Summer Jobs Leading Teen Adventure Trips

Wilderness Programs Abroad and Domestic Seek Experienced Instructors

Article and photo by Erica Rounsefell
Resources updated by TransitionsAbroad.com 10/1/2023

Hiking is a popular summer camp activity, and wilderness trip leader jobs are available worldwide to lead small groups of teens.

Summer is the season for outdoor adventures, so if you're enthusiastic about outdoor activities, you may be the perfect person for a job leading teens on exciting wilderness programs. Positions are available abroad and in the United States, and tour operators are looking to hire responsible, enthusiastic trip leaders and instructors.

While eligibility requirements vary by program, most require experience working with teens and certification in First Aid, CPR, and Wilderness First Responder. If programs involve marine expeditions, SCUBA or sailing experience may be a requirement. For jobs abroad, language skills and experience in the host country are necessary. Most successful applicants have previous outdoor leadership experience, with some programs requiring training before departure. If you are applying, please note that most positions are filled by March or April for the upcoming summer.

The organizations listed below hire wilderness trip leaders or instructors for overseas destinations, some of which change yearly.

Companies Hiring Wilderness Trip Leaders or Instructors:

• ActionQuest: Summer trip leaders and other staff jobs are available, with staff typically in their early 20's, for experiential trips to destinations including Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, British Virgin Islands, Dominica, Dutch West Indies, Ecuador, France, French Polynesia, French West Indies, Italy, Monaco, and St. Kitts and Nevis.
  
  
• Adventures Cross Country (ARCC): Jobs as trip leaders are available for summer, fall, or spring jobs as trip leaders to Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Belize, Canada, Costa Rica, Dutch West Indies, Fiji, France, French Polynesia, French West Indies, Italy, New Zealand, St. Kitts and Nevis, Spain, Switzerland, Thailand, the U.S., and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
  
  
• Bold Earth Adventures: Seeking trip leaders with experience, excellent interpersonal skills, and a good sense of humor for small teen summer group tours to destinations including Fiji, Bali, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Peru, South Africa, France, Spain, Thailand, China, the U.K., Hawaii, and Alaska.
  
  
• Broadreach: Opportunities are possible for educators, instructors and marine biologists who are customer-oriented for summer opportunities to locations such as Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Bahamas, Canada, Costa Rica, Dominica, Dutch West Indies, Ecuador, Egypt, Fiji, French West Indies, Grenada, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Solomon Islands, Trinidad & Tobago, and Hawaii.
  
  
• Moondance Adventures: Summer positions are available for trip leaders and instructors with good communication and leadership skills to lead teens on group tours to destinations including Australia, Canada, Costa Rica, France, and the U.S.
  
  
• Where There Be Dragons: Work is occasionally available for summer and semester programs by a socially responsible travel company that emphasizes intercultural connections in locations such as Bolivia, Cambodia, China, Guatemala, India, Laos, Mexico, Mongolia, Peru, Senegal, Thailand, and Vietnam.
  
  
• Wilderness Adventure: Positions are available for summer trips and seasonal group leaders, which involve activities such as climbing, mountain biking, and whitewater kayaking for destinations including Cambodia, Panama, Puerto Rico, Thailand, Vietnam, and the U.S.
  
  
• Wilderness Adventures: Positions available for extremely active and adventurous trip leaders for a company that emphasizes both challenging activities and fun for summer groups of teens going to destinations such as Australia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, France, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, and the U.S.

If you are interested in working this coming summer leading tours abroad for any of the above adventure companies and programs and enjoy working with teens, please feel free to apply for what will almost certainly be a memorable and rewarding experience.

Erica Rounsefell teaches bilingual elementary school in Washington, D.C.