Whitewater Kayak Wilderness Trip Leader

Company: Chewonki Foundation

1222.jpg
Job Type: Full Time, Seasonal

Job Description

Camp Chewonki Wilderness Trips are managed from our 400-acre campus in Wiscasset, ME. This program facilitates over 60 wilderness canoeing, backpacking, whitewater kayaking, and sea kayaking trips within the 10-week summer season. The trip program consists of trips for our Camp for Boys, Camp for Girls, and co-ed Wilderness Trips. These experiences range in length from 2-35 days. The Trip Leader position is an integral part of the camp team at Chewonki. The Trip Leader is ultimately responsible for the safety of the participants which includes preparing and packing before each trip, ensuring the participants are prepared, facilitating a positive learning environment, and teaching age-appropriate technical, interpersonal, and natural history skills.  The Trip Leader must also be prepared to be an exemplary role model, establish group expectations and values, and have a commitment to working through all conditions with their participants, both environmentally and emotionally.

Camp Chewonki whitewater kayak trip leaders have the excitement to work with participants on the river, the technical skills to personally paddle up to Class IV rapids, group management skills to supervise and instruct participants on Class I-III rapids, and experience with swift water rescue. Chewonki runs three different whitewater kayak trips that can be stand alone trips or work as a progression of skills and travel.

  • Big Eddy Trip (7 days)- This trip is for campers age 12-13 who are excited to travel up to Chewonki’s Big Eddy Campground on the shore of the Penobscot River. 
  • Umbagog Whitewater Kayak (23 days)- This trip is for campers age 14-16 who are excited to take a deep dive into kayaking for 3 weeks. This trip basecamps at Sunday Cove on Lake Umbagog and paddles a different section of the Rapid River every day. 
  • Northeast Rivers Whitewater Kayak (23 days)- This trip is the most advanced whitewater kayak trip Chewonki offers. This trip travels all over the northeast and into Canada in search of big waves and challenging water. Previous locations have included the Penobscot, Dryway, Rapid, Kennebec, Madawaska, and the Ottawa.

Position Title: Wilderness Trip Leader-Whitewater Kayak
Employment Category: Category H
Permanent/Temporary:  Seasonal June 13 – August 17, 2020
Reports to: Summer Wilderness Trip Manager
Exempt/Non-exempt:  Exempt
Benefits Eligible: No

Please visit the Chewonki Employment Opportunities page at this link for a complete position description and application instructions. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. The position is posted until filled.

Posted on: March 12, 2020
Job Type: Full Time, Seasonal
Job Starting Date:
June 13, 2020
Application Closing Date:
Not Specified
Job Activity(ies): Kayaking - Whitewater
Population(s) Served: Youth - Teen