Adventure Treks

UPDATES: Hiring for Summer 2026

Hiring:

To Apply: Adventure Treks is now accepting applications for summer 2026! Email your resume and a brief introduction to employment@adventuretreks.com. We encourage candidates to submit their resumes and applications promptly.

Being a Field Instructor at Adventure Treks is a unique and incredible opportunity—seeing students immersed in nature, fostering a community, and building their confidence and leadership on the trail! Instructors are deeply familiar with the demands of operating on the sun's clock and sleeping in a tent for weeks at a time with peers and students relying on them. In the highs and lows of a trip, they're always engaged, bringing fun to any situation, staying motivated, and working hard. Instructors are in charge of safety, satisfaction, and success. It's not always easy, but it's so rewarding! Not only do Instructors build fantastic student communities, but Adventure Treks is home to one of the strongest Instructor communities in the industry. With wilderness-based programs offered both in North America (British Columbia, Alaska, California, Colorado, Oregon, Washington, Wyoming, and North Carolina) and abroad (Belize, India, Norway, Peru and Slovenia), Instructors lead activities like backpacking, rock and ice climbing, mountaineering, mountain biking, canoeing, and whitewater kayaking & rafting. On each adventure, the four- to six-person instructor team works together to create fun, growth-oriented, and community-minded experiences and coordinate all aspects of the trip like managing group dynamics, teaching outdoor skills, maintaining equipment, and handling medical issues. Compensation starts at $4,300–$4,400 for the entire summer plus all-inclusive employment. (accommodations, meals, outfitted activities…), travel reimbursements, opportunities to work year-round, professional development scholarships, and pro-deal access to hundreds of outdoor brands. Check out the minimum requirements, Instructor FAQs and how to apply.

Qualification: All applicants must be 21, have a valid WFR & CPR certification, a clean driving record, several years of experience working with youth and leading outdoor programs, and the ability to maintain positive energy levels with little/no time off and very limited personal time. They must be excited to work with teenagers, build community, overcome challenges, and facilitate a fun and safe experience. 

Dates of Employment: Summer: June 9 - August 15, 2026 (tentative dates)

Instructor Compensation

We’re pleased to offer a competitive salary. The starting salary for first-year summer instructors in 2026 will be: $4,300-$4,400.

Adventure Treks offers travel reimbursements up to $500 to help instructors travel to and from Staff Orientation. Accommodations, meals (and coffee!) on your trip, outfitted activities, equipment, transportation to and from the trip’s locations are provided by Adventure Treks. Pro Deal accounts with access to discounts on a wide range of outdoor brands.

• Reimbursement for Wilderness First Responder recertification for returning instructors.

• Focus on year-round personal and professional growth which includes career resource webinars and reimbursements toward professional development. An opportunity to work both Adventure Treks summer and fall programs, with a focus on career growth through the progression of instructor, trip leader, and regional director, and gap semester faculty.

  Adventure Treks is committed to building a diverse community that is inclusive of people from all backgrounds to reflect the world we live in. Adventure Treks does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, genetics information, socioeconomic status, medical condition, or any other consideration made unlawful by federal, state, or local laws

An opportunity to work both Adventure Treks summer and fall programs, with a focus on career growth through the progression of instructor, trip leader, and regional director, and gap semester faculty.

Additional Information About Adventure Treks:

Benefits: Personal and professional skills learned at Adventure Treks are applicable to many different careers and life experiences for years to come.

Leadership and Responsibility: Instructors are responsible for the safety and overall experience of 20-24 teenagers, while conducting themselves as a positive role model throughout the program.

Communication: Instructors communicate with their students, co-instructors, trip leader, regional director, parents, and the Adventure Treks office.

Resilience and Adaptability: Creative problem solving and overcoming adversity with a positive attitude are skills Instructors use regularly.

Decision Making: Instructors confidently make safe, timely, and intentional decisions.

Strong Work Ethic: Most instructors say this is one of the hardest, yet most rewarding and fulfilling jobs they’ve ever had.

Relationship Building: Instructors create strong connections with their students and their instructor team, building a tight-knit community with everyone on the program.
Feedback: Adventure Treks programs offer continual opportunities to provide and receive feedback to students, co-instructors, and trip leaders.