ROW Adventures Family of Companies | Full Time

Sea Kayak Guide (BC, Canada)

Port McNeil, Canada | Posted on 02/02/2017

ROW Adventures is an award-winning adventure travel company founded in 1979 in northern Idaho. We hire professional Guides to deliver high-quality outdoor adventure experiences in the United States and internationally.

Our guided adventures include:

- Whitewater rafting
- Kayaking and sea kayaking
- Hiking and biking
- Fly fishing

ROW Adventures Guides work across Idaho, Montana, Washington, and Oregon , as well as Baja California, British Columbia, and select global destinations.

ROW Adventures is a recognized leader in the adventure travel industry, known for professional Guide training , exceptional guest service, conservation ethics, and environmental interpretation.

Employment Type & Hiring Timeline

- Seasonal Guide positions (Adventure Guide / Field Guide)
- Applications accepted year-round
- Primary seasonal hiring completed by late March
- Adventure season runs from May through late September
- Peak season occurs mid-June through late August

Compensation & Benefits for Guides

ROW Adventures offers competitive compensation and advantages for guides , including:

- Competitive pay
- Housing or camping provided at all outposts
- Free or discounted trips for friends and family
- Flexible Spending Account (FSA)

Work Locations for Guides

- Main rafting warehouse: Clarkston, Washington
- Main biking warehouse: Coeur d’Alene, Idaho

Rivers & Destinations Guides May Work On

- St. Joe River
- Selway River
- Clark Fork River
- Salmon River Canyons
- Snake River (Hells Canyon)
- Main Salmon River
- Middle Fork of the Salmon River

Biking Trails & Destinations for Guides

- North Idaho cycling routes and trail systems, including scenic road and gravel rides near Coeur d’Alene and the Idaho Panhandle
- Olympic Peninsula , Washington — coastal and forested routes featuring temperate rainforest, mountain views, and ocean scenery
- Oregon Coast cycling tours — iconic coastal riding with dramatic cliffs, beaches, and historic seaside towns

These trips may include supported road cycling, gravel riding, and multi‑day bike tours, depending on destination and itinerary.

ROW Adventures is committed to providing a respectful, supportive, and inclusive work workplace for all Guides. Our Guides are our most valuable asset, and our success is driven by teamwork, professionalism, safety, and consistent delivery of high-quality guest experiences.

We maintain a high return rate of seasonal Guides, while continuing to hire and train new Guides each year.

Guide Qualifications & Expectations

- Provide professional, guest-focused service
- Are self-motivated, dependable, and safety-oriented
- Work effectively in team-based field environments
- Demonstrate strong communication and leadership skills
- Have a passion for adventure travel, outdoor recreation, and natural environments
- Are interested in long‑term or multi‑season Guide employment
- ROW Adventures seeks guides who hold themselves to high personal and professional standards and who consistently exceed industry expectations.

Job Description

Job Title : Sea Kayak Guide

Employment Status : Summer seasonal position; wages vary DOE. Housing provided. Start, end dates and volume of work negotiated individually on Job Agreement.

Location : Johnstone Strait area on Vancouver Island in British Columbia.

Summary : To serve as a sea kayak guide on both single and double sea touring kayaks in dynamic marine environment. Will guide multi‑day trips up to six‑day,



and may be rotated onto any of the trips that ROW Sea Kayak Adventures (ROW SKA) runs for which they are qualified. All guides are members of a growing company and their primary responsibility is to deal with guests, co‑workers and suppliers in a manner which sets the high water mark for hospitality, safety and excellence.

Job Duties (not listed in order of importance) :

1. Safely guide guests by kayak in a dynamic marine workplace. Perform team leader, lead boat and safety boat duties as assigned
2. Professionally represent ROW SKA’s and its Mission, Vision and Values at all times.
3. Work cooperatively with all team members to implement all logistical aspects of a ROW SKA trip from pack‑up to clean‑up in a timely manner in order to provide guests with a safe, meaningful and memorable experience.
4. Care for, respect, and maintain ROW SKA equipment, vehicles and facilities, including guide quarters, in a neat, properly functioning, organized and presentable manner.
5. Set‑up and pack‑up camp facilities such as guest tents, tables, chairs and portable toilet (when applicable) on all multi‑day trips.
6. Prepare, artfully present and clean‑up all meals and dishes according to ROW menu and recipes.
7. Provide meaningful, researched and engaging interpretive presentations on natural and cultural history topics relevant to the trip’s location and our guests. Note: These are typically are 10 minute presentations on topics such as local geology, flora and fauna, First Nations, pioneers or environmental concerns.
8. Lead guest activities such as hikes, storytelling, games or campfire music to enrich the guests’ experience and engage them in friendly conversation throughout the trip.
9. Complete and submit all trip‑related paperwork, including incident reports, in a timely manner.
10. Fully participate with a positive attitude in all job‑related aspects during and related to a given trip, including attendance and participation in all guide meetings, debriefs, and other pre‑ and post‑trip tasks.
11. Help market other ROW trips by accurately answering guest questions and to generally direct them to other ROW experiences they might enjoy. Forward the names of hot prospects in a timely manner to the office for follow up.
12. Respond to routine guest requests in a polite, helpful manner that makes them feel valued, respected, liked and cared for.
13. Guide trips in a manner aimed to enrich the guests’ experience and appreciation of the natural world, not merely entertain.
14. Act as a good steward of the natural world, including following ROW’s sustainability practices and Leave No Trace principles.
15. Read and adhere to all policies and procedures outlined in the ROW guide manual.
16. Over the course of the season, complete a minimum of 20 warehouse hours as needed or assigned, at least 15 of which are at the end of the season to qualify for End of Season Pay (ESP).
17. Constantly look for ways to better serve the guest and ROW SKA and bring new ideas to management.
18. Communicate appropriately with co‑workers, owners, and managers and address conflict or other outstanding issues in a timely and professional manner.
19. Performs other duties as assigned or identified.

Employee Qualifications :





- Legally allowed to work in Canada.
- Must be at least 21 years old (for insurance purposes, must be 23 or older if driving guests)
- Current 36 hour or higher advanced first aid and CPR certifications (ay be completed after hiring). OEC, WAFA, WFR, WEMT, EMT, preferred.
- All guides must have ACSKG, SKGABC, CRCA, ACA, or BCU certification or equivalent.
- A positive, supportive team player with a can‑do attitude
- Excellent verbal communication skills
- Physically fit, able to work long hours in the field and lift, carry heavy objects over awkward terrain, and repeatedly lift upwards of 70lbs.
- Willing and eager to interact positively with a range of age groups, from small children to seniors
- Strong work ethic and willingness to learn and accept new ideas
- Excellent judgment, decision making and creative problem solving ability
- Ability to follow ROW’s drug‑free and tobacco free workplace policy
- Experience in guest services or group leadership, preferred
- Academic or professional background or equivalent experience in natural science, northwest Canadian history, environmental education or conservation related field, preferred.

Required Training :Guides must complete all required training and be approved by trainer or Area Manager prior to commencement of paid guide work. Training includes attendance on the all‑staff training trip in June. New guides will not be paid for training, but returning guides will qualify for end of season pay for attendance of the training trip (see pay scale). Guides without prior commercial experience or who otherwise require additional kayaking skills as identified by ROW management must successfully complete an approved training program prior to commencement of paid guide work. It is the employees responsibility to arrange transportation to and from this training. Guides are responsible for all training and licensing fees as outlined in the Job Agreement.

Required Equipment :Guides must provide their own appropriate footwear and clothing as well as personal kayaking gear including PFD, wetsuit, tow rope, water bottle(s), and flares. In addition, multi‑day guides must provide a dry bag, sleeping bag, tent, and appropriate clothing for extended trips. Work Schedule: Guides are full time with a varying schedule, according to the dates on the Job Agreement. Guides may move between trips as bookings and qualifications dictate. Work schedules may be erratic and difficult to predict as they are based on bookings. Efforts will be made to give guides their requested workload. Special occasion days off and special needs must be negotiated prior to signing contract in order to be guaranteed. Guides may be asked to work more if needed. Vacations are discouraged in July and August.

Performance Standards :Guides are evaluated on their thoroughness in performing duties, attitude, punctuality, dependability, ability to operate as a team player, initiative, mature judgment, relationships with co‑workers, management and guests, flexibility and willingness to learn. Reporting Relationship: Guides report to their team leader and their Area Manager. In their absence, guides report to the Director of Operations or President. Compensation: Guides are paid based on ROW SKA’s payscale. Pay level varies based on years of experience and qualifications. Certain skills (like a WFR certification) qualify for extra pay. Housing or camping is provided at all outposts along with cooking, bath and lounge facilities. Food is provided on all trips, reduced cost trips for friends and family, and pro deals.

#J-18808-Ljbffr

📌 Full Time (Port McNeill)
🏢 Zohorecruit
📍 Port McNeill