NOW HIRING:
Program Guide – Part-Time (Summer Seasonal)
Real skills. Real standards. Real imagination.
Why Trackers
You’re not looking for a “camp job.” You’re looking for a place where real skills, real standards, and real imagination come together—a workplace where a Guide is trusted to run the field with calm authority. At Trackers, you lead youth in grades K–12 through outdoor adventures in forests, rivers, ranges, and farms—teaching wilderness survival, tracking, archery, fishing, shelter building, fire craft, and folk craft—often through story immersion worlds of secret agents, ninjas, wizards, elves, and more..
We hire seasoned guides who can operate independently, read conditions and kids, and also work inside Trackers safety systems, procedures, and lore to create the kind of team culture kids remember for life.
Duties
- Safety (Lead with Awareness): Model Trackers safety culture, stay situationally aware, manage risk proactively, and follow protocols (and improve them through real field feedback).
- Operations (Run the Day): Own the flow—transitions, timing, energy, gear, and logistics—so your group is prepared from start to finish.
- Stewardship (Care for Place & Tools): Maintain sites, equipment, and natural spaces. Leave places better than you found them and teach kids to do the same.
- Leadership & Lore (Build Culture): Hold the group with warm authority, build Trackers Teams, teach skill with depth, and bring story immersion to life (we train you) to develop teamwork, courage, awareness, and leadership.
- Professional Communication: Communicate clearly with families and staff, coordinate with lead team members, and complete required documentation accurately and on time.
Qualifications
We don’t hire “activity supervisors.” We hire guides: practitioners who teach real skills, build team culture, and hold standards with thoughtfulness.
- 1+ year leading youth in education, camps, outdoor programs, coaching, mentorship, facilitation, or similar.
- Strong group management: clear expectations, steady follow-through, calm authority.
- Adaptive judgment: you adjust the plan when conditions change—weather, behavior, safety, logistics—without losing the group.
- Alignment with Trackers standards: you want a strong container and you deliver inside it—safety systems, procedures, and culture tested for over 20 years.
Choose Your Skill Lanes (you don’t need all of these)
- Outdoor Lane: tracking/nature awareness, wilderness survival, shelter building, fire craft, navigation, fishing/watercraft, field archery
- Craft Lane: folk craft, woodcraft, natural materials, making with hand tools, clay/paint/fiber, maker skills with kids
- Basecamp Lane: tabletop role-playing games, arts instruction, learn-to-bike coaching, archery instruction, facilitation and mission-based play
- Safety Lane: wilderness first aid, SAR, boating background, risk management experience, calm emergency response
If you come from scouting, camps, outdoor ed, environmental ed, micro-schools, expedition leadership, SAR, forest school, teaching, climbing gyms, maker spaces, theater, or role-playing games—good. Trackers shares DNA with many worlds, but our focus is simple: kids build independence through competence, community, and time outdoors.
Who Thrives Here
- You have strong field judgment: you notice conditions early and adjust plans without drama.
- You can hold caring authority: clear boundaries, steady presence, and genuine care.
- You teach skill with structure: you can break down technique and help kids succeed through repetition.
- You enjoy both grit and wonder: rain, mud, sharp tools, and big imagination—no contradiction.
- You like standards: you want a well-run program, and you improve inside the system instead of resisting it.
Schedule & Program Types
This role may include one or more Trackers Earth programs: part-time School-Year (Homeschool, Weekend Apprenticeships, After School), Seasonal Breaks (Winter/Spring), and/or Summer Camps. While this description outlines shared responsibilities and expectations, exact schedules and duties vary by season and role.
- Possible School Year Roles: After School (Mon–Fri), Weekday Homeschool (Wed or Fri), Weekend Apprenticeships (Sat/Sun), Winter Break, Spring Break
- Summer Break Role: Typically Monday to Friday during assigned weeks, with scheduling based on enrollment and program needs.
- Location: Must report to Kirkland or Bellevue-area worksites (assignments are not discretionary)
- Flexibility: Part-time and full-time roles available. For key positions, a full school-year commitment is strongly preferred.
- Typical Hours: 2–8 hours on days scheduled depending on program needs
- Required Training - First Year: June 15-16, 2026
- Required Training - All Staff: June 17-19, 2026
Because we invest significant time and resources in staff training, we prioritize applicants who are available for the full summer season or frequently in the school year. Final schedules are based on program enrollment, performance, and overall staff availability.
Pay & Compensation
Effective June 2026
Hourly Pay: $21.50–$23.50/hour
- Applies to school-year, seasonal break, and summer roles.
- Increases above the $21.50 starting rate are based on defined add-ons, including prior summer seasons and qualifying certifications—see below for details.
- Certification bumps apply only during active seasonal placement and begin the first pay cycle after the next quarterly review. They are not retroactive.
- All seasonal training hours are paid at the applicable local minimum wage. Certification bumps do not apply to training hours.
How to Apply
Apply early for best consideration and indicate your availability and interests: school-year, seasonal break, and summer roles. Qualified applicants may be added to an on-deck list. Employment is at-will and this posting is not a contract.
Mutual Fit Period All new roles—including seasonal transitions—begin with a 90-day mutual fit period. This time supports onboarding, training, feedback, and shared expectations.
Physical Requirements & Certifications
This is a hands-on, active, and at times field-based role. Outdoor roles may require stamina in rugged environments, while classroom-based roles focus more on tool handling, shop safety, and materials management.
Physical Requirements – Outdoor Programs
(Examples: Bushcraft, Tracking, Forestry, Paddlesports, Rock Climbing)
- Ability to lift and carry up to 50 lbs
- Hike 5–20 miles per day, including off-trail and uneven terrain
- Remain on feet for extended periods in variable weather conditions
- Move safely across natural landscapes such as forests, hills, and rivers
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions.
Required Certifications
- CPR, First Aid, and Anaphylaxis/Epinephrine Auto-Injector
- Food Handler’s Permit (or ability to obtain before start)
- Mandated Reporter Training (18+)
Additional Requirements
- State Fishing License (if assisting with fishing activities)
- Background check and references
- Valid driver’s license held for 2+ years
Optional but Valued & Prioritized
CDL Class B with Passenger Endorsement: If you already have a CDL or are interested in earning one, that’s a big plus.
Eligibility Requirements
To operate Trackers Earth vehicles requiring a CDL, candidates must:
- Be 21 years of age or older
- Hold a valid U.S. driver’s license
- Have a clean motor vehicle record (MVR) for the past 3 years, with no major violations (e.g. DUI, reckless driving, license suspension)
About Trackers
Trackers helps kids build real independence through competence and community. We keep kids safe without teaching fear of nature. It is okay to be thirsty at times, cold at times, and wet at times—this is how kids learn grit, perspective, and care for the gifts of life. We pair challenge with support, helping kids discover their capacity for service, responsibility, and resilience in the more-than-human world.
Pay Rates for Trackers Guides
Returning Staff & Certification Based Add-Ons
Effective June 2026
At Trackers Earth, we reward Guides for field experience, specialized skills, and professional certifications.
Base Pay
- Base: $21.50/hour
- Training Rate: Minimum Wage
All initial and ongoing training hours, regardless of tenure or certification, are paid at the applicable local minimum wage based on location and do not include pay increases. Base pay and applicable pay bumps begin only once staff begin working in active program assignments. Certification-based pay bumps do not apply to training hours.
Certification Pay Bumps
Guides can earn additional pay for relevant certifications. Total hourly pay is capped at $23.50/hour.
| Certification |
Pay Bump |
| Returning Bonus (per 8 summer weeks worked [training not included], max 1 credit per season) |
+$0.25/hr |
| Wilderness First Aid (WFA)* |
+$0.25/hr |
| USA Archery or NASP Level 1 Instructor* |
+$0.25/hr |
| CyberTracker Track & Sign (Level II or higher) |
+$0.25/hr |
| 9-Month Wilderness Immersion Program |
+$0.25/hr |
| FEMA ICS 100 & 200* |
+$0.25/hr |
| Trackers Van & Trailer Driver Certification (21 years +)* |
+$0.25/hr |
| ACA Instructor – Level 1 or 2 (Canoe or Kayak) |
+$0.25/hr |
| Hunter’s Safety Instructor Certification |
+$0.25/hr |
| AMGA Single Pitch Instructor (SPI) |
+$0.25/hr |
| Lifeguard Certification with Waterfront Module |
+$0.25/hr |
| First Responder (Past 8 Years) or U.S. Armed Forces Veteran |
+$0.25/hr |
| State Teaching Certification (K–12, current or expired within 5 years) |
+$0.50/hr |
| Wilderness First Responder (WFR)* |
+$0.50/hr |
| First Aid/CPR Instructor |
+$0.50/hr |
| Archery Instructor Trainer (USA Archery or NASP)* |
+$0.50/hr |
| Swiftwater Rescue Technician |
+$0.50/hr |
| Incident Qualification Certification (Red Card)* |
+$0.50/hr |
| CDL with Passenger Endorsement (large school bus-size vehicles)* |
+$2.50/hr |
*Stacking Rules (What Doesn’t Combine)
Not all certification pay bumps can be combined. Some credentials cover the same or higher-level training, so only the larger bump applies.
- WFA does not stack with WFR. (If you hold WFR, the WFA bump does not apply.)
- ICS 100/200 does not stack with Red Card. (Red Card replaces the ICS bump.)
- USA Archery/NASP Level 1 does not stack with Archery Instructor Trainer (Trainer replaces Level 1).
- Trackers Van & Trailer Driver Certification does not stack with a CDL with Passenger Endorsement (CDL replaces Van/Trailer).
Other certifications listed above may stack if they are in distinct skill areas
(e.g., Lifeguard + Swiftwater, Teaching Certification + WFR).
Certification Verification Requirement
See the Certification Pay Bump Addendum below for criteria of accepted certifications.
Quarterly Certification Review & Pay Updates
Trackers reviews and updates certification-based pay rates on a quarterly basis. At the end of each quarter, eligible staff will receive a form to report any new certifications they have acquired. To be considered for a pay bump, certifications must be submitted before the end of the quarter, include proper documentation, and are subject to HR approval. Approved certifications will be reflected in payroll starting with the first pay period of the following quarter. Pay increases are not retroactive and will only apply moving forward from the scheduled update. For short-term or seasonal-only roles, increases may not take effect unless returning for a future program.
Documentation must include:
- A copy of the official certificate or license
- Dates of completion and expiration (if applicable)
- Name of the issuing organization or agency
Certification Pay Bump Addendum
$0.25/hour Certifications
Seasonal Longevity Pay Bump – Summer Only
- Guides earn a $0.25/hour increase for every 8 full weeks worked during the summer season, up to one credit per summer. Key Details:
- Applies only to weeks worked in Trackers summer programs
- Maximum of one 8-week credit per summer, regardless of total weeks worked
- Weeks may be across multiple roles or locations but still count as a single summer credit
- Longevity bumps are cumulative across summers and applied to future seasons
- Example: A Coordinator works 10 weeks in their first summer. They receive one $0.25/hour bump for future seasons. In their second summer, they work 8 more weeks and earn another $0.25/hour, bringing their total longevity bump to $0.50/hour by their third summer.
Wilderness First Aid (WFA)
- Minimum 16 hours
- Recognized providers: NOLS, WMA, SOLO, etc.
- Not stackable with WFR
USA Archery or NASP Level 1 Instructor
- Must be current and from a national program
- Includes range safety and youth instruction
CyberTracker Track & Sign (Level II or higher)
- Evaluation must be through a certified CyberTracker Evaluator
- Level II demonstrates solid field interpretation skills
9-Month Wilderness Immersion Program
- Must include one immersive weekend per month
- Includes bushcraft, tracking, survival, foraging, and mentoring
- Recognized programs:
- Trackers Earth
- Wilderness Awareness School (WA)
- Earth Native School
- Jack Mountain Bushcraft (ME)
- Teaching Drum (WI)
- Roots Vermont
- Others reviewed upon request
FEMA ICS 100 & 200
- Free online through FEMA
- Covers incident response structure and leadership in emergencies
- Applies to all program sites for risk and communication clarity
Trackers Van Driver Certification (21 years +)
- Must be 21 or older
- Must complete Trackers internal driver safety and trailer towing training
- Certification covers safe operation of vans and utility trailers used for student transport and gear
- CDL not required
- Priority may be given in hiring and scheduling due to transportation responsibilities
American Canoe Association (ACA) Instructor – Level 1 or 2 (Canoe or Kayak)
- Must hold a current ACA instructor certification in canoeing or kayaking
- Certification must include water safety and rescue protocols
- Recognized for Guides leading paddle-based or waterfront programs
Hunter’s Safety Instructor Certification
- Must be a certified Hunter Education Instructor through a state-recognized wildlife agency (e.g., Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife)
- Includes firearm safety, ethical hunting practices, and field instruction for youth and adults
- Certification must be current and verifiable
- Recognized for Guides supporting archery, survival, and hunting heritage programs
AMGA Single Pitch Instructor (SPI)
- Current certification through American Mountain Guides Association
- Valid for managing top-rope climbing and site-based instruction
Lifeguard Instructor with Waterfront Module
- Must be a certified Lifeguard Instructor authorized to train and certify others in:
- Waterfront lifeguarding, including flatwater rescue scenarios (lakes, ponds, slow rivers)
- Through the American Red Cross, YMCA, or Ellis & Associates (E&A)
- Must maintain active instructor status with the certifying body
- Authorized to certify Trackers staff in waterfront lifeguarding; must register courses through the issuing organization and agree to instruct staff at their standard pay rate; participant certification fees handled through the certifying body
First Responder (Past 8 Years) or U.S. Armed Forces Veteran
- Applies to staff with documented experience as a U.S. military veteran (honorable or general discharge), regardless of discharge date
- Or: documented service within the past 8 years as a firefighter, EMT/paramedic, law enforcement officer, or Search & Rescue team member
- Experience must be verifiable. This bump recognizes leadership, resilience, and community service.
$0.50/hour Certifications
State Teaching Certification
- Current or expired within the last 8 years
- Valid in any U.S. state for grades K–12
- Includes student teaching or supervised practicum
- Applies to General Ed, Special Ed, and subject-specific licensure
Wilderness First Responder (WFR)
- Minimum 70+ hours
- Recognized providers: NOLS, WMA, SOLO
- Includes trauma, evacuation, and backcountry decision-making
First Aid/CPR Instructor (Red Cross, HSI, or Equivalent)
- Must be a certified instructor through a recognized organization such as the American Red Cross, Health & Safety Institute (HSI/ASHI), or American Heart Association (AHA)
- Authorized to teach and certify Trackers staff in First Aid, CPR/AED, and Bloodborne Pathogens (BBP) as required
- Instructor must maintain active certification and agree to train Trackers staff at their standard pay rate; course registration and participant certification fees are handled through the issuing organization
Archery Instructor Trainer (USA Archery or NASP)
- Must be a certified Instructor Trainer or Basic Instructor Trainer
- USA Archery: Level 2 or higher with instructor trainer endorsement
- NASP: Basic Archery Instructor Trainer (BAIT)
- Authorized to train and certify new instructors under official archery programs
- Must maintain active standing with the certifying organization
- Must maintain active standing and agree to provide instruction to Trackers staff at their regular hourly or salaried rate; course must be registered with the certifying organization.
Swiftwater Rescue Technician (SRT-1 or higher)
- Must hold current certification through a recognized provider (e.g., Rescue 3 International, ACA, or equivalent)
- Certification includes in-water rescue techniques, rope systems, and river hazard recognition
- Valid for Guides working in or near moving water, especially paddlecraft or overnight expedition programs
- Certification must be current and meet minimum field hour requirements
Incident Qualification Certification (Red Card)
- Must have held a valid Red Card within the past 10 years
- Must include:
- Completion of required fire and ICS courses (S-130, S-190, L-180, ICS 100/200/700)
- Successful Arduous Pack Test (45 lb pack, 3 miles in under 45 mins)
- Issued by a sponsoring agency (e.g., USFS, state fire agency)
- Not stackable with FEMA ICS 100 & 200
$2.50/hour Certification
CDL with Passenger Endorsement (Large School Bus-Size Vehicles)
- Valid CDL with “P” or “S” endorsement
- Qualified to operate full-size school buses (does not require school-bus specific cert)
- Actively driving or on-call
- Must meet Trackers safety, MVR, and compliance standards