What is an outdoor guide and how to become one

Key steps to become an outdoor guide

1. Explore outdoor guide education requirements

   Most common outdoor guide degrees

   Bachelor's

   84.5 %

   Associate

   6.9 %

   Master's

   5.7 %

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2. Start to develop specific outdoor guide skills

   Skills	Percentages
   Responder	24.75%
   GPS	15.80%
   Outdoor Education	14.16%
   Natural History	13.89%
   Adventure Programs	7.00%

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3. Complete relevant outdoor guide training and internships

   Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New outdoor guides learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as an outdoor guide based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real outdoor guide resumes.

4. Research outdoor guide duties and responsibilities

   • Manage payroll - specifically manage overtime.
   • Steer a large voyageur canoe, teach paddling skills, and safety practices.
   • Guide backpacking, canoe, white-water raft trips with a non-profit outdoor youth development program.
   • Facilitate a therapeutic outdoor adventure experience for teenagers struggling with a variety of behavioral, mental health and substance abuse challenges.

5. Prepare your outdoor guide resume

   When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your outdoor guide resume.

   You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on an outdoor guide resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

   Choose From 10+ Customizable Outdoor Guide Resume templates

   Build a professional Outdoor Guide resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Outdoor Guide resume.
   

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6. Apply for outdoor guide jobs

   Now it's time to start searching for an outdoor guide job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

   1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
   2. Consult your professional network
   3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
   4. Watch out for job scams