Employment Opportunities
Thanks for your interest in Elements Wilderness Program. We are searching for passionate, dedicated, and experienced outdoor professionals to join our team.
OPEN POSITIONS: Wilderness Therapy Field Mentor
Trainings are scheduled monthly based on staffing needs. For more information, please reach out to a recruiter at hiring@elementswilderness.com
“This has been the hardest and most fulfilling job I’ve had. I feel that I was able to make a significant difference in the lives of at least a few clients, and the field management and staff are amazing.”
Program Overview
Elements Wilderness Program, a locally-owned and operated wilderness therapy program specializing in therapeutic expeditions for teen and adult clients struggling with difficult challenges and life circumstances, is looking for an outdoorsy people-person to take on the role of Field Mentor. We operate in the scenic San Rafael Swell (fall, winter, and spring seasons) as well as along the Wasatch Plateau (summer months). This position will work closely with the Field Directors, Primary Therapists, Medical Coordinator, and Logistics Manager. This is a perfect position for someone looking to pursue a career in mental or physical wellness. Field Mentors begin as Apprentices and assist with expedition logistics, mentoring clients, outdoor activities, and medical treatment in order to create a meaningful and valuable experience for our clients.
Company Culture 
Elements offers a supportive and nurturing work environment with the opportunity to develop and grow from Apprentice to Instructor to Assistant Group Lead to Group Lead and beyond. We value our employees and provide the training and resources they need to succeed in their present (and future) career. Our workplace culture values assertive communication and giving (and receiving) feedback. This is a workplace rich with learning and you will grow both professionally as well as personally. Our goal is to be one of the best employers you ever work for.
Position Specifics
This is a unique schedule where Field Mentors work 8 days straight for 15+ hours a day followed by 6 days off. The position provides direct care in a backcountry setting to clients with acute mental, emotional, and behavioral healthcare needs. We provide an 8 day intensive training where we teach you our therapeutic modalities, outdoor living skills, group management techniques, expedition logistics, and much more. Furthermore, your first 24 days of employment will be an on-the-job apprenticeship to provide continued training and experience to prepare you for the position.
If you love people, enjoy spending most of your time outdoors, and can see yourself doing this for at least a year, we encourage you to apply.
- Assist and provide support in welcoming, orienting, and mentoring clients throughout their experience with Elements.
- Perform all tasks related to ensuring clients are participating in, and receiving the maximum benefit from, their therapeutic activities, assignments, and group work.
- Assist and participate in all tasks related to teaching outdoor activities and low-impact camping in order to provide a positive experience for clients and team members.
- Perform a variety of first aid and medical tasks to ensure the physical health and wellness of clients.
- Help implement and participate in adventure programming. Support the AP staff with climbing, rappelling, fly fishing, stand-up paddle boarding, low ropes initiatives, and mountain biking.
- Coordinate and/or perform all tasks related to expedition logistics including client self-care, meals, coordinating supplies, and managing equipment.
- Perform all administrative tasks related to guiding expeditions, client wellness, and program activities.
- Ability to lift and carry 55+ lbs
- Ability to walk 2-5 miles/day
- Ability to administer medical monitoring and treatment
- Ability to be aware of visual and auditory surrounds 24/7
- Ability to drive to Huntington, UT in all types of weather
- At least 20 years old
- High School Diploma/GED Required
- Pass Utah and FBI background checks
- Pass pre-employment physical and drug screening
- Grit/mental fortitude
- Empathetic and compassionate
- Attention-to-detail
- Strong desire to learn and grow
- Positive attitude
- Reliable
- Confidential & Trustworthy
- Creative
- Fun-loving
- Personable
- Shifts start on Tuesday at 9am and end the following Tuesday at approximately 8pm.
- The work day in the field starts about 8am and ends about 11pm.
- Our base is in Huntington, UT which is about 2 hours south of Salt Lake City and about 2 hours NW of Moab, UT.
- Staff must have reliable transportation to get to Huntington by 9am on the Tuesday their shift starts.
- Wage range is $175/day to $240/day ($36,400 to $49,920 a year)
- Up to $1,100 in other bonuses the first year of employment
- 16 days of Paid Time Off each year
- Training Stipend of $500 on first check
- First Aid/CPR and/or WFR Training Paid by Elements
- Gear Lending Library (you can borrow gear from us that you don’t own yet)
- Temporary Housing available in Huntington for first three off-shifts
- Lodging and Kitchen in Huntington available the night before and after every shift
- Medical, Dental & Vision after one month of employment
- Employee Assistance Program
- Professional Certification & Development Funding
- Pro-deals with multiple outdoor gear and apparel companies
“The mission and intention of the company are really good. Elements makes a huge effort to treat their employees well.”
FAQs
One of the perks of this position is that, as long as our field mentors arrive to work on Tuesday at 9am well-rested and ready to work, they can live wherever they want to! Most of our mentors live in Salt Lake City or Moab, both just over two hours away. Salt Lake offers the advantage of a big city with small town vibes and plenty of outdoor activities nearby, such as renowned skiing and snowboarding in the winter and excellent hiking trails and climbing crags in the spring, summer, and fall. Moab offers ample rock climbing, mountain biking, and canyoneering opportunities, as well as rivers to run in the summer. Additionally, many of our field mentors have chosen to live nomadically out of their vehicles, allowing them to travel and experience a little bit of everything.
An Elements training is an extended job interview. We do not “play the numbers”—if you are invited to Training, there is a potential spot for you. However, being invited on the training does not guarantee you a position with the company. We want to make sure Elements is a mutual fit, and either you, or we, may decide it is not.
Applicants will receive a list of required gear when invited on the training and are expected to own and maintain all their own gear. If you come to us with prior outdoor experience, whether personal or professional, chances are you have most of it already. Elements offers employees access to a wide variety of pro-deals to assist with the acquisition and maintenance of the gear you will need to have to go into the field. Additionally, we have a gear lender library, so that our trainees and newer staff can borrow some of the gear that they might want to wait on a prodeal to purchase.
Once on the training, you can expect to participate in a variety of lessons and scenarios, all geared at evaluating your drive and desire to work with this population, as well as existing skill sets (campcraft, self-care, decision making, etc) and resilience when faced with challenge. Upon successful completion of the training, scheduling and start dates will be discussed. After your first actual work shift, your first paycheck will include an $500 as a training stipend.
The weather varies seasonally, and though the winters are often milder in temperature, we can see colder temperatures in December and January. We have in the past seen several feet of snow. Even after 4-6 inches accumulate, it’s not uncommon to have the sun melt it all away during the day. Summer temperatures can typically range from in the 30’s at night, to the 90’s during the day.
We offer seasonal work a limited basis, over the summer. Typically, any seasonal candidate must be able to commit to at least 6 shifts. Most Internships are accepted if it can fall into full-time work. Internships with minimal availability become more difficult to honor. As a small program, Elements needs consistent and experienced staff to establish and maintain relationships with the clients. Also, due to the schedule in the field it can be difficult for interns to get the number of hours their programs may require. If you are interested, please contact the recruiter for more information.
Email our Recruiters at hiring@elementswilderness.com with any questions.
Adventure Programming Hybrid Instructor Position
Elements’ incorporates Adventure Programming to complement our strong therapeutic foundation. We believe AP provides a unique experience for students during their wilderness experience. The challenge of activities including rock climbing, rappelling, canyoneering, fly fishing, stand-up paddle boarding and low ropes courses can provide a host of powerful teaching opportunities. Some groups have experienced mountain biking, rafting and cross-country skiing. Positive outcomes include increases in self-confidence, self-efficacy, problem solving skills, effective communication, self-awareness, trust, and developing healthy coping strategies.
We are seeking two Adventure Programming Instructors to join our tight-knit Adventure Programming team! This is a full-time HYBRID position, which means the instructor will alternate between a Field Mentor shift and an AP Instructor shift. Click here for a full job description.
Primary Therapist Position
We are always open to hear from those eager to become a wilderness therapist. We are not currently hiring; however, we like to continue the conversation with those interested. Please send your resume to Tara Stireman at tara@elementswilderness.com.