Connection to Self, Others, and Place
Deer Hill provides wilderness adventure and cultural exchange through community service to 150 participants each summer and 20-30 organizations throughout the year. While other companies might focus on leading a tour, or teaching specific technical skills, Deer Hill goes beyond these services to include the richness of supported self-discovery.
Our beautiful basecamp is in Mancos, Colorado, at the feet of the majestic Rocky Mountains, and a stone’s throw from the rivers and canyons of southeast Utah. Over the past 30 years, we have built strong relationships with families and community leaders in the Navajo Nation and in Hopi and Zuni pueblos.
About Deer Hill Expeditions
At Deer Hill, our mission is to empower individuals to create an authentic connection to self and community through wilderness and service experiences. We have been operating in the Southwest since 1984, rafting, canoeing, backpacking, and otherwise exploring. But what truly sets us apart is our element of cross-cultural service.
Over the past 30 years, we have been building relationships with families on the Navajo Nation and in Hopi and Zuni Pueblos. We believe that connecting our students with the folks whose land they're traversing is an incredible and necessary part of building a relationship with the land. Deer Hill's programs are built on the kind of intimate relationship with people and places that takes time and dedication to create.
The Employee Experience
We value diversity, community, compassion, self-awareness, and challenge. For most of our history, our basecamp was a family home. Our meals are still served family style, and there are frequently enough dogs running around that we wonder if we should change our name to Dog Hill. Working with young people for long stretches of time is not without challenge, but our community is known for playing as hard as we work! After a season with us, you leave as a new member of the fam.
Ideal Candidate
Our staff bring a wide range of backgrounds and training to their role. The one element that they all have in common is the desire to provide participants with the most meaningful, educational, and fun programs possible. Folks who bring heart, clear communication skills, patience, and humor to the table are generally a great fit.
Room and Board
Room and board is included with all of our seasonal positions!
Our interns occupy a spot called the Loft (a 6 bedroom, 4 bathroom area with a shared living room, kitchen, and dining room). Our Field Staff occupy our Staff Cabin (4 bedrooms with a communal kitchen/living space, bathrooms about 10 feet away in the showerhouse).
When we have students on basecamp, food is cooked for you and you are welcome to join all meals! If no meal is being cooked, we have a pantry stocked full of ingredients that staff are welcome to use.
In addition to the housing and food our basecamp offers: laundry facilities, staff storage area, kitchen, foosball table, horseshoe pit, pond, fruit trees and 130 acres.
If you're in between work or have time until your next gig, we have Basecamp work available where you can get paid and have room and board covered or we have a camping area to help out.
Employee Perks
We offer a Spring Staff Training as well as a Summer Staff Training to further develop your skills. For training outside of us, we have professional development funds to support growth and continuing education. Access to pro purchase programs is included, as well as greatly reduced gear rental and purchase costs through our Store.
Getting Here and Getting Around
Cars can be convenient and we have parking space available for them. Flying into the Durango Airport gets you within 30 minutes of Basecamp and catching a ride with someone is always a possibility. Staff housing is on the property so once you are here you won't "need" a vehicle. But having a bike is always encouraged for exploring purposes.
For Fun
We are in the heart of the Southwest. Our basecamp is in a valley with the San Juan Mountains of Colorado on one side and the canyonlands of Utah on the other. World-class mountain biking is less than 15 minutes away at Phil's World. Incredible climbing areas surround us. There are hikes going into the National Forest from our basecamp. The Milkyway is visible on any night that's not cloudy. In addition to that, we are only 6 miles from Mesa Verde National Park and there are cultural sites surrounding our area. It's truly an incredible place for year-round recreation.
How to Apply
Fill out the application through our website here, please make sure to address any pertinent experience, including professional and personal experience, that is relevant to this position.
Contact Info
- Sam Ryden
- operations@deerhillexpeditions.com
- (970) 533-7492
- deerhillexpeditions.com
