American Adventure Expeditions
American Adventure Expeditions
Currently recruiting for the season from May 1st, 2024 to September 2nd, 2024.
As the experts in 'Whitewater Hospitality' American Adventure Expeditions has been providing guided raft trips on Colorado's most popular river for over 30 years! We pride ourselves on safety, professionalism and excellent customer service, and our goal is to connect with each of our guests and exceed their expectations whenever possible.
Based out of Buena Vista, CO we are blessed to be located at the base of the Continental Divide surrounded by some of the tallest peaks in the US! Not only does this provide awe-inspiring views but countless outdoor recreation opportunities abound as well.
- Location
- Colorado
- Season
- Summer
- Staff size
- 40
- Housing
- Whether included in the compensation package or provided at a cost, housing is provided for staff.
- Housing details
- Free Housing Options Available!
- Meals
- Some meals / discounts
- Cell phone service
- Yes, most carriers
- Internet access
- Good
About American Adventure Expeditions
As the experts in 'Whitewater Hospitality' American Adventure Expeditions has been providing lifelong memories on Colorado's most popular river for over 30 years! We pride ourselves on safety, professionalism, and excellent customer service. Our goal is to connect with each of our guests and exceed their expectations whenever possible. We're committed to an inclusive company culture where everyone is encouraged to grow individually and as a part of a family-owned organization!
Each one of our employees is a trained professional in his or her field and has an extreme passion for sharing their love of the outdoors with others. We employ approximately 4 year-round positions at our company and over 30 summer seasonal staff. Throughout their employment all of our team members will have access to top notch training programs, industry leading equipment and technology, and growth opportunities within this organization and within the industry.
The Employee Experience
As a company we're dedicated to the experience of our staff just as much as the experience of our guests. We feel very strongly that our employees shouldn't have to sacrifice in order to pursue a career that they love. Driven by this belief we've been industry leaders in increasing guide wages, paying for overtime, providing additional certification training free of cost or at reduced rates, offering continuing education events, and opportunities to grow professionally and personally.
We feel that an excellent work/life balance creates happy employees and happy employees provide amazing experiences for our guests! This is why we're the #1 Ranked Outfitter on the most popular river in CO!
Ideal Candidate
The ideal candidate for employment at American Adventure Expeditions is someone who loves the outdoors and is motivated to share their passion with others. We strive to create authentic connections through hospitality focused outdoor adventures! Whether it's a connection with your guests, your fellow guides, and/or the outdoors, that's what we're all about.
We're looking for:
- Hard Workers who thrive in challenging, fast-paced environments
- Problem Solvers who are flexible and enjoy variety in their workplace
- Leaders who strive to enhance the experience of everyone around them
- Team Players who understand the importance of collaboration
Room and Board
The most popular choice of living accommodations for our employees is the FREE Camping option that we offer at our Riverside Outpost. We allow tent camping, car camping, or small pop-up campers (space dependent). Not only is this an excellent option for financial reasons, but it's a huge part of creating the family-like culture at our company! Our staff works together, they live together, they recreate together, and they build bonds that last well beyond the summer season and your time on the river!
Camping at our Outpost includes access to:
- Restrooms
- Potable water
- Electricity
- Free wi-fi
- Guide Lounge with Fridge and Freezer
In addition to camping at our location there's the option of renting apartments or homes in one of the surrounding mountain towns. Just ask and we can point you in the right direction.
Employee Perks
In addition to all of the amazing natural wonders that this area of Colorado has to offer, our employees receive numerous benefits including but not limited to:
- Competitive pay, gratuities on top of base salary, incentive based bonus programs
- FREE housing available (on-site camping)
- Complimentary & discounted advanced training opportunities (Swift Water Rescue, Wilderness First Responder, etc.)
- Pro-deal pricing on a wide range of outdoor equipment and clothing
- Access to company equipment on days off (rafts, trailers, vehicles, etc.)
Getting Here and Getting Around
We're located at the headwaters of the beautiful Arkansas River Valley in the town of Buena Vista, CO. Nestled at the base of the Continental Divide with 14,000-foot peaks all around, we're conveniently located 2 hours from Denver, 1.5 hours from Colorado Springs, and just about 1 hour from Breckenridge and many other popular mountain towns!
For Fun
From family fun to white-knuckled adventure, the Arkansas River Valley has any and everything you could ask for. Encompassing three counties (Chaffee, Fremont, and Lake), the Ark Valley is considered by many to be the capital of whitewater rafting in North America. However, the area is also popular for backpacking, hiking, rock climbing, ATV’s, mountain biking, horseback riding, soaking in the hot springs or just relaxing and enjoying the scenery.
Current Job Openings
Raft Guide (No Previous Experience)
As the experts in 'Whitewater Hospitality' American Adventure Expeditions has been providing lifelong memories on Colorado's most popular river for over 30 years! We pride ourselves on safety, professionalism, and excellent customer service. Our goal is to connect with each of our guests and exceed their expectations whenever possible. We're committed to an inclusive company culture where everyone is encouraged to grow individually and as a part of a family-owned organization!
If you are not a certified white water rafting guide but wish to become one, please read the information below about our guide training program, completion of which is required for anyone without previous guiding experience.
This program begins on Monday, May 20, 2024 and lasts for approximately 3 weeks. Our training is second to none and is taught by some of the most experienced and talented guides in all of Colorado. We will give candidates the skills and know-how to perform the job of a white water professional and our program more than doubles the requirements set forth by Colorado Parks and Wildlife. We do this so our new guides are more than prepared to handle any situation that they might encounter as a certified guide.
For more information about our Guide Training Program or employment with American Adventure Expeditions, please check out the links below.
The minimum age to be considered for the guide training program is 19, and more information can be found here.
CDL Drivers
As the experts in 'Whitewater Hospitality' American Adventure Expeditions has been providing lifelong memories on Colorado's most popular river for over 30 years! We pride ourselves on safety, professionalism, and excellent customer service. Our goal is to connect with each of our guests and exceed their expectations whenever possible. We're committed to an inclusive company culture where everyone is encouraged to grow individually and as a part of a family-owned organization!
As a professional CDL Driver for American Adventure Expeditions, you will provide safe, clean, and timely transportation for our guests while working for a company that's dedicated to the experience of our staff just as much as the experience of our guests. We feel very strongly that our employees shouldn't have to sacrifice in order to pursue a career that they love. Driven by this belief we've been industry leaders in increasing wages, paying for overtime, providing additional certification training free of cost or at reduced rates, offering continuing education events, and opportunities to grow professionally and personally.
We feel that an excellent work/life balance creates happy employees and happy employees provide amazing experiences for our guests! This is why we're the #1 Ranked Outfitter on the most popular river in CO!
For more information about employment with American Adventure Expeditions, please check out the links below.
Previous experience and a clean driving record are a must. To apply for this position please click here.
Guest Services Representative
As the experts in 'Whitewater Hospitality' American Adventure Expeditions has been providing lifelong memories on Colorado's most popular river for over 30 years! We pride ourselves on safety, professionalism, and excellent customer service. Our goal is to connect with each of our guests and exceed their expectations whenever possible. We're committed to an inclusive company culture where everyone is encouraged to grow individually and as a part of a family-owned organization!
As a GSR for American Adventure Expeditions you are the smiling faces and helpful voices of AAE!!! You're expected to provide a positive, helpful, and courteous experience for all of our guests prior to and after their adventure with us!
We are a company that's dedicated to the experience of our staff just as much as the experience of our guests. We feel very strongly that our employees shouldn't have to sacrifice in order to pursue a career that they love. Driven by this belief we've been industry leaders in increasing wages, paying for overtime, providing additional certification training free of cost or at reduced rates, offering continuing education events, and opportunities to grow professionally and personally.
We feel that an excellent work/life balance creates happy employees and happy employees provide amazing experiences for our guests! This is why we're the #1 Ranked Outfitter on the most popular river in CO!
As a valued member of our team you'll not only get to enjoy an amazing work environment, but you'll also have access to all of our amazing adventures free of cost on your days off!
For more information about employment with American Adventure Expeditions, please check out the links below.
To apply for this position please click here.
Experienced Raft Guide
As the experts in 'Whitewater Hospitality' American Adventure Expeditions has been providing lifelong memories on Colorado's most popular river for over 30 years! We pride ourselves on safety, professionalism, and excellent customer service. Our goal is to connect with each of our guests and exceed their expectations whenever possible. We're committed to an inclusive company culture where everyone is encouraged to grow individually and as a part of a family-owned organization!
As a professional raft guide for American Adventure Expeditions, you will provide safe, entertaining, and educational guided rafting adventures on the Arkansas River while working for a company that's dedicated to the experience of our staff just as much as the experience of our guests. We feel very strongly that our employees shouldn't have to sacrifice in order to pursue a career that they love. Driven by this belief we've been industry leaders in increasing guide wages, paying for overtime, providing additional certification training free of cost or at reduced rates, offering continuing education events, and opportunities to grow professionally and personally.
We feel that an excellent work/life balance creates happy employees and happy employees provide amazing experiences for our guests! This is why we're the #1 Ranked Outfitter on the most popular river in CO!
For more information about employment with American Adventure Expeditions, please check out the links below.
To apply for this position please click here.
Safety Kayaker
As the experts in 'Whitewater Hospitality' American Adventure Expeditions has been providing lifelong memories on Colorado's most popular river for over 30 years! We pride ourselves on safety, professionalism, and excellent customer service. Our goal is to connect with each of our guests and exceed their expectations whenever possible. We're committed to an inclusive company culture where everyone is encouraged to grow individually and as a part of a family-owned organization!
As a safety kayaker for American Adventure Expeditions, you will provide kayak support ensuring guest safety and security while working for a company that's dedicated to the experience of our staff just as much as the experience of our guests. We feel very strongly that our employees shouldn't have to sacrifice in order to pursue a career that they love. Driven by this belief we've been industry leaders in increasing guide wages, paying for overtime, providing additional certification training free of cost or at reduced rates, offering continuing education events, and opportunities to grow professionally and personally.
We feel that an excellent work/life balance creates happy employees and happy employees provide amazing experiences for our guests! This is why we're the #1 Ranked Outfitter on the most popular river in CO!
For more information about employment with American Adventure Expeditions, please check out the links below.
Previous experience required. To apply for this position please click here.
How to Apply
If you're interested in becoming a whitewater rafting guide for American Adventure Expeditions and are not already a certified river guide please visit the employment page of our website to learn about our guide training program, completion of which is required for anyone without previous guiding experience.
If you have previous guiding experience or are interested in one of our other positions, please visit our job listings page and complete an application.
Foreign workers may apply with the proper J-1 Visa paperwork.
For more info visit https://j1visa.state.gov/
Unfortunately, we will not be applying for any H2-B Visas for the 2024 season but we would consider an extension for a current H2-B visa.
Contact Info
- Mike Kissack
- raftinginfo@americanadventure.com
- (719) 395-2409
- www.americanadventure.com
