Adventure Guide
About Our Company:
Santa Barbara Adventure Company (SBACo) is a dynamic and fun place to work for people who love to be outside and share our region’s natural beauty with others.
As the premier adventure travel outfitter on the Central Coast since 1998, we operate four companies under one roof: (1) Santa Barbara Adventure Company, (2) Channel Islands Adventure Company, (3) Santa Barbara Wine Country Tours, and (4) Coastal Team Building. We offer a vast variety of activities in and around Santa Barbara including sea cave kayaking at Channel Islands National Park, kayak tours in Santa Barbara, wine tours in Santa Ynez Valley, customized team building events for corporate groups, outdoor education programs for school children, and more!
SBACo company culture is second to none. We find strength in diversity and welcome professionals of all generations, genders, ethnicities, backgrounds, and lifestyles. We care about the environment and it’s our mission to inspire a love of nature and our community by empowering all people through exceptional guided experiences.
Roles for SBACo Adventure Guides:
Kayak Guide (in the Santa Barbara area and Channel Islands National Park)
Surf or Stand Up Paddleboard Guide
Outdoor Education Trail Guide, Program Coordinator, or camp Commissary Director
Team Building and Challenge Course Facilitator
Wine Guide (Commercial Driver’s License Class B or Class C w/ Passenger Endorsement preferred)
A majority of our staff works in a variety of roles – that is one of the biggest perks of the job!
Desired Skills:
Outstanding customer service
Excellent communicator
Leadership & group management
Team building facilitation
Environmental stewardship
Interpretation and storytelling
First Aid/CPR certification (WFR preferred)
Commercial driver’s license
Desired Experience:
Sea kayaking
Team building
Surf lessons
Stand Up Paddleboard lessons
Wine Tours
Environmental education (working with youth)
High ropes or rock climbing
Hiking
Other commercial guiding experience
Job Responsibilities:
Lead and manage a variety of trips based on prior experience, skill set, and level of training
Deliver effective safety briefings and introductory talks
Help maintain gear and equipment before, during, and after trips
Adhere to trip itineraries to ensure activities remain on schedule
Complete and maintain all necessary trip paperwork and records
Read, write, and understand procedures, checklists, and daily trip reports
Be familiar with and maintain the contents of first aid kits, provide basic first aid assistance in the field, and know SBACo emergency procedures
Acquire and maintain CPR/First Aid certification (or higher)
Arrive to work on time, in uniform, and with the appropriate materials for the duration of trips
Depending on your role and training level for a specific type of trip, train and evaluate other staff on policies and procedures
Represent SBACo in a professional manner
Perform other duties as assigned
Schedule:
This is a seasonal with opportunities to transition to year-round employment based on your skill set.
Our busy season typically runs from March to November. Scheduling preference is given to individuals with a flexible schedule and full-time availability for the entire season. Attendance at training for new hires is mandatory, with sessions held in the first half of March. New hires unavailable to start before spring will be considered on a rolling basis, with additional training provided as needed. Please note that staff workdays can range from 6 hours to 14 hours.
For Outdoor Education trips, Channel Islands trips, and consideration as a Channel Islands guide, the ability to camp overnight in remote settings and work consecutive days is strongly preferred.
