Internships

Internships in Alaska

An internship is a great opportunity to get on board with us. Since many of our crew return year after year, there are often few professional positions available, but our best Interns are invited back into professional positions after their first season.
We’re committed to offering Interns a fun, educational, and rewarding experience.
In return for their hard work, Interns receive: a living stipend, extensive job training, an end-of-season bonus, airfare reimbursement, access to the crew gear cache, tips, and the potential to return in a well-paid professional role.
people standing on a porch for a morning meeting in Alaska
person wiping a window on a van
small group of people wearing helmets and talking in front of a giant glacier

Two Types of Interns

These are training positions, and we take that training seriously. Interns are either Apprentice Guides (AG) or members of the Logistics Team (LT).

Apprentice Guide Interns

Apprentice Guide Interns, AGs, have the opportunity to develop skills and learn how to use them to help others enjoy the outdoors. The position is for aspiring guides and outdoor educators. AGs lead treks. Lots of treks.
They may also assist on ice climbing trips, act as a camp host, assist with housekeeping, prepare guest meals, and more.

Competitive applicants have a minimum of medical training as a Wilderness First Responder. Additionally, other relevant certifications, a good driving record, and a strong foundation of outdoor skills is of benefit.

Logistics Team Interns

LT Interns get a hands-on introduction to how a small business operates and what it takes to keep a successful company moving. They work across our operations—including in the office, at MICA Mocha, and at Glacier Camp—taking on meaningful responsibility while learning the systems, communication, and problem-solving skills that make everything work behind the scenes.

LT Interns receive basic glacier and helicopter training and spend approximately 25–35% of their time living and working at Glacier Camp as the Glacier Camp Boss, hosting guests and managing the day-to-day needs of camp. This is a hands-on and often physically demanding role, requiring both mental and physical effort.

Off the glacier, they learn our reservation system, make great coffee, sell tours, manage media, and support daily logistics. The first season is about learning the many pieces of the operation and becoming someone the team can count on, creating the foundation for greater leadership and responsibility in future seasons.

At every level in our family of companies there’s a focus on learning.  Our training curriculum is extensive and constantly refined through over 20 years of  experience and with the help of professional educators.  We’re so passionate about training and development that we started the Matanuska Outdoor Institute dedicated to teaching.  This non-profit organization is funded and supported in large part by MICA Guides.

Our Internship program is much like a Trade School.  Skills are learned then often immediately put to work and evaluated.  There are formal classes, assignments and tests but most of the training is very hands-on.

In addition to training in the skills needed for our company to operate, our big focus is in Building Capable Humans.  You may learn to split firewood, change a tire, jump start a car, make a fire, use tools, build trails and more.

We also have formal classes in survival, navigation, backpacking and general outdoors skills.

Should you be invited back for following seasons, the Scholarship Fund can help you pay for other training such as AMGA Certifications, Avalanche Safety, Swift Water Rescue and more.

Apprentice Guide Interns:

  • Monthly stipend of $500.
  • Up to $300 reimbursement for purchase of gear and clothing needed for the job. (Paid after achieving training goals.)
  • Access to the Crew “Gear Cache” for the use of equipment if you do not have your own.
  • Up to $800 travel reimbursement. (Paid upon successful completion of the season.)
  • End of season bonus based on length of season and performance.
  • Tips, while not guaranteed, are often sufficient to cover living expenses during the summer.

Logistics Team:

  • Monthly stipend of $500 until fully trained up and checked off to perform all aspects of the LT position; at that point this will become a paid job (no longer an Intern).
  • Up to $300 reimbursement for purchase of gear and clothing needed for the job. (Paid after achieving training goals.)
  • Access to the Crew “Gear Cache” for the use of equipment if you do not have your own.
  • Up to $800 travel reimbursement. (Paid upon successful completion of the season.)
  • End of season bonus based on length of season and performance.

Why the difference? The LT often work longer hours and once trained up have a more complex job with less supervision.

Bonuses are only paid upon successful completion of the season to the agreed upon end date. (Usually the date specified in the job application).

All first-year positions start in late May.  Specific dates vary from year to year.

Interns must be able to stay until approximately mid-August at the earliest.  Some may leave at that time for school but we need most to stay until mid-September.  You should understand the following before applying:

  • On the application you will be asked for your available “end date”.  Applications with end dates earlier than August 15 will not be considered.
  • Your available end date may affect the likelihood that you will be offered a position with us.  With all other factors being equal, we would choose an applicant with a later end date.
  • You will be expected to stay until your agreed upon end date as stated in your application.
  • Sorry, but there is no flexibility in the start date requirements.