Raft Guide

Be a part of the Chilkat Guides team and join us this summer in Southeast Alaska where mountains and glaciers meet the ocean!  We are currently seeking to fill raft guide and naturalists positions for summer 2025!

The Haines Raft Guide’s main responsibility is to carry out the company’s mission of providing passengers with a safe, enjoyable, and educational wilderness experience. The Haines Raft Guide will lead passengers by raft through the Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve safely and enthusiastically with an ultimate goal of satisfied passengers at the end of each trip. Our rafts are 18 ft. oar-rigs and we will take up to 8 passengers at a time on either the Tsirku, the Klehini or the Chilkat Rivers. This trip has no whitewater.

We do not require previous experience for raft guide positions. Familiarity or previous experience is a plus, however, we offer comprehensive training programs for these positions. In order to participate in training, a successful applicant should plan on traveling to Haines by  March 30th or early May depending on which guide training session they plan on attending. Most positions will operate from April through October. We have the flexibility for those in college or otherwise requiring an earlier end date to their contract. 

Our river guide training is free of charge for employees, however, in order to work for us, a successful applicant will also need to be certified in First Aid/CPR and Swiftwater Rescue for all rafting positions.

Description of Guided Trip:

Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve Float Trip: This rafting tour takes place through the scenic Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve, the preserve is home to the world's largest concentration of bald eagles. Guides will outfit guests with raft equipment, including boots, PFDs, and rain gear (when appropriate) . Once a safety talk is complete guest will load up into our 18ft oar rafts and enjoy a scenic 1.5-hour float through the Preserve.  

The tour is 4 hours in duration (from pick up to drop off). Guides may assist in driving & guest transfers or ready the rafts prior to the guests' arrival by van/bus. 

On any given day we may run 3-4 overlapping trips at a time. In addition to these raft-based tours, guides may help facilitate driving shifts or participate in guided hiking, scenic, and wildlife viewing tours. 

Duties & Responsibilities:

In General:

• Possess a friendly, outgoing, professional demeanor at all times during interactions with the guests and other CG employees.

• Follow CG policies and procedures at all times.

• Must possess a strong work ethic.

• Prior guiding, leadership, and tourism experience helpful.

• Must be willing to become certified or possess current certification in at least Wilderness First Responder (WFR), CPR, and Swift Water Rescue

• Must be able to lift up to 80 pounds repeatedly throughout each day.

• Must be able to carry loads over uneven ground.

• Must be willing to occasionally assist other tour programs when needed.

• Assist with other jobs/projects as needed by CG administration, this may include but is not limited to:

  • Driving vehicles with guests or with our equipment.

  • Assisting with food prep for cruise tour programs.

  • Associated program maintenance needs.

• Must at all times be clean, well-groomed, courteous, honest, and reliable.

As a Raft Guide:

• Completion of CG Haines program training which includes being checked off to guide 18 ft. oar-powered rafts through glacially braided river systems.

• Maintain the safety of guests at all times.

• Must be willing to learn how to drive our box gear trucks and participate in gear truck operations. 

• Wear the appropriate company logo gear during the tour and follow the personal appearance guidelines.

• Good leadership skills, ability to communicate and facilitate groups up to 48 people.

• Be able to maintain a tight schedule-ensure your group stays on schedule throughout all aspects of the tour.

• Responsible for communicating all incidents to Haines Program Manager.

• Responsible for communicating all gear and vehicle issues to maintenance staff.

• Must be a good communicator with the willingness to teach and entertain his/her clients.

• Greet clients, facilitate introductions, get clients excited for rafting.

• Collect waivers, tickets and make sure all guests have signed waivers.

• Complete appropriate guide checklists & paperwork at the end of each shift.

• Must be willing to obtain a valid Class B CDL and contribute to bus driving duties.

For CDL Driving:

• Option to obtain a valid Class B CDL and contribute to bus driving duties for these and other tours. Have and maintain a Class B CDL with Passenger and Airbrakes endorsement.

• Pass FMCSA required pre-employment drug tests & screening.

• Be enrolled in an FMCSA required random drug testing program.

• Have and maintain a valid Medical Examiner’s Card.

• Completion of AMG Haines Driver training program (minimum of 8 hours).

Becoming a guide with Alaska Mountain Guides (AMG) / Chilkat Guides in rugged southeast Alaska requires verification of your technical competency, leadership skills, sound judgment, and knowledge of company policies and procedures. Over the length of required training there will be a segment of unpaid training and a segment of paid training. The unpaid portion will comprise of courses through the International Wilderness Leadership School (IWLS). IWLS is an accredited, recognized leader in experiential education. Training length may vary depending on class size and how quickly you demonstrate leadership and technical proficiency.

Training 

• IWLS Raft School, 7 days (Certification for rafting may take significantly longer depending on how long it takes to verify rafting skills.)

• IWLS Swiftwater Rescue, 3 days

• IWLS Wilderness First Responder, 10 days

Paid Training for all guides, 1-2 days

Wilderness First Responder (WFR) is the preferred medical certification for all positions and is required for some positions. While we do offer WFR & SWR training in Haines, these certification courses have fees associated with them (which can be deducted from future paychecks) and space is limited. Our season ends officially ends in early October, but special considerations can be made for college students who need to leave early to return to school.