The Road Less Traveled offers two field leader positions: Trip Leader and Intern. Trip Leaders guide and engage participants in service-learning projects, language immersion programs, backpacking, rock climbing, biking, kayaking, trekking, scuba diving, whitewater rafting, and more from June through August. Interns work in conjunction with the Trip Leader in a variety of supportive roles. Trip Leaders have a minimum age of 21; Interns are graduates of The Road Less Traveled programs that are at least one year removed from high school.

As we offer trips of varying lengths, dates of employment can range anywhere from June 1st to the end of July or the middle of August, depending on your trip assignments. You may lead one, two, or possibly three sessions of a program over the course of a summer. We will make every effort to employ you for as long as you wish, but we request flexibility with trip assignments and dates, keeping in mind the students’ experience is a direct result of its leadership. It is our commitment to the participants to create the strongest leader teams possible.

WHY THE ROAD LESS TRAVELED:

With over 30 years of experience running life-changing travel experiences for youth all around the world, we strive to lead the industry in safety, innovation, youth development, and meaningful travel. When you work with RLT, you become a part of an organization of experienced, authentic, energetic, and adventurous leaders and directors who all share a passion for developing our future generations and sharing the incredible beauty of our world.

THE BENEFITS:

Your employment with RLT includes all food, lodging, transportation, and activity costs from the time you arrive at staff training through the end of your trip. We also offer pro-deals on outdoor equipment from a variety of well-known manufacturers. Salaries are based on qualifications and experience.

THE HIRING TIMELINE:

Our hiring season generally runs from October until early May. We will continue hiring until all of our staffing needs are met, and thus we encourage you to apply as soon as possible.

THE QUALIFICATIONS:

The following are characteristics/qualifications that each staff person is expected to match regardless of position:

Experience: Previous experience working with and/or teaching young people between the ages of 12-19 is mandatory. Additional knowledge of and experience in group dynamics, teaching or facilitating groups, supervision of meal planning, food preparation, risk management, and/or managing logistics is required.
Skills: We are looking for staff that are knowledgeable in any or all of the following: Language Immersion, Service-Learning Projects, Backpacking, Camping, Rock Climbing, Whitewater Rafting, Kayaking, Scuba Diving, Biking.
Maturity: Must be 21 years of age by June 1st and possess the mature judgment necessary for the ongoing demands and safety requirements of the program.
Confidence: Self-assurance is required to live and relate with adolescents and other leaders in close-knit situations.
Personality/Motivation: Must be self-motivated and act as a role model, possessing personality characteristics that will accelerate and maintain a healthy rapport with participants and other staff.
Flexibility/Patience/Organization: Must have the patience to respond to stress, crisis, change, and non-glamorous tasks in positive and productive ways at all times. Must have the ability to organize and assure a smooth flow of activities.
Current unrestricted drivers license: Includes no major convictions including driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, reckless driving, hit and run, homicide or assault with a motor vehicle, drag racing, operating a motor vehicle without the owner's consent, license suspended, or revoked within the previous seven-year period for accidents and/or moving violations. Driving records should reflect no more than three moving violations and/or chargeable accidents during the previous seven years. Ability and/or experience in driving a 15-passenger van with an 8-foot utility trailer is mandatory for domestic expeditions.

THE CERTIFICATIONS:

Current Wilderness First Responder (WFR) or Wilderness EMT certification: Wilderness First Responder is an 80-hour nationally recognized curriculum that includes standards for urban and extended care situations. This course is offered all over the U.S. by a number of companies. SOLO, WMI, WMA, and Aerie are all great companies that offer this course. You must have at minimum a Wilderness First Responder certification by the beginning of staff training. If you are not certified prior to becoming employed by The Road Less Traveled, you have the opportunity to be reimbursed for the course cost (up to $750) upon successful completion of a summer season.

PLEASE NOTE: Though WFR curriculums taught by the above companies are very similar, there are differences in vocabulary at times. The Road Less Traveled has adopted NOLS WMI terminology. It will be used at Staff Training for review of skills. If you do not take your course with NOLS WMI, we expect you to compare and familiarize yourself with this specific terminology here. In particular, we have found the AVPU Scale vs. A+O (1-4) causes confusion for those certified outside of WMI NOLS.

Lifeguard certification: This is a recommended certification for all staff due to the high number of programs that include water-based activities. If you are not certified prior to becoming employed by The Road Less Traveled, you have the opportunity to be reimbursed for the course cost (up to $150) upon successful completion of a summer season.
Swiftwater Rescue or Scuba Diving certifications: These are preferred certifications but not mandatory.

LEADER TRAINING:

The Road Less Traveled's comprehensive leadership training session is held each year in early June in northern Wisconsin. Our carefully chosen leaders come together for a state-of-the-art introduction to our philosophy, policies, procedures, and protocols.

Onsite training topics include RLT's vision of service in the world, cultural considerations, health, safety, sanitation, food management, team-building skills, stages of group development, communication, leadership styles, gender considerations, country-specific health topics, transportation guidelines, vehicle safety, and medical protocols.

Prior to embarking on their programs, each leader team is fully briefed on detailed trip logistics, country-specific emergency procedures, satellite phone usage, and evacuation procedures.

RLT Directors personally lead training along with a core group of past leaders with significant experience. Their goal is to ensure each leader is fully prepared to lead utilizing the solid foundation that has been created over the past three decades to provide the exceptional leadership for which we are known.

Our leader training has been described as the most comprehensive, professional, detailed, progressive, supportive training leaders have ever attended.

If you have any questions about summer leader job opportunities, please email glick@theroadlesstraveled.com for more information.

TO START THE APPLICATION PROCESS:

SUMMER LEADER JOB OPPORTUNITIES