Hiring Process

Applications are accepted from November 15 through April 30 for all of the positions posted on this web site. We accept applications until all seasonal job openings are filled, which usually occurs by mid to late April.

A completed application includes: a resume, cover letter, and the 100% COMPLETED application form. Upon receiving a completed application, resume, and cover letter, we send out confirmation of its arrival at our Girdwood, Alaska office by email or postcard. Applications are reviewed and evaluated by our program Directors and then sent out to the appropriate lodge and/or department manager(s). Similar positions at different lodges sometimes require different sets of skills and experiences, and we look for the best "fit" between applicants and the positions available at our locations.

It is possible that applicants will be contacted by two different managers during the hiring process. Department/lodge managers evaluate the pool of applicants that they have and choose the top candidates to interview and complete reference checks on. Interviews are most often conducted by phone, at a pre-arranged time set up by the applicant and manager.

Room and Board/Housing

Kenai Riverside Lodge: Since the Kenai Riverside Lodge is on the road system and there is housing available off-site, we do not require staff to live on-site at the lodge. However, we do offer a Meal Service Agreement for all employees. The Meal Service Agreement includes housing (included by Alaska Wildland Adventures at no charge), but there is a $200/month charge for food (pro-rated based on a 30 day month at $6.67/day). Laundry (and detergent) and shower facilities (soap, shampoo, & conditioner) are provided for staff members at no additional charge as well.

This agreement is offered at a rate lower than the actual cost of housing and feeding employees to ensure the good faith that this is a non-profit making policy for our staff member's convenience (the total estimated cost to AWA for housing and food is $400/staff member).

We are confident that this meal service agreement is beneficial to our employees, since it would likely cost staff members much more to pay for their own housing and food. But if a staff member prefers to live off-site and have more independence, then they are welcome to do so. Alaska Wildland Adventures does not condone illegal camping or "squatting" on public or private lands, and may ask staff members for proof of legitimate housing.

The housing that is provided includes rustic cabin-tents (2 staff members/tent, there is no heat or electricity provided in the tents); staff kitchen; and a lounge (complete w/ couches, heat & electricity, TV and VCR).

Kenai Backcountry Lodge: This lodge is in a truly remote location, and the only option is to live on-site in staff housing. Therefore, there is no charge for food or housing for the staff members at Kenai Backcountry Lodge. Staff space is much more limited at this lodge, due to efforts to keep our impact low, but you cannot beat the location! Staff Housing includes cabin-tents (2 staff/tent), bathroom and/or an outhouse, shower, and a cabin tent as a staff "hang-out". Limited amount of electricity is available at the lodge since power is supplied by a small hydro-electric system.

Age Requirements

For some positions, the minimum age requirement is 21 years of age due to liquor license regulations.

For those applying for Outdoor Leadership positions, applicants must be at least 19 years of age, and preferably be at least 21 years of age. These age requirements are due to safety and insurance requirements.

Applicants applying for driver positions must be at least 23 years of age, due to safety and insurance requirements.

Non-U.S. Citizens

In order to work in the United States, it is necessary for international applicants to be students and to have either a J-1 Exchange Visitors' Visa or an F-1 Visa. ( The J-1 allows for students' cultural exchange for work and travel, the F-1 allows for practical training.)

If you already have one of the Visas mentioned above, please note that our season is from May 15 through September 15, and we strongly prefer applicants who are available the entire season. If these dates work for you and you have the appropriate Visa, then you may apply.

Please note that it is extremely difficult for international applicants who are not students and who do not have one of these Visas to be eligible for employment.

To learn more about your options for employment in the United States, we recommend looking at the resources available at: Cool Works.

Summer Internships

We often are contacted by students regarding the possibility of internships. Since each college or university typically has its own unique criteria, we handle internship applications on a case-by-case basis. Applicants who wish to set up an internship should apply for the position(s) they are most qualified for

Those applicants who wish to meet the requirements of an internship must also include the appropriate information from the college/university outlining the goals and expectations of the program. If Alaska Wildland Adventures and the school can reach an agreement that the potential internship would meet the necessary requirements, then the applicant will be considered for the position(s) that they have applied for. If hired, intern applicants receive a monthly stipend, free housing and food, and any gratuities that are earned.

We CANNOT offer internships for applicants who are not enrolled in a school program.

Sorry, but we CANNOT offer volunteer positions to applicants.

Intern applicants who wish to apply for Outdoor Leadership positions must be at least 19 years of age (preferably at least 21 years of age) due to insurance requirements. We have had many staff members over the years start out with Alaska Wildland Adventures as interns. After successfully completing a season's work, many interns have returned as Natural History Guides and Trip Leaders in the following summers.

Contact Us

If you can't find answers to your questions, please send an email at: summerjobs@alaska-wildland.com.