Nature Retreat Hosts 2025

Needed: Nature Retreat / Hostel host
Organization: Wolf Den Hostel and Nature Retreat

Location: West Gate of Algonquin Park, Ontario
Type: full-time payroll employee; shared-living position with housing

Spend an amazing few months living and working at the edge of world-famous Algonquin Park as a host at the Wolf Den Hostel & Nature Retreat. Use time off to explore the wonders of the park by canoe, kayak, bike, hiking and camping.

Full-time position from July through October. Potentially beginning as early as May or June in a reduced or regular role (let’s talk).

The Wolf Den Nature Retreat is loved by Canadians and international visitors alike as a basecamp for exploring Algonquin Park. As host you would welcome new and returning guests, answer their questions, share stories and tips, and help them feel at home here. Alongside the manager, owners, and other staff, you would participate in keeping the hostel and cabins clean and ready for our visitors. There’s work to be done and fun to be had.

Housing:

The Wolf Den was built to foster community and this extends to our staff. While your sleeping quarters are private, all other facilities – kitchen, bathroom and showers, social areas – are shared with guests and other staff in traditional hostel style. Your colleagues are nature lovers, campers and gardeners. We like family pot lucks and shared campfires, but also enjoy our quiet space and respect the quiet space of others.

We have river access with excellent swimming opportunities. There’s a dock, canoes, and kayaks, for our guests and staff.

Work:

We have an egalitarian approach to teamwork at the Wolf Den. All staff are involved in every aspect of keeping the Den clean and happy. In the busy summer weeks there is a lot to get done and the pace is pretty fast. But we schedule time off and staff are encouraged to book breaks away from the hostel for camping or visiting friends and family.

The physical elements of the job include cleaning common spaces such as kitchens and bathrooms, turning over sleeping quarters, and doing copious amounts of laundry. The social aspects of the job include answering phone calls, making bookings with our web-based reservation system, checking guests in and out, keeping an eye on the campfire at night, chatting with guests about their adventures in the park, offering trail and canoe route tips, and answering questions about park ecology and history. Other jobs include grounds keeping, gardening, small repairs, painting and splitting wood.

Remuneration:

Payrolled employee, $17.20 per hour, for 35-40 hrs per week. Accommodation and utilities (including internet) are included. Transportation to and from Huntsville for grocery shopping, etc., is possible if you do not have your own vehicle. Food and drink are not part of your pay, but we enjoy creating and eating meals together at times.

Requirements and Attributes:

• Friendly, outgoing, able to multi-task and work hard
• Ability to take initiative and work independently with little supervision
• Additional languages are an asset
• Highly responsible & reliable
• Ability to work well under pressure in a sometimes fast-paced environment and to maintain motivation in slower-paced times
• Ability to work and live cohesively with fellow colleagues as part of a team
• Love of our natural world!
• Individuals, friends, or couples are welcome to apply. Unfortunately we are not able to accomodate candidates with children at this time.

Work Term:

July – October 2025. If interested, potential start in May or June (let’s talk).

How to Respond:

You can contact us by email or regular post. Please send us your CV and tell us about yourself. We can talk on the phone or video chat at a later stage.

E-mail Mike at: wden@wolfdenbunkhouse.com

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