Adventure Guide

Join Our Team:

Are you fueled by backcountry sunrises, desert canyon sunsets, and the power of adventure to change lives? For more than 40 years, the National Ability Center has been breaking barriers through adaptive sports and recreation, creating life-changing outdoor experiences for people with disabilities. We’re seeking passionate, resilient, and team-driven Adventure Guides who are ready to lead multi-day trips across some of the most breathtaking landscapes in the West—from alpine trails and mountain lakes to red rock deserts and whitewater rivers. In this role, you’ll do more than guide trips—you’ll build confidence, foster independence, and create unforgettable experiences that expand what participants believe is possible. If you thrive in dynamic outdoor environments, embrace challenge, and want your work to create lasting impact, join us in helping lead the movement toward building an Adaptive Nation.

Job Summary:

The Adventure Guide position is responsible for one to five-day off site adventure trips with people with disabilities. The Adventure Guide will be responsible for leading groups up to 45. Adventure guides will work in a team to facilitate all aspects of the trip experience, including trip preparation, trip guiding, facilitation of activities, environmental education, and trip packing/ unpacking. 

This is a seasonal position that runs from April through the end of October, with a commitment to work 30-40 hours per week. It requires a flexible schedule to support multi-day adventure trips, based on program needs. This position is not eligible for remote work.

Essential Duties:

• Coordinate and lead adventure trips, participants, and volunteers through high-quality experiences based around camping, outdoor climbing, paddle or watersports, hiking, rafting, etc.
• Lead trips away from cell reception, NAC facilities and definitive medical care while maintaining all policies and procedures.
• Lead instructional talks regarding safety and leave no trace camping techniques.
• Teach participants about the natural and human history of the Colorado Plateau, Uinta and Wasatch Mountain Ranges, and the Desert West.
• Ensure that trips utilize above-par safety procedures.
• Provide strong customer service while collecting all pertinent information from participants.
• Assist with food packing, preparation, clean-up food inventory, menu planning, food purchasing, and food packing.
• Organize, maintain, and help repair program equipment.
• Perform necessary repairs and cleaning on all program equipment including, but not limited to tents, camp stoves, sleeping bags, bikes, dry bags.
• Help plan and implement trip programs to meet the needs/desires and goals of our participants.
• Adapt equipment to enable participants with special needs to fully participate.
• Assist with trip packing and unpacking.
• Drive a 12-passenger bus or truck and trailer up to approximately 4 hours.
• Assist in trip preparation, planning, implementation, and follow-up.
• Attend outreach and special events when necessary.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Must be at least 21 years of age.
• At least 2 years of experience guiding or working with people with disabilities.
• Current Wilderness First Responder and CPR/AED (through ARC or AHA) certi?cations.
• Current driver’s license with clean driving record.
• Be able to maintain a Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) physical, paid for by the NAC.
• Ability to pass a background check.
• Must be legally authorized to work in the United States. We do not sponsor employment visas or other immigration processes to attain or maintain employment eligibility.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience working in the outdoor industry or adaptive recreation.
• Experience working with people with disabilities.
• Ability to drive a vehicle with a trailer.
• Experience working with volunteers.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Ability to lead groups in an outdoor setting 
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills.
• Problem solving basic issues & ability to work independently.
• Strong attention to detail skills.
• Demonstrated history of responsibility, dependability, and maturity.
• Strong work ethic to accommodate multiple responsibilities and shifting priorities in a quick-paced environment.
• Ability to positively receive and provide job coaching for personal development.
• Demonstrated ability and willingness to work productively and collaboratively within a team.
• Commitment to a positive, fun, and team-oriented working environment while promoting the NAC Values.

Working Conditions:

• Must be able to start no later than April 24, 2026 and work until the end of October 2026.
• Able/willing to work long hours in variable and unpredictable and extreme weather conditions.
• Able/willing to lift and carry objects weighing up to 50 lbs. 
• Able/willing to work irregular hours with a schedule that changes often, including a flexible schedule to be able to support multi-day adventure trips.

Benefits:

• Partial certification reimbursement
• Pro Deals with gear companies