Trackers PortlandTrackers PDX
Join one of the most innovative & action-packed outdoor education teams.
Come teach in Trackers Earth's award-winning outdoor and folk craft camps where capable educators share real skills and serious fun. Kids earn confidence through outdoor adventure, team leadership, and nature badassery. If you want meaningful work helping kids develop independence, community service, and connection—come work for Trackers and level up together.
Join the team families trust for real skills and adventure.
Experts in outdoor and craft education since 2004.
We help children feel like a group of kids wandering country backyards 100 years ago: independent, tired, muddy, and happy from the woods and wild. Kids grow through real skills, real responsibility, and a community that holds clear standards. They need to cultivate competence to find true independence in nature and contribute to families, future generations, and the land.
The experience of high-level Trackers Guides is diverse and not what you might always expect. It can include restaurant managers from fast-paced environments, search and rescue who’ve led complex outdoor operations., and middle school or high school teachers who’ve been through the classroom crucible. It also includes skilled outdoor guides in kayaking, bushcraft, rafting, climbing, and more. We want you!
Have Command Presence: Guide with clear boundaries, steady presence, and serious fun—like Captain Picard.
Teach by Doing: Demonstrate skills and lead training, helping kids do it safely and well.
Maintain Safety & Standards: Keep expectations, activities, and group culture disciplined and consistent.
Make Good Field Calls: Adjust plans for weather, behavior, and conditions while keeping the goal intact.
Communicate Well: Work with kids, parents, and staff using professional, warm, direct communication.
Recent Youth Leadership: You have led kids in camps, classrooms, coaching, or youth programs.
Situational Awareness: You notice what is changing and adjust before small problems grow.
Outdoor Readiness: You can work outside all day in diverse weather while teaching a group.
Real Skill Base: You have strong outdoor skills, crafts, or teaching experience, and you keep leveling up.
All-Ages Communication: You can teach and hold boundaries with clarity and care across Grades K–12.
Apply for any roles that match your interest. You can apply for multiple roles. Please list your availability and role preferences in your application.
Now hiring for 2026 Summer Season.
Guide kids to be competent and capable in real outdoor skills and hands-on crafts.
Program Guide – Part-Time (Summer Seasonal)
Real skills. Real standards. Real imagination.
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.
We don’t hire “activity supervisors.” We hire guides: practitioners who teach real skills, build team culture, and hold standards with thoughtfulness.
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.
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.
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.
Hourly Pay: $17.50–$22.00/hour
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.
This is a hands-on, active, and at times field-based role. As a Specialist Guide, your physical requirements will vary depending on your assigned program. Outdoor roles may require physical stamina in rugged environments, while classroom-based roles focus more on tool handling, shop safety, and materials management.
(Examples: Bushcraft, Tracking, Forestry, Paddlesports, Rock Climbing)
(Examples: Ceramics, Woodworking)
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions.
CDL Class B with Passenger Endorsement: If you already have a CDL or are interested in earning one, that’s a big plus.
To operate Trackers Earth vehicles requiring a CDL, candidates must:
Effective September 2025
At Trackers Earth, we reward Guides for field experience, specialized skills, and professional certifications. The following pay structure applies to all seasonal staff for Fall 2025.
All initial and ongoing training hours, regardless of tenure or certification, are paid at the applicable Oregon 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.
Guides can earn additional pay for relevant certifications. Total hourly pay is capped at $22.00/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 |
Not all certification pay bumps can be combined. Some credentials cover the same or higher-level training, so only the larger bump applies.
Other certifications listed above may stack if they are in distinct skill areas (e.g., Lifeguard + Swiftwater, Teaching Certification + WFR).
See the Certification Pay Bump Addendum below for criteria of accepted certifications.
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:
Coordinate and guide teams of staff and kids in meaningful connection with nature.
Coordinator Guide – Summer Seasonal
Real skills. Real standards. Real leadership.
Trackers Earth is built for people who want real responsibility and real meaning in their work. We run high-output outdoor programs with real standards—because kids rise when adults lead well. We teach skills that matter. We build culture on purpose. And we don’t fake “leadership” with titles—we build it through competence, calm judgment, and service.
The Coordinator Guide is the field operator: you set the tone, keep the plan moving, and make the calls that protect safety and build healthy culture. You coach staff in real time, keep gear and logistics tight, and earn family trust by delivering a day that feels steady, action-packed, and intentional. You manage a team—but you’re not above the work. You’re in the field teaching, troubleshooting, covering gaps, and modeling what great programming looks like.
If you’ve led high-output teams in demanding environments (outdoor programs, schools, restaurants, or operations-heavy workplaces), you’ll recognize the job: keep standards high, keep everyone supported, solve problems early, and build a crew that gets better every day.
As a Coordinator Guide, you run the day and lead the crew. You manage a team of educators (typically 4–10), keep safety and logistics tight, and coach teaching quality in real time. You’re still in the field—teaching, troubleshooting, covering gaps, and modeling what “great” looks like—so kids feel the adventure, staff feel supported, and families feel trust.
You’re a seasoned operator who can run the day with calm precision. You see challenges early and solve them before they spread. You give clear feedback without drama, and you default to ownership—you don’t need praise to do the right thing. You’re not “above” the work—if gear needs fixing, a parent needs clarity, or a Guide needs coaching in the moment, you step in and handle it.
You don’t need mastery in every skill, but you must respect the depth of this work and be committed to growing. Trackers programs may include: shelter building, fire craft, knives and tool safety, tracking and nature awareness, stealth games, field navigation, foraging fundamentals, archery/waterfront elements (program dependent), and more.
This is a salaried, exempt seasonal leadership role requiring independent judgment, planning, and staff oversight. Compensation reflects leadership accountability rather than hourly timekeeping.
Stated hour averages reflect the seasonal rhythm of Trackers Earth programs. As a salaried exempt role, compensation is fixed per week and not adjusted based on time worked. Actual weekly scheduling may vary based on enrollment, weather, site logistics, and team needs.
Apply early for best consideration. 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.
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions.
Coordinators in school year and summer transported programs are often responsible for driving large school buses between sites. When Coordinators for these programs lack a CDL with Passenger Endorsement, it creates added costs and logistical challenges for Trackers. For this reason, a CDL with Passenger Endorsement—or active progress toward one on an approved timeline—is a core requirement for:
If not already held, CDL must be obtained within 4 months of hire, or no later than 30 days before required staff training for the Summer season.
Trackers Earth provides training and certification support for qualified candidates and can assist with test preparation and cost reimbursement where appropriate.
At Trackers Earth, we reward Coordinators for leadership, field experience, and advanced professional certifications. The following pay structure applies to salaried Coordinator roles.
Coordinators can earn weekly pay increases for approved certifications. These bonuses are cumulative unless otherwise noted and apply only during active seasonal placement (not training weeks). For the Summer season, base pay begins at $840/week and is capped at $1,056/week. Certification bonuses are fixed weekly amounts, reviewed quarterly, and begin the first pay cycle following the review period. Bonuses are not retroactive.
| Certification | Pay Bump |
|---|---|
| Returning Bonus (per 8 summer weeks worked, max 1 credit per season) | +$10/week |
| Wilderness First Aid (WFA)* | +$10/week |
| USA Archery or NASP Level 1 Instructor* | +$10/week |
| CyberTracker Track & Sign (Level II or higher) | +$10/week |
| 9-Month Wilderness Immersion Program | +$10/week |
| FEMA ICS 100 & 200* | +$10/week |
| Trackers Van & Trailer Driver Certification (21 years +)* | +$10/week |
| ACA Instructor – Level 1 or 2 (Canoe or Kayak) | +$10/week |
| Hunter’s Safety Instructor Certification | +$10/week |
| AMGA Single Pitch Instructor (SPI) | +$10/week |
| Lifeguard Certification with Waterfront Module | +$10/week |
| First Responder (Past 8 Years) or U.S. Armed Forces Veteran | +$10/week |
| State Teaching Certification (K–12, current or expired within 5 years) | +$20/week |
| Wilderness First Responder (WFR)* | +$20/week |
| First Aid/CPR Instructor | +$20/week |
| Archery Instructor Trainer (USA Archery or NASP)* | +$20/week |
| Swiftwater Rescue Technician | +$20/week |
| Incident Qualification Certification (Red Card)* | +$20/week |
| CDL with Passenger Endorsement (large school bus-size vehicles)* | +$100/week |
Not all certification pay bumps can be combined. Some credentials cover the same or higher-level training, so only the larger bump applies.
Other certifications listed above may stack if they are in distinct skill areas (e.g., Lifeguard + Swiftwater, Teaching Certification + WFR).
See the Certification Pay Bump Addendum below for criteria of accepted certifications.
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:
Teach in fields you're deeply practiced—bushcraft, fishing, sloyd, ceramics & more.
Specialist Guide - Part-Time School Year
Specialist Guide - Summer Seasonal
Real skills. Real standards. Real mentorship.
Trackers Earth is built for people who want their work to be real. We teach skills that matter. We hold high standards. And we trust kids with meaningful responsibility—because competence grows when adults lead with calm judgment, clear boundaries, and a culture of service.
As a Specialist Guide, you are one of the people who makes Trackers different. You teach a real discipline—craft, tool work, or field skills—with depth and integrity. You bring a practiced skill into a youth setting and make it safe, developmental, and worth caring about.
Specialists teach youth ages 5–17 in fields they are already deeply practiced in. Whether you’re leading pottery in the studio, carving spoons in the rain, running waterfront safety drills, or helping a young hunter learn ethical fieldcraft—you’re passing on hard-earned knowledge in a way that’s alive and real.
This is not a generalist role. You’ll be supported by Lead Guides, Coordinators, and Directors—but in the field, you lead the skill. You model the craft. You set the standard. And you help kids feel what competence actually is.
We are only seeking Specialist Guides in the following fields, where Trackers already has curriculum, infrastructure, and community need:
If your expertise lies outside these categories, we are not currently hiring for other specialties.
We need Specialists who exceed beginner interest, hobby-level, or intermediate experience. We’re seeking true specialists with:
Trackers subject-matter evaluators may request a skills demonstration, portfolio, teaching sample, or references to assess experience and fit.
This track includes a wide range of nature-based and traditional living skills that foster long-term self-sufficiency, ecological connection, and field judgment. Completing a long-term wilderness immersion course may not be enough on its own. We look for proven, practical competence and real-world application in many of the following areas:
While modern outdoor education may introduce some of these skills, Trackers operates differently—not better, just different. We value depth, competence, and lived practice.
Hourly Pay: $22.50–$28.50/hour
Final pay is determined based on:
Because specialty areas vary in demand and instructional depth, compensation may vary by assignment. Pay is reviewed quarterly through an internal process designed for equity and consistency.
Training Pay: All required trainings are paid at Oregon minimum wage. Standard field rate begins after training is complete.
Some Specialist roles may include voluntary, compensated tasks such as storing, loading, and transporting program gear (example: fishing poles, archery tackle). When applicable, Trackers provides additional pay for gear setup/breakdown and stipends for off-site storage during active program months. All responsibilities and compensation are confirmed prior to each season.
This role is competitive and space is limited per discipline. If you believe you meet the criteria, submit your application at the link below, noting:
Apply early. Qualified applicants may be invited for an interview and/or skills demonstration. 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.
This is a hands-on, active role. Physical requirements vary by assignment. Outdoor roles may require stamina in rugged environments; studio roles require safe tool handling, materials management, and active supervision.
(Examples: Bushcraft, Tracking, Forestry, Paddlesports, Rock Climbing)
(Examples: Ceramics, Woodworking)
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions.
At Trackers, we help children feel like that group of kids wandering country backyards 50 years ago: tired, muddy, wet, independent, and happy from being out in the woods and exploring creeks. We are acutely aware of the real hazards of the outdoors, so we work to keep kids safe but not encapsulated from, nor phobic of nature. We believe children need to develop independence and competency in the wild—not only for their own connection, but also to contribute to their families, future generations, and the more-than-human world. We believe it is okay to be thirsty at times, cold at times, and wet at times. This builds empathy and care for the gifts of life, fostering true adventure and genuine accomplishment. We also believe it is critical for children to feel supported and cared for as they explore their passion for service and responsibility. Through a healthy life found in nature, they can test their limits and discover the great potential of the often untapped physical grit and emotional resilience they possess.
Mentor youth in wilderness survival, tracking, foraging & wilderness living skills.
Specialist Guide - Part-Time School Year
Specialist Guide - Summer Seasonal
Real skills. Real standards. Real mentorship.
Trackers Earth is built for people who want their work to be real. We teach skills that matter. We hold high standards. And we trust kids with meaningful responsibility—because competence grows when adults lead with calm judgment, clear boundaries, and a culture of service.
As a Bushcraft Specialist Guide, you are one of the people who makes Trackers different. You teach wilderness living skills with depth and integrity. You bring practiced fieldcraft into a youth setting and make it safe, developmental, and worth caring about.
Specialists teach youth ages 5–17 in fields they are already deeply practiced in. As a Bushcraft Specialist Guide, you teach wilderness survival and nature awareness the way it’s meant to be taught: through deliberate curriculum, repetition, field judgment, and real outcomes.
You mentor students through Bushcraft & Wilderness Living Skills—shelter building, fire craft, tracking, foraging, navigation, stealth/fieldcraft, and the calm discipline of moving competently through living landscapes. This is not “outdoor activities.” This is practical competence, taught with care.
This is not a generalist role. You’ll be supported by Lead Guides, Coordinators, and Directors—but in the field, you lead the skill. You model the craft. You set the standard. And you help kids feel what competence actually is.
We are hiring for the following Specialist track, where Trackers already has curriculum, infrastructure, and community need:
We need Specialists who exceed beginner interest, hobby-level, or intermediate experience. We’re seeking true specialists with:
Trackers subject-matter evaluators may request a skills demonstration, portfolio, teaching sample, or references to assess experience and fit. Demonstrations may include live or recorded field instruction, tool use, and skill breakdown appropriate for youth settings.
This track includes a wide range of nature-based and traditional living skills that foster long-term self-sufficiency, ecological connection, and field judgment. Completing a long-term wilderness immersion course may not be enough on its own. We look for proven, practical competence and real-world application in many of the following areas:
We often meet strong applicants from adjacent fields (wilderness therapy, outdoor education, guiding, forest schools, summer camps). We respect those worlds—and we share some overlap. But don’t assume that overlap equals readiness for this Bushcraft Specialist role.
Trackers is skills-forward. Our bushcraft programs are built around progression, repetition, field judgment, and real outcomes. If your background is primarily facilitation, recreation, or therapeutic support, you may be an excellent Guide or Coordinator—yet it’s important to distinguish that from the Bushcraft Specialist role.
If your experience comes primarily from one of these paths, we still encourage you to apply—just be specific about your personal practice: the skills you can reliably teach, the environments you’ve taught them in, and the outcomes you’ve produced with youth.
Hourly Pay: $22.50–$28.50/hour
Final pay is determined based on:
Because specialty areas vary in demand and instructional depth, compensation may vary by assignment. Pay is reviewed quarterly through an internal process designed for equity and consistency.
Training Pay: All required trainings are paid at Oregon minimum wage. Standard field rate begins after training is complete.
Some Specialist roles may include voluntary, compensated tasks such as storing, loading, and transporting program gear (example: fishing poles, archery tackle). When applicable, Trackers provides additional pay for gear setup/breakdown and stipends for off-site storage during active program months. All responsibilities and compensation are confirmed prior to each season.
This role is competitive and space is limited per discipline. If you believe you meet the criteria, submit your application at the link below, noting:
Apply early. Qualified applicants may be invited for an interview and/or skills demonstration. 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.
This is a hands-on, active role. Physical requirements vary by assignment. Outdoor roles may require stamina in rugged environments; studio roles require safe tool handling, materials management, and active supervision.
(Examples: Bushcraft, Tracking, Forestry, Paddlesports, Rock Climbing)
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions.
At Trackers, we help children feel like that group of kids wandering country backyards 50 years ago: tired, muddy, wet, independent, and happy from being out in the woods and exploring creeks. We are acutely aware of the real hazards of the outdoors, so we work to keep kids safe but not encapsulated from, nor phobic of nature. We believe children need to develop independence and competency in the wild—not only for their own connection, but also to contribute to their families, future generations, and the more-than-human world. We believe it is okay to be thirsty at times, cold at times, and wet at times. This builds empathy and care for the gifts of life, fostering true adventure and genuine accomplishment. We also believe it is critical for children to feel supported and cared for as they explore their passion for service and responsibility. Through a healthy life found in nature, they can test their limits and discover the great potential of the often untapped physical grit and emotional resilience they possess.
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Guide staff and youth in Live Action Role-Playing (LARP) teaching real wilderness skills.
Coordinator Guide – Summer Seasonal
LARP Camp Coordinator: Bushcraft, Wilderness Skills & Role-Playing Games (Portland)
Real skills. Real standards. Real imagination.
Trackers Earth is built for people who want real responsibility and real meaning in their work. We run high-output outdoor programs with real standards—because kids rise when adults lead well. We teach skills that matter. We build culture on purpose. And we don’t fake “leadership” with titles—we build it through competence, calm judgment, and service.
This role is a specialized version of our Coordinator Guide: you run the day, set the tone, keep the plan moving, and make the calls that protect safety and build healthy culture. The difference is the medium. In LARP camp, story is not decoration—it’s the delivery system. You’ll use immersive play to make real wilderness skills feel necessary, meaningful, and unforgettable.
Let’s be honest: there are plenty of places to run tabletop campaigns. Plenty of places to do LARP. Plenty of places to teach outdoor skills.
But there is almost nowhere that asks you to run live, immersive story where real bushcraft and wilderness skills are not side quests—they are the plot. Where tracking is intel, fire is strategy, shelter is survival, and navigation determines whether the mission succeeds.
If you’ve been looking for the one role where your “two lives” finally merge—wilderness educator and story-builder—this is it.
As the LARP Camp Coordinator, you lead a team of educators (typically 4–10), run daily operations, and deliver an immersive story experience grounded in real fieldcraft. You keep pacing tight, culture healthy, and safety non-negotiable—while making sure kids feel like the world is alive and their choices matter.
We’re looking for the rare third type: someone who can run story and run the field—so the game makes kids more competent outdoors, not just more entertained.
Your job is to run a live, immersive story environment that makes wilderness skills matter. Skills are not “activities between plot points”—they are the engine of the story.
At Trackers, we value Coordinators who are not just managers—but practitioners, learners, and culture stewards. This role is competitive because it requires uncommon overlap.
This is a salaried, exempt seasonal leadership role requiring independent judgment, planning, and staff oversight. Compensation reflects leadership accountability rather than hourly timekeeping.
Apply early for best consideration. 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.
Trackers Earth provides training and certification support for qualified candidates and can assist with test preparation and cost reimbursement where appropriate.
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions.
Coordinators in school year and summer transported programs are often responsible for driving large school buses between sites. When Coordinators for these programs lack a CDL with Passenger Endorsement, it creates added costs and logistical challenges for Trackers. For this reason, a CDL with Passenger Endorsement—or active progress toward one on an approved timeline—is a core requirement for:
If not already held, CDL must be obtained within 4 months of hire, or no later than 30 days before required staff training for the Summer season.
Trackers Earth provides training and certification support for qualified candidates and can assist with test preparation and cost reimbursement where appropriate.
At Trackers, we help children feel like that group of kids wandering country backyards 50 years ago: tired, muddy, wet, independent, and happy from being out in the woods and exploring creeks. We are acutely aware of the real hazards of the outdoors, so we work to keep kids safe but not encapsulated from, nor phobic of nature. We believe children need to develop independence and competency in the wild—not only for their own connection, but also to contribute to their families, future generations, and the more-than-human world. We believe it is okay to be thirsty at times, cold at times, and wet at times. This builds empathy and care for the gifts of life, fostering true adventure and genuine accomplishment. We also believe it is critical for children to feel supported and cared for as they explore their passion for service and responsibility. Through a healthy life found in nature, they can test their limits and discover the great potential of the often untapped physical grit and emotional resilience they possess.
At Trackers Earth, we reward Coordinators for leadership, field experience, and advanced professional certifications. The following pay structure applies to salaried Coordinator roles.
Coordinators can earn weekly pay increases for approved certifications. These bonuses are cumulative unless otherwise noted and apply only during active seasonal placement (not training weeks). For the Summer season, base pay begins at $840/week and is capped at $1,056/week. Certification bonuses are fixed weekly amounts, reviewed quarterly, and begin the first pay cycle following the review period. Bonuses are not retroactive.
| Certification | Pay Bump |
|---|---|
| Returning Bonus (per 8 summer weeks worked, max 1 credit per season) | +$10/week |
| Wilderness First Aid (WFA)* | +$10/week |
| USA Archery or NASP Level 1 Instructor* | +$10/week |
| CyberTracker Track & Sign (Level II or higher) | +$10/week |
| 9-Month Wilderness Immersion Program | +$10/week |
| FEMA ICS 100 & 200* | +$10/week |
| Trackers Van & Trailer Driver Certification (21 years +)* | +$10/week |
| ACA Instructor – Level 1 or 2 (Canoe or Kayak) | +$10/week |
| Hunter’s Safety Instructor Certification | +$10/week |
| AMGA Single Pitch Instructor (SPI) | +$10/week |
| Lifeguard Certification with Waterfront Module | +$10/week |
| First Responder (Past 8 Years) or U.S. Armed Forces Veteran | +$10/week |
| State Teaching Certification (K–12, current or expired within 5 years) | +$20/week |
| Wilderness First Responder (WFR)* | +$20/week |
| First Aid/CPR Instructor | +$20/week |
| Archery Instructor Trainer (USA Archery or NASP)* | +$20/week |
| Swiftwater Rescue Technician | +$20/week |
| Incident Qualification Certification (Red Card)* | +$20/week |
| CDL with Passenger Endorsement (large school bus-size vehicles)* | +$100/week |
Not all certification pay bumps can be combined. Some credentials cover the same or higher-level training, so only the larger bump applies.
Other certifications listed above may stack if they are in distinct skill areas (e.g., Lifeguard + Swiftwater, Teaching Certification + WFR).
See the Certification Pay Bump Addendum below for criteria of accepted certifications.
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:
You specialize in one or both of technical outdoor skills: kayaking or climbing.
Kayak Guide & Climbing Guide – Summer Seasonal
Real skills. Real standards. Real mentorship.
If you've spent years on the water or at the crag—teaching real skills, building disciplined systems, and watching kids transform when they're trusted with actual responsibility—this might be your place.
At Trackers Earth, kayaking and climbing are disciplines. Gateways to nature awareness, self-reliance, and earned confidence. You're here to teach craft, hold standards, and build a group culture where students leave genuinely more capable than they arrived.
Trackers has been refining field systems since 2004—proven protocols for instruction, behavior, risk management, and group culture. You're operating inside a tested framework with backup, mentorship, and clear expectations. Here, you get real independence to lead your group. You also get the structure that makes that autonomy sustainable and healthy. Trackers is built for practitioners who take their craft seriously—where technical skill matters, teaching progression is intentional, and you're surrounded by other guides who care about doing things well.
We offer two lanes. You can focus on one, or bring both. Each lane has dedicated Trackers programming, curriculum, and infrastructure.
If you guide kayak:
If you guide climbing:
Both lanes: You're building something kids can feel. A team culture where they contribute, take responsibility, and rise to a standard that respects their capacity.
We offer distinct roles based on where you actually are:
Guide (Hourly) — $17.50–$22.00/hour
You lead youth groups directly with strong fundamentals, tight safety habits, and solid teaching. You run good programs. Kids leave more capable.
Specialist (Hourly) — $22.50–$28.50/hour
You carry technical depth and teaching mastery. You design progression, make complex skills learnable, and may coach other instructors. This isn't about certifications alone—it's about demonstrated outcomes.
Coordinator (Seasonal Leadership) — $840–$1,256/week
You run the day. You lead staff, manage logistics, hold safety posture, and build parent trust. You're accountable for program quality—not just your lane, but the whole operation.
Placement within pay scales is based on experience rubric: years in role, documented hours with youth, relevant certifications, and proven progression.
You probably recognize yourself if:
Experience baseline:
Certifications we value (role dependent):
Background patterns that predict success here:
If this resonates, apply. Tell us:
If you're aiming for Specialist or Coordinator, be ready to demonstrate depth—through references, teaching samples, or skills demonstration.
Mutual Fit Period: All roles begin with a 90-day mutual fit period to support onboarding, feedback, and shared expectations.
Please review all job essentials before applying.
Because onboarding and training require significant resources, we prioritize applicants who can commit to an entire season, as needed. This means applicant availability for full-week assignments across the whole summer season and consistent availability on scheduled program days for the school year.
Commitment helps ensure continuity for kids. If you need flexible scheduling, consider applying for Flexible Substitute, a role designed for those who can support camp on an as-needed basis.
Pre-season and ongoing trainings are required and paid at local minimum wage. Final work schedules are based on enrollment, performance during training, and staff availability. Not all staff are scheduled every week. We prioritize candidates available for the full summer or school-year season.
Consistent presence helps maintain safety and program quality. Schedules may shift based on site needs, and staff are expected to adapt to changes aligned with program assignments.
Program staff must be able to report to any of our Portland-area sites (NE, SE, Westside) or Sandy, OR. You may be placed as a Program Guide (meeting at central check-in) or a Field Guide (reporting directly to a site). Assignments are based on program fit, location needs, and your availability and experience.
We aim for site consistency where possible but may shift staff between roles or sites to support program enrollment, group coverage, and camper safety throughout the season.