about us:

Kayak Adventures is a small, values-based sea kayaking company. We believe that our business profit is secondary to: the safety and education of our guests, the health of the wilderness environment we enjoy, and the health and safety of the wildlife we visit. Therefore we seek a clientele that desires information and education, rather than just access to wildlife and wilderness areas. We focus on our company culture which is deeply rooted in our personal core values, including our desire to protect the natural world and foster a supportive, inclusive & inspiring work environment.

We strive to be conservation leaders for all of Alaska. As members of 1% for the Planet, in the past 10 years we have donated over $100,000 to local non-profits working towards conservation efforts in the state. We ask guides to take an active role as educators, supportive team members, and stewards of the natural world.

Each year, we hire 13-15 sea kayak guides to run half, full, and multi-day sea kayaking tours in Resurrection Bay & Kenai Fjords National Park. Our tours are education-based, and focus on environmental conservation and Leave-No-Trace practices. Our goal is to inspire our guests to join us in reclaiming an active stewardship of our natural world.

We look for guides who are kind, mature, reliable, active, passionate, enthusiastic, natural leaders, and simply honest, hard-working individuals. Previous kayaking skills and guiding skills are great to have, but these are things we will definitely teach you either way. The days are long and bright, leaving plenty of time to both work and play. We ideally look for people who want to return every summer and grow within the company over the years. Returning guides enjoy perks like a $350 Continuing Education Scholarship to be used for anything from language classes to gaining outdoor certifications.

All guides working for Kayak Adventures must be at least 21 years old. Guides are expected to be in Seward by April 28th to begin our training and must be able to stay through September 7th when the season ends. Guides must hold a current Wilderness First Responder certification by the time employment begins (we offer a class in the spring, if you need it).

We run the most extensive, paid guide training in the area, which is required of all employees (new and returning guides), and lasts for over three weeks. It’s a lot of fun and offers incredible opportunities for growth. During guide training, guides are responsible for focusing on their learning and education, with very little personal time. After guide training, guides are responsible for packing trips, leading trips, food preparation, unpacking / inventorying / repairing gear, and driving trips to and from the beach. Housing is provided and other responsibilities go along with that. All of this is outlined in detail in our thorough employment application.

This will most likely be the hardest job you’ll ever love. The position of kayak guide will require a good degree of physical fitness, solid upper body strength, and a very sociable personality. You will be interacting with the public on a daily basis, and showing them what is so amazing about our little corner of Alaska. You will work long hours, sometimes in challenging conditions, but the rewards are countless and if you ask us, completely worth the effort.

Kayak Adventures values a diverse workplace and strongly encourages women, BIPOC, LGBT individuals, members of ethnic minorities and marginalized communities to apply. The outdoors are for everyone, you are welcome here.