Thank you for your interest in a position with Deer Hill Expeditions! It is always a pleasure to make contact with someone who shares our interest in outdoor education, young people, service and the natural world. Please examine our website thoroughly. We want you to understand our mission, our goals, and our dedication to quality.

Deer Hill Expeditions seeks experienced, motivated, and caring outdoor educators to lead wilderness expeditions and service projects in the American Southwest and Costa Rica. Deer Hill’s philosophy is to enhance an individual’s appreciation of the natural world, teach minimum impact wilderness-living skills, promote stewardship of the Earth, and foster a tradition of service to native lands and peoples. We provide a challenging atmosphere in which adolescents can grow as individuals and be integral members of a small community.

The majority of our expeditions run from June through August. There are also employment opportunities in the spring and fall for our group programs. Please note, for positions in spring we rely heavily on leaders with Utah or Colorado River guide licenses. We also require all new staff to attend our 10-12 day staff training, which is usually held in early June.

Responsibilities of a Field Leader:

• Ensuring the safety and well being of participants.

• Fostering participants’ growth as individuals.

• Leading and teaching groups of 10 to 20 participants in a wilderness setting.

• Dispensing knowledge of backcountry travel, preparation of gear and food logistics, gear repair, guiding expeditionary rafting trips, sharing knowledge of eco-systems and natural history, facilitating initiatives and activities for a group, managing a top rope site or guiding a difficult discussion of the group’s dynamics, are just a few of the responsibilities of a Deer Hill Leader.

Our Requirements:

• Previous experience leading groups in the wilderness.

• Professional behavior in every aspect of leading.

• Ability to effectively communicate with students, peers and administration.

• Open to receiving and giving feedback in a constructive and professional manor.

• Experience leading and teaching the following activities: expedition style rafting & canoeing, inflatable kayaking, rock climbing, backpacking, mountain biking, mountaineering, canyoneering and service projects.

• Must be 21 yrs. of age.

• Must have a valid drivers license and possess a clean driving record.

• Must possess a current CPR + WFR certification.

• Concern for young people and the natural world.

• Be comfortable leading, educating and working with groups of eight to twenty-plus, for weeks at a time in a wilderness or service setting.

Benefits of being a Deer Hill Leader:

• Impact youth in a challenging and positive environment.

• Work for a small & supportive organization.

• Lead in a diverse selection of courses in the Four Corners region.

• Participate in meaningful Native American & Conservation Service projects.

• Enhance your leadership skills, as we do not contract out for program elements.

• Collaborate with expert Program Leaders.

• Potential to attain river guiding certificates.

• Potential for professional development scholarships.

• Access to numerous professional purchase deals.

Field Staff Positions available:

Program Leader (PL)

Sets the example for Instructors, Assistant Instructors and participants in all aspects of attitude, technical skills, expedition behavior, and risk management. The PL sets the overall tone and direction for the trip, and is held accountable for the program’s execution, success of program, and training of the Instructor and Assistant Instructor.

Instructor (I)

Actively supports and works with the PL and Assistant Instructor. Instructors are expected to use their own initiative to see that the overall needs of the group and goals for the program are being met. An Instructor must have strong technical skills, experience in wilderness medical training, a desire for professional development, and a history working and leading teenagers in a backcountry setting. If necessary, the Instructor must be able and willing to assume some of the responsibilities of the PL.

Assistant Instructor (AI)

The Assistant Instructor should possess the desire to gain solid experience in the realm of outdoor leadership and education. Assistant Instructors should have some technical skills relevant to their course, a history of wilderness medical training, and understand that they are an integral member of the leadership team, but will not always be given the same level of responsibility. This position, however, shouldn’t be considered a back-seat role, as AI’s are expected to participate to the fullest level. This person should exemplify strong potential to become an Instructor.

How to apply for field positions

If you have any questions about field staff positions, responsibilities and skills, or your suitability, please call the office, or contact our Staff Manager, Eli Shostak – staff@deerhillexpeditions.com

If you are ready to apply, please download the application form and reference form PDFs through the links below. The application form is an editable PDF, which you may fill out onscreen if you are using Adobe Acrobat. Please email your materials to staff@deerhillexpeditions.com, fax them to 970-533-7221, or mail to ATTN: Staff Manager, Deer Hill Expeditions, PO Box 180, Mancos, CO 81328.

Download Deer Hill Field Staff Application Form 2010

Download Deer Hill Field Staff Reference Form