Working at Leavenworth Outdoor Center

Are you looking for a summer job that is fun, outdoors, and doing cool things with other cool people?  

Would you like to help people enjoy our beautiful river and town while you meet your summer financial goals before you head back to school or your winter adventures?

Our crew is made up of kayakers, rafters, climbers, bikers, ski bums, locals, school teachers, and students. Many of our crew are attracted to the area for the paddling, climbing, or skiing and stick around for a couple seasons before they head off to their next adventure. Others are locals that love to share all the beauty Leavenworth has to offer.  We have a passion for the outdoors and love to share it.

Many of our crew come back year after year but we do need some great new people to fill positions as van drivers, guides, river safety, reservations, check in, and hosers (outdoor staff).

Our season is May 1st - mid September, with the busier part of the season July - August when kids are out of school.  Most new employees will attend orientation mid June, then do a training week, then busy to the end of August. 

Please read more about us below, assess yourself, and if it feels like a good fit please apply.

Leavenworth is a popular tourist destination, known for it's Bavarian style, shopping and food, and of course, awesome outdoor recreation.  Leavenworth Outdoor Center has been bringing joy to visitors for 2 decades and is a responsible leader in providing safe, affordable and fun river experiences.  We work closely with the City of Leavenworth, Fish Hatchery, County, Sheriff, River Rescue and neighbors to balance the  needs of recreation with preserving the environment and promoting responsible behavior.  Simply put, we want people to have fun on the river but in a safe, responsible way.  Our region has very loose regulations and little to no infrastructure to support the level of river users and over the years we have provided the safety, bathrooms, garbage, recycling, parking, and shuttle services for thousands of private users (other than our customers).  We are recognized as a leader in our area and in our industry and take great pride in strength of our relationships with local agencies, business, locals, customers, and other outfitters.  It is important that your values fit with ours so we can continue to provide authentic top qualtiy service to all of our guests while meeting our social responsibilities.  

What about you? What is important to you for your summer job?  

• Working outside?  
• Not working in a restaurant?
• Meeting your financial goals?
• Having fun?
• Learning something new?

At LOC, we're looking for people who have put some thought into this question.  Our team is made up of friendly, happy, responsible, authentic outdoor enthusiasts.  Most live in Leavenworth and understand the importance of preserving the balance of tourism for our economy and stewardship of our environment.  Below is a list of some of the characteristics we're looking for.  Please think about what you're looking for in a summer job and how you will fit in with our crew and values and then complete the application if it feels like a good fit.

• You enjoy outdoor activities and want to share them with others.
• You know how to have fun and be mature and responsible at the same time.
• You anticipate and plan
• You can see the big picture and where you fit into it
• You can learn new skills and welcome feedback about your performance
• If something isn't going right you look for a solution instead of complaining
• You're thorough, even when nobody is checking
• You've got an idea or plan of where you're headed

These are some of the requirements of all employees of Leavenworth Outdoor Center:

• Able to work outside in the sun and weather
• Available on weekends
• You have no long summer vacation plans
• You can work through the end of August or later
• Van drivers must be 21 or older and have a clean driving record.  Driver applicants must submit a driver's abstract from the DOL.  (save your receipt, you will be reimbursed if you're hired)
• Need to have reliable transportation and make it to work on time.
• ​You know how to swim.
• Must be willing to float the river regularly
• Must have a valid US checking account for automatic deposit.
• Be eligible to work in the US and complete an I-9 form and W4 form.
• Covid:  We prefer that you are vaccinated, but it is NOT required.  You must follow federal, state, and local guidelines about masks and social distance.

• Regular, predictable schedule with lots of hours for the full timers
• Flexible, regular  schedule for part timers
• Make people happy all day
• Very competitive wages for our industry.  Most of our positions are over $20 per hour.
• Access to all the rental equipment and guided trips and lessons.
• Seasonal, so it is a perfect fit with your school schedule or winter gig.
• Make great friends
• Opportunities for advancement
• Thorough training in several areas
• FUN!

To apply, complete the application below.  All fields are required.  If you have a resume you can send it to havefun@leavenworthoutdoorcenter.com after you complete this application form. If you don't hear back from us please follow up!  

We are gearing up for the 2023 season and in the hiring process now. Thank you for your interest.

Returning employees click here

The guide / van driver is the most important position in the company.  You're the one with be picking up guests at the park or at hotels around town, checking them in and verifying items, providing safety and navigation information, loading, unloading and cleaning gear, floating the river, and other odd jobs as they pop up. Drivers must have a clean driving record and be 21 or older. Do it all drivers help with all the other jobs too:  Parking, washing, floating, checking guests in, and more.  $22/hr

We float a gentle part of the Icicle and Wenatchee rivers that end in downtown Leavenworth.  During the higher flows we guide the guests in inflatable kayaks, rafts, and stand up paddle boards.  During the tubing season we float the river like life guards.  $20/hr

Reservations and check in is our phones and ticket window position. You need to be able to "smile on the phone" and be accurate, thorough,   for this position.  $22/hr

The stacker is our equipment cleaner and loader.  Everyone participates in handling the equipment, but the stackers wash and load most of it.  Our downtown location gets very busy on the weekends and we park up to 300 cars each day on weekends.  Parking attendants direct traffic and keep the flow going. This is often where our under 18 employees work. $18/hr