Work here
Seasonal and year-round outdoor jobs at a camp and retreat center in Virginia's Blue Ridge Mountains.
Outdoor Trip Leaders
Seasonal · School and group programs
As a trip leader you are responsible for guiding students through outdoor activities — hiking, canoeing, team-building initiatives and more.
| Option | Dates | Pay |
|---|---|---|
| Fall group leader | Late August – November | $80–$95 per day |
What we need
- 18 or over
- Experience working with young people preferred
- Comfortable leading in an outdoor, rustic environment
- CPR and first aid certification a plus — we can help you get certified if needed
What you get
- Meals and lodging provided during programming
- A fun, supportive team
- A beautiful mountain setting to work in and explore
- Training and certification support
Work outdoors with us.
Help campers try something new and work with a team that loves being outside.
See how to applyTrip Leaders, Group Program Leaders and more
Wilderness Adventure is a year-round facility that hosts Summer Camp, Groups, and Events of all kinds.
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Summer Trip Leaders
Work from mid-May to mid-August, co-leading groups of 12 campers ages 9–17 on 1, 2 or 3 week all-outdoors backpacking adventures. Younger campers camp onsite all week with an intro to our adventure activities; older campers backpack or shuttle to a new campsite every day.
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Group Program Leaders
Many summer Trip Leaders stay on through the fall as Group Leaders, and some work about nine months, March to November. You facilitate our onsite activities and guided trips, help run special events, and pitch in on support, maintenance and hospitality.
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Administrative team
Our administrative team is either seasonal or year-round, keeping camp, groups and events organized behind the scenes.
Two weeks of training, then the trail
The season starts in May with an intensive two-week orientation where we train our new hires. Team members learn all of the activities we facilitate, develop camaraderie with fellow leaders, apply our core principles, and learn our policies and procedures before going into ‘Trail Mode’.
Group Leaders facilitate everything we run onsite, from the high and low ropes courses, climbing wall and pond kayak classes to canoeing, tubing and mountain biking, plus guided rock climbing, caving, mountain biking, whitewater kayaking, canoeing and backpacking. Our group clients range from middle and high schools to colleges, corporate retreats and youth groups, and stay for a day or up to a week.
Challenge by Choice
It’s not what we do but how we do it that makes a difference.
Through careful instruction and positive encouragement from our experienced leaders and activity instructors, participants are motivated to face challenges that require both teamwork and individual effort. Participants are encouraged, not forced, to attempt all activities, so they can try new challenges in a supportive and caring environment where an attempt at trying is greater than overall performance.
Our four guiding principles (RAWC)
We’re not just looking for folks skilled in specific areas of outdoor adventure. We’re looking for people who embody our four guiding principles.
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Respect
Treat campers, guests, coworkers and the land with care.
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Positive attitude
Find the silver linings in tough situations.
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Work ethic
Be ok getting dirty, working hard and carrying your own weight.
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Communication
Work together as a team and take responsibility for your mistakes.
Of course, a love for the outdoors is a must. We want staff who push themselves to become better leaders and learners, grow in confidence when making judgment calls in difficult situations, and seek adventure on their days off.
How to apply
Fill in the online application, or email employment@wilderness-adventure.com with a short note about yourself and any outdoor or youth work experience.
Apply to join our team
Complete our employment application in Google Forms. A Google account is required for file uploads.
Open employment application →Prefer to call? 540-864-6792.