Employment
Seasonal Interpretive Guides
APPLY NOW FOR SPRING/SUMMER SEASONS
RiverWatch hires up to 25 outstanding river guides each year for science and public education programs in Calgary and Edmonton. Hiring is ongoing and year-round until all positions are filled for the spring, summer and fall seasons, so we’re interested in hearing from you if you have the passion and skills listed below:
- Do you love outdoor adventure?
- Are you fit and athletic?
- Enjoy working with youth?
- Do you have a good public speaking voice, an outgoing personality, a sense of humour and a ready smile?
- Can you multi-task and create order out of chaos?
- Do you have a background in youth work, science, swimming, paddling, teamwork and first-aid?
- Is the environment, water and climate change an interest of yours?
IF YOU ANSWERED YES TO ALL OF THE ABOVE, YOU MIGHT BE A GREAT FIT!
At the heart of RiverWatch are the Interpretative RiverGuides, who bring the river, its watershed, and the city’s history, culture, and geology to life. We are incredibly fortunate to have a team of super smart and highly skilled guides who are passionate about nature, science, and the river and excel in communicating with our students and guests.
To become a RiverWatch guide, individuals must complete an intense week of training covering a range of topics, including rafting, emergency response, health and safety, equipment maintenance, water quality monitoring, and natural history interpretation, science curriculum, and wastewater tours. This comprehensive training program ensures that our professional river guides are fully prepared to work with students and clients on Alberta’s rivers.
For many, being a RiverWatch Interpretative River Guide is the perfect summer job, particularly for post-secondary students studying environmental sciences. Our team also includes nationally certified nature interpreters and skilled whitewater paddlers, creating a diverse culture that supports one another to provide the best possible experience on the river for our students and guests.
If you’re interested in guiding with RiverWatch, you’re invited to first Google search and view our 18-minute YouTube video “RiverWatch Staff Training.”
If you’ve already viewed our Staff Training video and still see yourself being a RiverWatch guide, the next step is to send us your resume and a cover letter. Be sure to include a description and details of your swimming, paddling and youth experience. We want to be sure to match the best staff with their best-ever job!
RiverWatch Staff Training Video
Guiding Overview
Spring, summer, or fall school programs are delivered by guide teams based in Edmonton and Calgary.
- Each city sees programs delivered for 3000 participants in a season spanning up to 20 weeks.
- Each work day 8:00-4:00 begins and ends with teamwork to handle all rafts and equipment.
- Guides work independently through the day with their own group of program participants.
Seasonal guide team are a blend of staff from different post-secondary backgrounds and differing years of experience with RiverWatch.
If you’re seeking career experience in environmental science, outdoor leadership and/or teaching, we’re looking to hire a team of exceptional people for seasonal science and education adventures with RiverWatch!
RiverWatch has seasonal Multi-Program Guide positions available each spring, summer and fall:
- 20 week positions April to August
- 30 week positions working late-April to late-October
- Edmonton or Calgary
School guides assist students with all chemistry testing and invertebrate identification at two shoreline stops.
Work Focus
The RiverWatch Driver/Support is responsible for driving a custom-designed school bus while towing a raft trailer, in addition to providing logistical support throughout the day to a dynamic team of Interpretive River Guides.
- Driver/Support is the center of the RiverWatch world – shuttling guides, rafts and equipment to and from the starting point, lunch stop and end of day points.
- This position is also responsible for keeping daily vehicle logs; fuelling; all day-to-day equipment maintenance; the moving and storage of student gear; coordinating schedules with admin staff; trouble-shooting; team organization; and whatever can be done to support river guides in their work.
Candidate Requirements
The Driver/Support candidate should enjoy working outdoors in a team environment while driving a very large vehicle. Driver/Support candidates should have Standard First Aid certification; a Class 5 Unrestricted Driver’s License; a clean Driver’s Abstract; be organized, punctual and reliable; be a team player; understand customer service; be comfortable working outdoors in all weather; and able to lift heavy gear.
Training and Hours
Driver/Support includes comprehensive, paid training for a Class 2 Licence; all driving duties; and logistical delivery. Following two days of driver training; a driving exam; several days of logistical orientation; and ongoing mentorship, the Driver/Support will generally work weekdays 8:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m. with some out-of-town work and/or on weekends.
RiverWatch buses transport guides, equipment and rafts, but not students.
- Guiding Overview
-
Guiding Overview
Spring, summer, or fall school programs are delivered by guide teams based in Edmonton and Calgary.
- Each city sees programs delivered for 3000 participants in a season spanning up to 20 weeks.
- Each work day 8:00-4:00 begins and ends with teamwork to handle all rafts and equipment.
- Guides work independently through the day with their own group of program participants.
Seasonal guide team are a blend of staff from different post-secondary backgrounds and differing years of experience with RiverWatch.
- Multi-Program Guides
-
If you’re seeking career experience in environmental science, outdoor leadership and/or teaching, we’re looking to hire a team of exceptional people for seasonal science and education adventures with RiverWatch!
RiverWatch has seasonal Multi-Program Guide positions available each spring, summer and fall:
- 20 week positions April to August
- 30 week positions working late-April to late-October
- Edmonton or Calgary
School guides assist students with all chemistry testing and invertebrate identification at two shoreline stops.
- Driver / Support
-
Work Focus
The RiverWatch Driver/Support is responsible for driving a custom-designed school bus while towing a raft trailer, in addition to providing logistical support throughout the day to a dynamic team of Interpretive River Guides.
- Driver/Support is the center of the RiverWatch world – shuttling guides, rafts and equipment to and from the starting point, lunch stop and end of day points.
- This position is also responsible for keeping daily vehicle logs; fuelling; all day-to-day equipment maintenance; the moving and storage of student gear; coordinating schedules with admin staff; trouble-shooting; team organization; and whatever can be done to support river guides in their work.
Candidate Requirements
The Driver/Support candidate should enjoy working outdoors in a team environment while driving a very large vehicle. Driver/Support candidates should have Standard First Aid certification; a Class 5 Unrestricted Driver’s License; a clean Driver’s Abstract; be organized, punctual and reliable; be a team player; understand customer service; be comfortable working outdoors in all weather; and able to lift heavy gear.
Training and Hours
Driver/Support includes comprehensive, paid training for a Class 2 Licence; all driving duties; and logistical delivery. Following two days of driver training; a driving exam; several days of logistical orientation; and ongoing mentorship, the Driver/Support will generally work weekdays 8:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m. with some out-of-town work and/or on weekends.
RiverWatch buses transport guides, equipment and rafts, but not students.