Would you make a good Naturalist Guide?

If you have lived in, or near, the desert for at least a year, have a passion for nature, like being outdoors, have the agility and physical ability to lead gentle hikes, enjoy learning and sharing interesting information with others, can drive a stick-shift, don’t require steady income from this job to pay your bills, and have flexible availability – then this might be the opportunity for you!

What does a Naturalist Guide do?

In your initial season, you will give narrated eco-adventure tours of the San Andreas Fault in an open-air Jeep and Hiking Tours. In subsequent seasons, you may advance to giving tours of the Indian Canyons, Joshua Tree National Park, Painted Canyon and Mecca Hills, as well as other tours developed by Desert Adventures.

Desert Adventures operates September through June. As a guide, you would be expected to be available during the “season” which is from October through May. Work in September and June is spotty and some guides prefer not to work during these warmer months. This position is part time and on-call. Generally, we expect guides to be available to work at least 3 days per week during season, but you have flexibility in choosing the days you want to be available to work, provided we have adequate guide coverage to meet business demands.

How much do guides make?

This position is best suited for individuals who are looking for something fun to do and who would like to make a little additional “pocket money.” This is not the position for you if you need to support yourself on your tour income. The pay is based on minimum wage for the first year, with the opportunity for substantial gratuities. The base rate of pay increases annually.

Application and Telephone Interview:

To be considered for a position, a written application is required. Once your application is received, you will be contacted for a telephone interview if we have open positions and you meet the minimum requirements for the positon. If there is mutual interest in proceeding with the process after the telephone interview, you will be invited to the Desert Adventures office for an in-person interview.

Our intensive, paid training program is approximately 5 weeks, 3 days per week, 4-6 hours per day. Training sessions involve both classroom sessions and field experience. You will also be required to take several tours with senior guides and to spend personal time to practice driving & touring. You will be asked to commit to this extensive, educational, time-consuming training program.

Drug & Alcohol Testing:

As of condition of employment, you will be required to submit to a pre-employment drug test. As a guide, you will also be required to participate in periodic, random drug and/or alcohol testing.

CPR and First Aid Certification:

You will be required to complete a course to become certified in CPR and First Aid. Bi-annual recertification is also mandatory. CPR / First Aid certification and recertification training is paid by Desert Adventures.

Documentation Requirements:

You will be required to provide the following documents as a condition of employment: • Drivers License and approval for Desert Adventures to obtain a DMV printout of your driving record – Employment is contingent upon approval of your driving qualifications by our insurance company. • Proof of Legal Authority to work in the United States (such as Social Security card or passport)

Job Opportunities | Red Jeep Tours

What you need to know about training and being a Naturalist Guide with Desert Adventures

If you have lived in, or near, the desert for at least a year, have a passion for nature, like being outdoors, have the agility and physical ability to lead gentle hikes, enjoy learning and sharing interesting information with others, can drive a stick-shift, don’t require steady income from this job to pay your bills, and have flexible availability – then this might be the opportunity for you!
In your initial season, you will give narrated eco-adventure tours of the San Andreas Fault in an open-air Jeep and Hiking Tours. In subsequent seasons, you may advance to giving tours of the Indian Canyons, Joshua Tree National Park, Painted Canyon and Mecca Hills, as well as other tours developed by Desert Adventures.
Desert Adventures operates September through June. As a guide, you would be expected to be available during the “season” which is from October through May. Work in September and June is spotty and some guides prefer not to work during these warmer months. This position is part time and on-call. Generally, we expect guides to be available to work at least 3 days per week during season, but you have flexibility in choosing the days you want to be available to work, provided we have adequate guide coverage to meet business demands.
This position is best suited for individuals who are looking for something fun to do and who would like to make a little additional “pocket money.” This is not the position for you if you need to support yourself on your tour income. The pay is based on minimum wage for the first year, with the opportunity for substantial gratuities. The base rate of pay increases annually.
To be considered for a position, a written application is required. Once your application is received, you will be contacted for a telephone interview if we have open positions and you meet the minimum requirements for the positon. If there is mutual interest in proceeding with the process after the telephone interview, you will be invited to the Desert Adventures office for an in-person interview.
Our intensive, paid training program is approximately 5 weeks, 3 days per week, 4-6 hours per day. Training sessions involve both classroom sessions and field experience. You will also be required to take several tours with senior guides and to spend personal time to practice driving & touring. You will be asked to commit to this extensive, educational, time-consuming training program.
As of condition of employment, you will be required to submit to a pre-employment drug test. As a guide, you will also be required to participate in periodic, random drug and/or alcohol testing.
You will be required to complete a course to become certified in CPR and First Aid. Bi-annual recertification is also mandatory. CPR / First Aid certification and recertification training is paid by Desert Adventures.
You will be required to provide the following documents as a condition of employment:

• Drivers License and approval for Desert Adventures to obtain a DMV printout of your driving record – Employment is contingent upon approval of your driving qualifications by our insurance company.

• Proof of Legal Authority to work in the United States (such as Social Security card or passport)

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What you need to know about training and being a Naturalist Guide with Desert Adventures

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