Employment

We are Hiring!  See a list of open positions below:

Interested in spending your summer on the river?  

We could use your help!  Already a certified River Guide in Colorado? Are you a certified River Guide in another state looking to join our team?  Great!  Please give us a call at 970-259-8313 and we can walk you through what steps you need to take in order to join our team.  We give hiring preference to River Guides who are already certified, and provide incentive bonuses for credentials you may hold such as Wilderness First Responder, EMT, and Swiftwater / Whitewater Rescue courses.

As part of our team you will enjoy such perks as a flexible schedule, access to pro deals on a vast array of outdoor gear, company raft trips on a few rivers in the area, and use of company gear to help you enjoy your down time.

If you have not completed a certified River Guide Course and are looking for employment this coming season, then you will need to complete one of the following River Guide Courses offered below.

Standard River Guide School – May 8th – 14th, 2024 or June 3rd – June 8th, 2024. Cost $225

Join us for an adventurous and unforgettable summer working as a professional raft guide.  Leave behind the daily grind of working inside and spend your time out on the river!  It's a great way to make quick cash (the tips are awesome), meet new people, and learn valuable leadership skills.

The Standard Raft Guide Course will be 6 days in length and includes 50 hours of River Guide training. Here is an outline of what to expect:

The training will cover topics such as:  Rigging and guiding the raft, learning and teaching paddling skills, reading river currents, eddies, and waves, identifying river hazards and how to avoid them, scouting and running rapids, river rescue and emergency procedures, and more.  Expect to be in the water every day, for the vast majority of the day.  Your only day off during this period will be Sunday, May 12th.

Please remember that if you are seeking employment as a raft guide, you need to show up every day with your game face on as guide school is one continuously long interview and assessment.  You will need to attend a CPR / 1st Aid course if you do not already have this certification.

During training you will be provided with a personal flotation device (PFD), helmet, wetsuit, splash gear, and all necessary river gear. You are responsible for all meals (although we usually have a cook-out for lunch twice during the week). You will need to bring a hat, sunscreen, your own water bottle, and a bathing suit to go under the wetsuit. Additional warm layers of clothing are recommended as we will be in cold water. Our day begins at 8 am and we usually finish between 5-6 pm.

Advanced River Guide Course - NOT AVAILABLE 2024

The Advanced Raft Guide Course will be 11 days in length and includes 50 hours of River Guide training (May 11th – 18th), followed by a three day Swiftwater / Floodwater Rescue Technician Course on May 19th – 21st.  Here is an outline of what to expect:

The first seven days of training will cover topics such as:  Rigging and guiding the raft, learning and teaching paddling skills, reading river currents, eddies, and waves, identifying river hazards and how to avoid them, scouting and running rapids, river rescue and emergency procedures, and more.  Expect to be in the water every day, for the vast majority of the day.  Your only day off during this period will be Sunday May 15th.

The Swiftwater / Floodwater Rescue Technician Course taught by the Whitewater Rescue Institute starts on Thursday and runs thru Saturday afternoon. The Swiftwater / Floodwater Rescue Course can be taken as a stand alone course for $395.00 Also, for this portion of the course, we highly recommend having a DRYSUIT!  We do not rent them, but will offer you a pro deal of 20% off.  We stock dry suits and other cold water gear from Level Six.

During the River Guide Course you will be provided with a personal flotation device (PFD), helmet, wetsuit, splash gear, and all necessary river gear. You are responsible for all meals (although we usually have a cook-out for lunch twice during the week). You will need to bring a hat, sunscreen, your own water bottle, and a bathing suit to go under the wetsuit. Additional warm layers of clothing are recommended as we will be in cold water. Our day begins at 8 am and we usually finish between 5-6 pm.

To Apply:  Send an email of interest to info@durangoraft.com, or give us a call at 970-259-8313!

BOOK GUIDE SCHOOL NOW!  

CHOOSE AND ENTER YOUR START DATE AND END DATE BELOW AS MAY 8TH OR JUNE 3rd BASED ON YOUR DATE OF CHOICE.

Office Staff:

We are hiring Trip Consultant and Customer Service Representatives for both full and part-time positions for the 2024 summer season.

Things can be hectic in the office and we need someone who can handle the pace while providing great customer service. You may be the first person our clients see when they walk in the door and you need to have a positive attitude, be presentable, have an outgoing personality, and be knowledgeable about what we do (don’t worry, you will get great training)!

You will be responsible for booking trips, assisting with water rentals, and helping sell whitewater gear and equipment. Team members may assist with river photography and social media work as well.  This is a fast-paced environment and those with an interest in business and/or finance excel in this role. The right person can advance quickly!

Our company’s mission is to encourage people to enjoy the outdoors. This includes our staff who have access to our standup paddle boards, kayaks, and river tubes during their days off.  We also offer employee discounts on tons of outdoor gear in our retail shop.

Compensation for these positions will be based on a few factors including attitude and ability, commitment and reliability, and experience.  These positions are eligible for our end of season bonus.

To Apply:  Send an email of interest to info@durangoraft.com, or give us a call at 970-259-8313!

 Bus Drivers / Photographers:

We are hiring both full and part-time positions bus drivers for the 2024 summer season.

Drivers must possess a CDL with Passenger (P) and School Bus (S) endorsements. If you do not have a CDL and would like to obtain one, ask us how we can help!

Driving a bus with new people every day is a great experience. What a way to mix things up! You will need a positive attitude and a willingness to laugh every day! Duties include daily vehicle inspection, refueling raft vehicles, dropping off and picking up guests at the river put in and takeout.  Drivers will safely transport guests, guides and gear using vehicles in our fleet. These vehicles range from 15 passenger vans up to 65 passenger school buses. Vehicles will be equipped with a trailer to transport rafts and other gear to and from the river put-ins and take-outs.

Attributes we look for in our drivers include having a good attitude and reliability. Drivers are eligible for our end of season bonus program.

Our company’s mission is to encourage people to enjoy the outdoors. This includes our staff who have access to our standup paddle boards, kayaks and river tubes during their days off. We also offer employee discounts on tons of outdoor gear in our retail shop.

To Apply:  Send an email of interest to info@durangoraft.com, or give us a call at 970-259-8313!