Find us inside the Yosemite Basecamp Outfitter in Downtown Groveland, CA!
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Echo is a Collective Board Worker Cooperative, which means the majority of employees at Echo are owners (we call them members) and have a seat on the Board of Directors. Each member, even the founding members, have an equal vote, no matter how much they make or how long they have been involved!
There are three types of employees:
Non-Member Employees | $18.00/HR | Our non-member employees can work in any department and are either working to become a member, are seasonal or migratory, or just dont want to become a member. Non member employees report to the managing member in charge of thier department.
Members | $22.00/HR | Members have undergone a 6 month canadicy period, submitted an approved application and paid the membership fee. They are owners, receive dividends, and have a seat on the Board of Directors. Members report to the managing member in charge of their department.
Manageing Members | $26.00/HR | Managing Members, or members that manage operations, departments or employees, have submitted an approved business/operations plan. These employees also have the opportunity to make passive income through the cooperative by offering rentals, retail or other services. Managing Members report to the General Manager.
The Board of Directors, ie the membership, will hire a host of seasonal and full time workers each year with the hope that these employees will apply for membership anytime after 6 months!
Employees at Echo Adventure Cooperative make $18.00 an hour and work for individual managing members. Although individual nonmember employees do not have a seat on the Board of Directors, our nonmember employees are asked to join the Employee Advisory Board. In addtion to counseling the Board of Directors on best practices, the Chair of the Employee Advisory Board holds a seat on the Board of Directors.
The 2023 season is upon us and we are excited to hire the following positions!
PRN/Part Time Housekeeper | April 1st - October 31st. This flexible position requires a commitment of 2-4 hours, 5 days a week. The housekeeping position in charge of cleaning and providing stay over services for our Adventure Loft and Basecamp Bunkhouse accommodations, as well as other housekeeping needs throughout our Yosemite Basecamp. Schedule will likely be 10am - 2 pm from Wednesday - Sunday; however, those days negotiable.
Sightseeing Adventure Guide | May 1st - October 15th. This flexible position is also referred to as our front country guide and includes family based sightseeing adventures, adaptive tours, shuttles, and short hiking excusurions as well as BBQs and swimming. This position is perfect for a beginner guide or a guide with that enjoys teaching children and sharing the joys if Yosemite with other visitors! All training is included. Piece rate averages 18.00/Hour with overtime and tips. Minimum certifications include Wilderness First Aid or greater, CPR, Leave No Trace, and California Food Handlers.
Short Season Fly Fishing Guide | June 1st - September 30th. This part time postion can include family based front country fly fishing adventures, backcountry hiking adventures, or the occasional multi day backpacking adventures based on your skills and expereince. This position is perfect for a beginner fly fishing guide and an experinced guide looking for membership within the cooperative. Piece rate averages 18.00/Hour with overtime and tips. Minimum certifications include Wilderness First Aid or greater, CPR, Leave No Trace, and California Food Handlers.
Adventure Coordinator | Year Round Position. This is a 40/hour a week evening position features 4, 10 hour shifts allowing you to explore Yosemite on your 3 day weekend! We also have a 3, 10 hour shift position as well! While at work you'll focus on retail and adventure desk, helping guests with retail sales, visitor information, adventure reservations, and room check-ins. This is a fast paced position that allows infinite opportunites to specialize in retail and inventory managment, reservations logistics or another specialities based on your interests. Both Adventure Coordinator positions are great opportunities for individuals brand new to the recreation and guiding industry. 18.00/Hour *THIS POSITION IS ALSO THE GATEWAY TO THE GENERAL MANAGER POSITION
Important Bits:
Echo's guide week will run from April 24st - April 28th. Training stipend for the week is $600.00 plus food and lodging, and attendance is highly recommended for all guides and coordinators.
Affordable housing is available.
All employees are expected to attend a monthly, paid Employee Advisory Committee Meeting.
All employees must work for the cooperative for 6 months before they can apply to become an owner. See website for details!
Echo Adventure Cooperative is a socially and environmentally sustainable worker-owned cooperative just outside of Yosemite National Park.
We encourage all applicants including women, LGTBQ+ and BIPOC adventurers to apply, and also hope that offering positions without the need to own your own gear will open this incredible industry and this amazing location to people from all backgrounds and all walks of life!
You, you and you!
Let's say that you want to offer adventures where you meet your guests in Yosemite Valley for a 3-hour walking tour 2 times a day for 200 days a year. Or maybe you want to pick guests up at the airport and do a private wine tasting before heading to Yosemite for 5 days of guided adventure once a month. You might just want to rent your vacation rental or sell recycled earrings made from trash found in Yosemite... it's %100 up to you! Echo's Board must approve the general idea, but you decide the details, the cost and the availbility!
Echo is here to support your dreams!
Echo provides insight into historical trends and our gut instinct over what trips, products or services will be successful.
Echo provides a series of costing mechanisms so that you can charge the right amount for your trip.
Echo only books your trips and/or sells your retail based on your stipulations. If you want to work 2 days a month, then go for it!
Echo can operate anywhere in California! Currently, all of our offerings are based around Yosemite because that is where our members live. We are excited to adapt and grow with our membership, so if you want to offer bike trips through the Coastal Redwoods, climbing in Joshua Tree or fishing on the Putah, then just send us an email and we'll work with you to make it a reality!
Echo is always expanding!
First, there is a $100.00 nonrefundable application fee to help process all of the information submitted and call a vote on your membership with the Board of Directors.
If accepted, there is a $500.00 membership fee. This fee covers the cost of developing, permitting and marketing your new trips! It also covers expenses like business cards, vehicle clings, Logo'd gear, etc.
Members (Usually Career, Sometimes Seasonal) | $22.00/HR | Members have undergone a 6 month canadicy period meaning they have worked for Echo for 6 months. Members are owners, receive dividends, and have a seat on the Board of Directors. Members report to the managing member in charge of their department.
Managing Members (Legit Career Mode) | $26.00/HR | Managing Members, or members that manage operations, departments or employees, have submitted an approved business/operations plan. These employees also have the opportunity to make passive income through the cooperative by offering rentals, retail or other services. Managing Members report to the General Manager.
Passive Income Opportunites:
Vehicle Rentals - 25.00 a day
Retail consignment - 75%
Rental commissions - 75%
Vacation Rental - 50%
The portion kept by Echo pays for wages, rent, insurance and other operating costs, but If there is a profit or surplus at the end of the year the Board decides if this money goes back to the members or if it gets used for charitable contributions or something else!
Remember all these numbers and percentages are determined by the Board, which are members just like you!
After our 6 month canadicy period, all members pay the $100.00 application fee and the $500.00 membership fee. There are no other costs associated with your membership unless you decide to become a Managing Member.
Managing Members have more financial responsibility; they are responsible for their operation specific costs like specialty gear that cannot be shared between programs, retail programs or rental programs. Echo will then "rent" your specialty gear for the trips offered in your program.
Echo pays for the big picture stuff! Permitting, CPUC authority, marketing, bookings, National Park fees, licenses, hotels, food costs for guests that choose that option.
Here is an example: A fly fishing guide offering a full-service 2-day package:
Guide: Fly fishing waders, rod, reel, flies.
Echo: Marketing, booking, hotel, all meals, guide license, fly fishing licenses, taxes, National Park permit, national park entrance fees, CPUC authority to drive the vehicle.
Still not sure? Send us an email with your trip idea and we'll tell which bits your will be responsible for and help you develop your pricing.
All Echo Adventure employees can apply for membership after 6 months of employement or you can request an exemption by requesting a meeting with one of our founding members!
Once you are allowed to apply for membership, you will receive an email with a list of requirements to submit like:
Proof that you are a California Resident.
Letter of Recommendation from a previous employer.
Current Resume that shows 3 years of relevant experience.
Safety Training Certifications: A minimum of WFA and CPR for front country excursions or a minimum of WFR or CPR for trips to a location with a response time greater than 20 minutes.
Once all items are submitted and cleared, we will provide you with a copy of our Articles of Incorporation, our current Bylaws, a Membership Disclosure Form and an Official Request for Membership Form.
The Board of Directors will vote on your membership at the following Monthly Board Meeting.
If the Board denies your request for membership, then we will provide you with an explanation and a list of items needed to reapply.
You can reapply every 90 days.
If you are approved then you will pay the $500.00 member fee.
That's it!
It's all pretty easy if you have what it takes!