We grow our own!
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 available professional positions but our best Interns are invited back in professional positions after their first season.
We’re committed to providing the opportunity for a fun, educational and rewarding opportunity for our Interns. In return for a lot of hard work, Interns get: a stipend to help cover living expenses, extensive training in their job, an end of season bonus, reimbursement for airfare, access to the crew gear cache, tips, and the potential to return in a well-paid professional position with us.
Two types of interns
These are training positions and we take that training seriously. Interns are either Apprentice Guides (AG) or 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.
Competitive applicants have a minimum medical training of Wilderness First Responder, other relevant certifications, a good driving record, and a strong foundation of outdoor skills.
Once trained and “checked off”, they will lead our Ice Fall Trek. An AG will get a lot of experience working with and leading groups of all types on the Matanuska Glacier.
Apprentice Guides may also assist on ice climbing trips, lead zipline tours, act as a camp host, assist with housekeeping, prepare guest meals and more.
AGs lead treks. Lots of treks. They do not have the same diversity of role as LTs but they do learn to belay, build anchors, teach ice climbing and operate the zipline.
Logistics Team Members
LTs have the opportunity to learn about how a small business operates and what it takes to be a successful company. LT Interns work in the office, at MICA Mocha, at the zipline and at Glacier Camp. This position is designed for organizational thinkers who enjoy some guiding, but want to learn the skills needed to run a small business.
The LT needs to have a great customer service attitude, admin experience, a good driving record, and a solid foundation of computer skills.
These Interns get basic glacier training, have access to many of the same courses in outdoor skills as the AG Interns, receive basic helicopter training, and spend about 25-35 percent of their time living and working on the glacier at Glacier Camp as the host and “Camp Boss”.
LT Interns also learn our reservations system, operate our zipline, make great coffee, sell tours, collect and manage our media and much, much more.
Guiding the zipline is one of the many jobs of the LT, spending a few days a week there. LTs also work and live on the glacier for 5-6 days at a time throughout the season.
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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.
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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.
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This fund helps Interns tackle the necessary expenses to come to Alaska and work on the Matanuska Glacier. Our goal with this grant is to provide an honest and sustainable experience for people of any background with an interest in becoming an outdoor professional. Based on our age demographics, nearly every single person we hire could use some help covering the cost of the hard goods, soft goods, and/or transportation needed to take on a season of work on the Matanuska Glacier. Our intentions are to break down some of the barriers to entry into outdoor professionalism for people who need some financial assistance.
The Opportunity Grant is funded primarily through photos sales to our guests. The grant will be supplementing the Intern compensation as outlined below.
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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 airfare reimbursement. (Paid in August once training goals are achieved.)
- 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 airfare reimbursement. (Paid in August once training goals are achieved.)
- 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). No bonus for leaving early for any reason.
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All first-year positions can start as early as May 28th, however typically begin on June 1. 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.
Sorry, but there is no flexibility in these requirements.