Working at Kenai Riverside Lodge

Kenai Riverside Lodge (KRL) is located in Cooper Landing, Alaska, in the heart of the Kenai Peninsula, with tons of opportunities to explore Alaska’s wilderness. The lodge is on the road system and sits directly on the banks of the world-class sport fishery of the Kenai River. The activities we support from KRL are fishing, rafting and hiking. It is also the base of our summer operations, including our all-inclusive Adventures. This property is our largest with respect to the number of employees, with a strong community atmosphere and many activities, like campfires, to spend time with your new friends. As a large group of employees (about 65), it is important to be open-minded, have good group living skills and be interested in integrating into a close-knit community.

There are many opportunities to get involved with us at Kenai Riverside Lodge. We hire fishing and rafting guides, logistical support staff, hospitality staff of all kinds and natural history guides every summer. There are also opportunities for advancement in future summers as many of our guides and managers start out in support or hospitality positions, and come back in future years to guide on the river or as company leaders.

Community Living Mission Statement

At Alaska Wildland Adventures, we seek highly motivated, personable and respectful employees to spend their summers with us. We have high standards for all staff in community relations, group living skills and stewardship of the surrounding land.

Community Relations

This lodge is located in the small community of Cooper Landing, and with our summer staff numbering over 65 people, our impact on our neighbors can be significant and potentially negative. We ask that staff members respect the community and use discretion when attending public venues in the town, whether it is the library, grocery store, a softball game or local restaurants and bars. As a representative of Alaska Wildland Adventures, be considerate and courteous to the community, both on and off duty.

Group Living

At Alaska Wildland Adventures’ Kenai Riverside Lodge, staff are housed in two-person Yukon tents with limited amenities. Most creature comforts are available in facilities shared by staff, such as the Lounge, where meals are served; the bathroom, with showers, toilets and sinks for staff; and the Palace, for reading, game playing and watching movies.

We become family-like in many ways, for better or worse, during our time at this facility. This requires respect for oneself as well as peers and co-workers. We have established guidelines for the communal areas to provide a positive group living experience for all staff members, including quiet hours and housekeeping of communal areas. You will be asked to take part in communal living maintenance throughout the season.

These guidelines may be less than or more than what you do in your own space. We try to allow for the greatest flexibility with a minimal impact on the health and well-being of the entire staff.

Stewardship

In order to provide excellent customer service to our guests and promote a stable group living environment, we strongly encourage staff to explore and take advantage of the numerous recreational opportunities that abound in the local area. Quality days off are needed to maintain the busy pace of our operations. Staff must be self-motivated to get out and appreciate the surrounding landscape and learn what the Kenai Peninsula has to offer. The scenic natural beauty and grandeur of Alaska is a primary attraction for all of our staff, and we ask that our employees respect and care for this natural resource to benefit future generations.

The success of Alaska Wildland Adventures depends on the actions of our high quality staff. We ask all staff to use tact, respect and common sense during all interactions with the community of Cooper Landing, other staff members and the surrounding landscape. Staff members’ ability to co-exist harmoniously with other staff is as important as delivering top quality service to our clientele.

Benefits Package
  • Housing is free. Click here to see some photos of typical staff housing.
    • Two staff of the same gender share a tent cabin; staff provide their own linens and blankets.
  • Subsidized meal plan for $7/day.
    • Dinner is prepared by our culinary staff plus, plus you’ll have access to the staff kitchen with stocked pantry and refrigerator for breakfast, lunch and snack foods.
    • The $7/day fee is deducted from your payroll in two-week increments of $98.00.
    • When employed for less than a month, the cost will be prorated at $7.00/day according to the portion of any given month you are employed by AWA.
  • Use of wood-fired sauna and staff bikes.
  • One free 2-day visit to one of our backcountry lodges per summer, depending on space available. Either…
    • Kenai Fjords Glacier Lodge, which is nestled in the heart of Kenai Fjords National Park and includes a 3.5 hour whale watching and tidewater glacier cruise from Seward to the Glacier Lodge and back, or
    • Kenai Backcountry Lodge, accessible only by boat by either by rafting down the Kenai River or taking our passenger vessel across Skilak Lake.
  • Discounts on AWA trips and lodging for friends and family.
  • Lots of staff social events, adventure partners (hiking, biking, fishing, boating, seeing live music, etc.), dance parties and a huge costume supply.
  • Performance-based bonuses and employee profit-sharing, when applicable.
  • Guest tips split fairly among staff.

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