Info for hired summer staff
If you are interested in working for BOLD & GOLD but not yet hired, please view our available positions!
Staff manual and Welcome packet
If you are interested in learning more about BOLD & GOLD, you can view a full version of our 2025 staff manual here. The updated manual is coming soon!
The Staff Welcome Packet from 2025 can be viewed here. It gives a detailed overview of what to expect as a BOLD & GOLD staff member. The 2026 Welcome Packet will be coming soon!
Staff Training
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Who: Course Directors, Logistics Manager, and Participant Support Director
Where: Cascade People’s Center
When: May 6-June 11, 2026 (OFF 5/30-6/1, 6/6-6/7, and 6/12-6/13)
Leadership Team members are also required to attend All Staff Training
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Who: Logistics Coordinators, and Wilderness and Operation Specialists
Where: Cascade People’s Center
When: June 2-June 11, 2026 (OFF 6/6-6/7, 6/12-6/13)
Logistics Team training includes attending the Backpacking Skills training listed below
Logistics Team members are also required to attend All Staff Training
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Who: Logistics team, plus available and interested staff.
Where: Alpine Lakes Wilderness
When: June 6-9, 2026
This is an OPT IN training that is highly encouraged for staff new to working in the outdoor industry or new to BOLD & GOLD.
Note this training requires overnight components.
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Who: required for All BOLD & GOLD staff
Seattle Orientation: Cascade People’s Center June 14-16, 2026 8:00a-5:30p
Frontcountry Training: Newhalem Campground in North Cascades National Park, June 18-19
Backcountry Training: North Cascades National Park, June 20-23, 2026
Note the frontcountry and backcountry portions of All-Staff training require overnight components with limited to no access to cell-phone or internet
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Who: required for Climbing Instructors
Where: Mt. Erie
When: June 28-30, 2026
Climbing Instructors also required to attend All Staff Training
Note this training requires an overnight component
Certifications
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It is preferred that BOLD & GOLD instructors have a Wilderness First Responder (WFR) certification valid through the end of their employment agreement with BOLD & GOLD. There are many organizations that provide and sponsor WFR courses.
BOLD & GOLD partners with the Longleaf Medical and YMCA Camp Orkila to provide WFR courses at a subsidized rate, reach out to your hiring manager for more information.
BOLD & GOLD recognizes that the WFR certification requires a large financial and time commitment. For 2025 the Y is offering a WFR support program for staff to get their WFR certification prior to the start of the summer. Please see the benefits page for more details.
Class MUST include an in-person portion and CANNOT be fully online.
Resources:
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All BOLD & GOLD staff must have at least a Wilderness First Aid certification. This is a 16-hour course that covers first aid basics in a wilderness setting. BOLD & GOLD partners with Longleaf Medicine to provide a WFA class prior to the start of All-Staff training offered to BOLD & GOLD staff at a subsidized rate. This can be used to get a WFA certification.
Class MUST include an in-person portion and CANNOT be fully online
Resources:
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All staff must hold a current CPR certification, valid through end of employment agreement with BOLD & GOLD. If you are still in need of a certification, we suggest checking with your local Y, Fire Department, colleges/universities in your area, or one of the following acceptable certifying bodies: American Red Cross, American Heart Association, National Safety Council, American Safety and Health Institute. Some Wilderness First Responder or Wilderness First Aid courses include CPR in the course, please check your individual certification or scheduled course.
Class MUST include an in-person portion and CANNOT be fully online
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We require that all our staff have a Washington Food Handler’s card. This is mandated per our Special Use Permit with the National Parks and is required to receive our permit. They are valid for two years from certification date. The card is available online at www.foodworkercard.wa.gov
There is a fee of $10 that can be charged to a credit card. Once completed, you will be emailed a copy to send to us.
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We require that all our staff complete a Leave No Trace 101 Certification class prior to the start of the summer. This is a free 45-minute class to ensure our staff understand the fundamentals of Leave No Trace and allows us to build upon those skills during our All-Staff training.
The class is available online at https://learn.lnt.org/courses/101.
BOLD & GOLD staff need to have either a Wilderness First Responder or Wilderness First Aid certification, a CPR certification, a Washington Food Handler’s Permit, and complete a Leave No Trace Training prior to starting work.
Send us your certifications
As soon as possible, email copies of your certifications to OLcerts@seattleymca.org so we can get you approved to work in the National Parks. Please send PDFs named using the pattern: “Smith, Adrian CPR”.
What you’ll need
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We have a robust gear library able to outfit a participant from head to toe with the personal gear and equipment they may need. This gear library is also available for staff to use, borrowing items for one trip or the entire summer!
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Please note that BOLD & GOLD is not an ultralight program! Instructors need to be prepared to carry additional personal and programmatic gear, which often requires a higher capacity backpack than you might normally use. We recommend 70+ liters minimum, though this will vary depending on your personal gear and group size. We have these and larger packs available to borrow in our gear library.
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We ask that staff use BOLD & GOLD group equipment for during their time on trip, this includes our sleeping shelters or pyramid tarps, cooking gear, water purification systems, and cameras to encourage equity and risk management in our programs.
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As outdoor professionals, we trust you to make decisions about the personal clothing and gear you bring into the backcountry based on your experiences and what works for you. We do ask instructors to be thoughtful and sensitive to the fact that they may be bringing items into the field that we ask participants to leave behind.
Vehicles
Parking
We have a small parking lot that is shared by the three programs based out of the building. We ask that seasonal summer staff do not park in the lot to leave space for program vehicles and staff who are required to use their vehicles for program. Street parking is available for a fee; we encourage staff to bike or take public transit using the subsidized ORCA card available to them. Free long-term parking for staff vehicles is available when staff are in the field.
Driving
We do our best to hire enough dedicated drivers to drop off and pick up every group. However, there may be times when this is not possible and instructors will need to drive their own groups to or from the trailhead, assist in moving mini-buses, or support evacuations. All driver-eligible staff over age 21 will go through mini-bus driver training and practice hours during All-Staff training.
Employment eligibility reminders
Drug Test
For staff who will be authorized as Y drivers, we do pre-employment drug testing. Staff are asked to completed this drug test prior to their first day of work as a part for their onboarding process.
The Y does hold the ability to do suspicion of use testing, if a staff member shows signs of being impaired at work, they may be tested based on suspicion. If they did not pass that test their employment with the Y would be terminated.
Background check
All staff must pass a pre-employment background check performed by the YMCA of the Greater Seattle.