Information for Employment with Laurel Highlands Outdoor Center and River Tours

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1 Dear Applicant, Thank you for taking an interest in joining our team at Laurel Highlands River Tours & Outdoor Center. We are looking for people with a positive attitude and a deep love for the outdoors. Laurel Highlands needs adventurous staff members who are willing to help our guests reconnect with nature, enjoy their time spent with us and who are self-motivated. We also need a staff willing to work with the flexible schedule of the outdoor industry. No experience is required. We recommend that applicants take advantage of as many free rafting trips as they can with us during the spring months. The more trips you take down the river; the better guide you will become. Guide candidates are required to take 15 trips down the river with Laurel Highlands; 6 of those trips need be on the Lower Yough, 4 trips on the Middle Yough and the other 5 trips on any comparable sections. Guide applicants will also need to attend a Whitewater Safety Program(WSP) or have certifications from a similar course. Our WSP will cover river navigation, paddle strokes and commands, company policies and procedures as well a swift-water rescue course to the standards of American Canoe Association level IV course. Most first-year guides will begin their guiding career on the Middle Yough (class II section). For candidates that excel quickly and demonstrate all the necessary skills or have prior experience guiding Lower Yough work will be steady once the season gets in full swing in June. Second-year guides and guides from other rivers may start training on Cheat and Upper Yough. Guides coming from other rivers and looking for a new adventure are welcome at Laurel Highlands. Please provide a copy of your river log, current first aid and CPR/AED cards, and any other certifications you feel important. Experienced guides will need to have 6 trips on the Lower Yough with commercial trips and 4 trips on the Middle Yough. In addition, you'll have to take an evaluation trip with one of our senior guides to sign off on skills for each section. If you are interested in guiding on the Cheat River or the Upper Yough, please contact Patrick McCarty for further details.

2 Application Process: Contact Patrick McCarty at or call to set-up a time for an interview. Interviews can be done in person or over the phone depending on your distance from Ohiopyle. You can also drop off a resume / pick-up an application at Laurel Highlands Outdoor Center. River Guide Training Procedures: We will begin each day at our Base in Ohiopyle, the Laurel Highlands Outdoor Center, 4 Sherman Street (across from the red brick church). Training will begin at 9:00am with a classroom session then to the river to practice the skills discussed. We will try to end each day by 5pm. Most of your training will be done on the Yough, however, we may be traveling to other rivers and different sections depending on water level. We will provide the training for CPR/AED and First Aid during the WSP. Clothing and Weather: Guide training begins when most people are putting away their winter gear, so yes it can be cold, but it also can be quite nice. Temperatures vary from 30 to 80 degrees, with snow, rain, sleet, and sun. Proper clothing is very important. We will provide neoprene wetsuits and nylon paddling jackets at no charge during your training. Things to bring for river gear: Swimming clothes Any spandex or underarmor type clothing Any wool, poly pro, or fleece. Rain jackets and/or rain pants. An old pair of sneakers or sandals for river shoes. Wool socks. Most outdoor gear and be used in all outdoor activities. Any type of wetsuit you may have. Any water sports gear. DO NOT WEAR COTTON ON THE RIVER The completion of the WSP does not guarantee a candidate's position on the river. Employment is achieved through the successful completion of several skills tests. Guide training is a physically demanding. You will be exposed to hazards conditions and weather. Participation in all skills checks is required for employment. Our training provides a wonderful life experiences, teaches you whitewater paddling skills, and can be used as a great resume builder! Please remember that this training program is only offered to those who are serious about RIVER GUIDE employment. We have several other positions available at Laurel Highlands Outdoor Center (reservation staff, outdoor retail clerk, check-in clerk, bike mechanics, and operation staff) and at the Ohiopyle House Café (bar tenders, wait staff, and cooks) if guiding is not for you or you need more work.

3 For River Guides: After an interview, you will receive a phone call if accepted into the whitewater safety program (WSP). Hiring for River Guides is determined at the end of WSP. All necessary equipment is provided throughout WSP. River Guides are responsible for having a PFD, helmet, knife, and whistle before being eligible for river guide work. All necessary equipment is available at wholesale prices with payment options for guides who are hired. For more information about working for Laurel Highlands Outdoor Center and River Tours please contact Patrick at Patrick@laurelhighlands.com or at Important Dates for River Guides Guide Applicant Orientation and River Trip When: Saturday, April 7 th 9:00am Where: Laurel Highlands Outdoor Center, Ohiopyle, PA River Trips and Training Run River trips and training runs are not mandatory. These trips are provided to get you experience with our operations, show you the rivers we love, and work towards the required 15 river trips. Saturday April 7 th and Sunday April 8 th Saturday April 14 th and Sunday April 15 th Friday April 20 th, Saturday April 21 st, and Sunday April 22 nd Friday April 27 th, Saturday April 28 th, and Sunday April 29 th Saturday May 5 th and Sunday May 6 th Saturday May 12 th and Sunday May 13 th Saturday May 19 th Whitewater Safety Program(WSP) Sunday May 20 th to Friday May 25 th *WSP is mandatory

4 Full-Time Seasonal Employment Opportunities: River Guide Description Prepare all trip equipment and navigate clients through rapids in a fun safe manner - 18 or older - Able to swim - Strong public speaking skills - Can handle stressful situations - Must take 30 river trips - Attend a whitewater safety program - Current Advanced First Aid & CPR Bike Program Director Description develop tour options, lead trips, train staff, and market tours - A proposal with application - Sales experience - Basic mechanic skills - Marketing skills Bike Mechanic and Guide Description maintain bike fleet, guide on bike tours, and assist with shuttles - Experience with bike repairs. - Familiar with hydraulic disc brake. - Public speaking. Adventure Course and Zip Line Guide Description greet clients, guide through high ropes course with zip line - 18 or older - Capable of tying knots - Public speaking Operations Staff hours a week 8-6, 9-7, 10-8 Description run shuttles, support guided tours and rental out equipment - 21 or older - Comfortable driving 15 passenger vans. - DOT medical card. - Able to drive a manual transmission. - Basic vehicle maintenance. - Public speaking. Base Staff hours a week 9-5, 10-6, 11-7 Description rent out equipment, support guided trips, general cleaning, and landscaping - 16 or older - Public speaking

5 Part-Time Seasonal Positions: Laurel Highlands Outdoor Center & River Tours Rock Climbing Instructor Lead climbing trips to Meadow Run climbing area. Mountain Bike Guides Instructor clients on basics of mountain biking. Guide them through the trail system at Ohiopyle State Park Kayak Instructor Instructor clients on the basics of whitewater paddling. Most of the focus is on roll sessions and ferrying techniques All employment is weather and reservations dependent. River work is especially dependent on reservations. On-call methods are used. For first year guides, work is most abundant on weekends and during the months of June, July and August. Other Information All meetings will start at our base operations, the Laurel Highlands Outdoor Center, 4 Sherman Street in Ohiopyle. A current CPR/AED and Advanced First Aid is required for guides. Classes for First Aid and CPR/AED are provided. Complete attendance of a Whitewater Safety Program is required for any river guide candidate without experience. 15 river trips are required with 10 trips on the Youghiogheny and 6 of those trips being on the Lower Youghiogheny section. 30 river trips are required for trip leader qualification. All applicants need to be capable of heavy lifting. What do I do now? Contact Patrick at pnm.lhrt@gmail.com or call to set-up an interview. Interviews can be done in person or over the phone depending on your distance from Ohiopyle. Thank you for your time! Patrick McCarty Operations Manager Laurel Highlands Outdoor Center & River Tours