At the heart of the outdoor industry lies seasonal work. These fast-paced, short-term jobs are a great way to gain experience, meet like minded people, and work outside! In fact, many of our full-time staff members in the Mountaineers Youth Department are former seasonal workers. We’ve been field instructors, glacier guides, ski instructors, backpacking guides, camp counselors, and many things in between. We loved our experiences so much that we want you to come work seasonally with us!
Each year, The Mountaineers hires seasonal staff in Seattle, Tacoma, and Olympia to work with our various summer youth programs. Programs range from day camps to overnight backpacking and climbing trips. With so many program options, candidates are encouraged to apply for the program that best suits their skills and interests knowing that we will happily work together to find your best fit.
Cultivating an inclusive staff is central to our focus on equity and belonging. Over the summer, you’ll work with a team of other passionate, collaborative, outdoor enthusiasts to deliver meaningful outdoor experiences for youth. People who would thrive in these positions love working with youth, believe in the transformative power of nature, work well on a team, and have a personal set of outdoor skills and interests. If this sounds like you, keep reading to discover what your future summer could look like!
Seasonal Opportunities
Seattle Positions
Day Camp Program Coordinator
The Day Camp Program Coordinator is the inspirational staff leader, organizational mastermind, and purveyor of all things camp. They are primarily responsible for the safe and effective execution of educational and recreational programming for Mountaineers Day Camps. They will work collaboratively with other camp staff to create an inclusive and welcoming camp environment. This includes being a leader to all camp staff and volunteers, enthusiastically facilitating large group programs and field trips, taking initiative to go above and beyond, and assisting the Camp Director in numerous aspects of camp. Learn more and apply.
Contact clairem@mountaineers.org with any questions.
Residential Camp Program Instructor
The Residential Camp Program Instructor provides positive, valuable, and safe experiences for Mountaineers campers on residential trips. They are directly responsible for the daily supervision of the group and teaching a variety of outdoor skills and curriculum. They will prepare for each camp, including itinerary planning and gear organization, and cleaning up after each camp. The Residential Camp Program Instructor should excel at spreading stoke and inspiring confidence in outdoor settings through personal connection and group facilitation. They will work collaboratively with other camp staff to create an inclusive and welcoming camp environment. Mountaineers lodge camps run weekly from mid-June through mid-August at The Mountaineers Baker and Stevens Lodges. Learn more and apply.
Contact dmariom@mountaineers.org with any questions.
Adventure Camp Field Instructor
The Adventure Camp Field Instructor provides positive, valuable, and safe experiences for Mountaineers campers on overnight trips. They are directly responsible for the daily supervision of the group and teaching a variety of outdoor skills and curriculum. They will prepare for each trip, including meal planning and gear organization, and cleaning up after each camp. The Adventure Camp Field Instructor should excel at spreading stoke and inspiring confidence in outdoor settings through personal connection and group facilitation. They will work collaboratively with other camp staff to create an inclusive and welcoming camp environment. Mountaineers Adventure Camps include camping and learning outdoor skills at Mount Rainier National Park and North Cascades National Park, camping and rock climbing in Leavenworth, and backpacking in various locations in Washington’s Cascade range. Learn more and apply.
Contact devons@mountaineers.org with any questions.
Part-Time Youth Program Instructor (Clubs and partner programs)
This position is responsible for providing excellent program instruction for The Mountaineers youth programs. Most of our youth programs are single-day programs designed to expose youth to and build outdoor skills. Occasionally, programs may run for multiple days or include overnight instruction. Programs most commonly run during the workweek, early evenings, and weekends. Learn more and apply.
Contact ethanm@mountaineers.org with any questions.
Olympia Positions
Day Camp Counselor
Counselors play the most important role in supplying a positive, valuable, safe experience for Mountaineer summer campers. They are directly responsible for the daily supervision of a group of 8-10 campers ranging in age from 6-14. They teach varying outdoor curriculum, including climbing, hiking, first aid, navigation, and safe methods of recreating outdoors. They will work collaboratively with other camp staff to create an inclusive, enthusiastic, and welcoming camp environment. Learn more and apply.
Contact beckyn@mountaineers.org with any questions.