GCC event highlights outdoor industry jobs

GREENFIELD — Between hiking, biking, skiing and more, there is a lot of fun to be had in the great outdoors, and sometimes, you can find a career there, too.

Greenfield Community College held its annual Outdoor Industry Job Fair on Thursday, showcasing various companies that are looking to fill part-time, seasonal and full-time positions in forestry, trail management, recreation instruction and more. The job fair, offered by GCC’s Department of Adventure Education & Outdoor Leadership, dates back more than 40 years.

“We want students to know about the opportunities there are,” said Dwight Harrison, coordinator at the Northfield Mountain Recreation and Environmental Center, which is owned by FirstLight Hydro Generating Co.

In addition to its work in renewable energy, FirstLight owns and manages more than 14,000 acres of recreational land across Connecticut and Massachusetts. These properties include campgrounds and recreation centers that hire seasonal attendants, instructors and guides.

Harrison said these jobs are pretty reliable from season to season, do not require many certifications or degrees, and are perfect for those who love the outdoors. He was personally drawn to a career with FirstLight because he is an avid skier.

“I was a cross-country ski instructor and when I was in college I worked [at Northfield Mountain],” Harrison recounted. “A longer-term job opened up and I took that … and it just grew into more stuff around the recreation center.”

Jim Sullivan, an instructor at Zoar Outdoor in Charlemont, was also able to turn a hobby into a fun career.

“I grew up in the area and I started out whitewater kayaking when I was 12. Zoar was one of the first places I learned how to kayak and I’ve been teaching lessons ever since,” Sullivan said. “It’s a fun job that you can get outside with and introduce people to the outdoors.”

While Zoar Outdoor only leads adventures in the warmer months, its sister company, Berkshire East Mountain Resort, is just gearing up for the winter season and is hiring ticket sellers, ski instructors, snowmakers, patrol staff and more.

Sullivan said western Massachusetts is full of unique jobs. There are many different outdoor activities, and outdoor jobs to go along with them.

“The whole Route 2 corridor is great for mountain biking, ziplining, rafting, kayaking,” Sullivan said. “It’s got everything.”

Jobs featured at the GCC event ranged from seasonal activity instructors to full-time, year-round expedition guides, or logistics support for organizations like Outside Perspectives, which takes youth on education, adventure and leadership development retreats in Connecticut. Another option included marketing and sales roles for the Appalachian Mountain Club.

In addition to hosting job fairs to introduce students and other community members to outdoor career possibilities, GCC runs a series of outdoor certification classes to help prepare people for those jobs.

The college has a Wilderness First Aid & CPR class scheduled for Wednesday, Dec. 11, and Thursday, Dec. 12, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. In February, the college will host a National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) Wilderness First Responder course, and courses to become river canoeing instructors and rock climbing instructors are planned for later in the spring.

For more information, visit gcc.mass.edu.

Reach Madison Schofield at 413-930-4579 or mschofield@recorder.com.