Employment

These qualifications will be prioritized during Trip Leader selection. No matter your depth of experience leading in the outdoors or outdoor recreation skillsets, all students are welcome & encouraged to apply!

• Experience participating in Gonzaga Outdoors trips and events

• Flexible availability to attend both sections of New Trip Leader Backpacking (8 days each). One section occurs over Spring Break; the other section occurs in May after commencement. New TLs will only attend one of these training sections

• Experience planning and executing programs & activities, professionally or personally

• Demonstrated leadership in decision making, judgement, and responsibility

These are the traits that we expect all Trip Leaders to learn and exhibit during their time with Gonzaga Outdoors:

• Understand and demonstrate commitment to the GU Outdoors mission & values (which can be viewed at https://www.gonzaga.edu/outdoors)

• Passion & desire to lead in the outdoors, with a focus on participant experience, celebration of various experience levels, and emphasis on providing an inclusive and safe environment

• Initiative and desire to promote a just, equitable, diverse, and inclusive environment for participants, fellow Trip Leaders, and staff

• Timely, effective, and professional communication skills

• Commitment to outdoor ethics, sustainability, and/or outdoor education
• Expressed interest in developing and deepening a set of outdoor skills

New Trip Leaders (Spring 2027):

• Attend all new Trip Leader trainings, which include:

• 8 x 90-minute sessions one evening per week, starting after Spring Break, the semester TLs are selected

• New Trip Leader backpacking training (8 days) - either over Spring Break or after commencement. Priority given to applicants with demonstrated schedule flexibility

• Get your Wilderness First Aid (WFA), Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) certifications (full weekend commitment). GUO covers this cost for selected TLs

All Trip Leaders:

• Keep your WFA and CPR certifications up to date (recertification is required after two years and is a full weekend commitment)

• Attend and participate in 5 TL meetings a semester (1.5 - 2 hours long)

• Attend GOOB Training (required) - August 16-20, 2027

• Attend GOOB (required) - August 22-26, 2027

• Attend and participate in two trainings a semester:

• GOOB training (required in the fall) + 1 other offered training (full day commitment). Fall options usually include flatwater paddling training, biking training, and DEIA training (rotating)

• Winter training (required in the spring) + 1 other offered training (full day commitment): Spring Training options usually include: Mental Health First Aid Training, Climbing Training, and Cross-country Ski Training

• Lead 2-3 trips a semester (co-curricular or academic). On trips, TLs will manage risk (includes physical, social, and emotional risks), create a welcoming and inclusive community, and respond to participant concerns

• Attend trip briefs and debriefs, write participant emails and quick descriptions, and host necessary gear checks and pre-trip meetings

Trip Leading for GU Outdoors can be an up to a 4-year journey. Graduating trip leaders often tell us that these are the themes of their 4 years:

• Year 1: Training and learning LOTS of new things

• Year 2: Applying and practicing new outdoor and leadership skills, building community connections

• Year 3: Refining signature leadership style, deepening technical skills in an area(s) of interest
• Year 4: Mentorship and giving back to new Trip Leaders, supporting others leadership and passing on wisdom

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The Volunteer Trip Leader position at Gonzaga Outdoors comes with some awesome benefits, including...

• Free professional development and outdoor training

• Free Wilderness First Aid certification & recertification costs

• Financial support to pursue higher training & certifications outside of GU

• Annual TL gift (gear or apparel piece valued at approx. $100)

• TLs attend the trips they lead for free (trip leaders may also attend other trips for a discount)

• Pro-deals (major discounts) for a wide variety of outdoor retailers

• Free personal gear rentals from Gonzaga Outdoors