Caleb Wilking
Buena Vista
Summary
Determined and motivated safety professional with experience working in incident response under a variety of adverse conditions and with limited time. I thrive working under pressure with a team, where I am able to apply trained skills to real world scenarios.
Overview
8
8
years of professional experience
Work History
River Guide, Safety Kayaker, Guide Trainer
River Runners
01.2020 - 01.2025
- Guided half-day, full-day, and overnight trips on the Arkansas River in Buena Vista, Colorado.
- Led trips of up to nine guides and sixty guests. Managed guides before, during, and after trips to ensure that the trip was run properly and smoothly in a safe fashion. Catered to guests and fitted them with the proper guide to meet their needs.
- Guided both oar boats and paddle boats.
- Safety kayaked for high-water Class 4 trips.
- Trained new, incoming guides.
- Led safety meetings and protocols to ensure proper risk management on the river.
- Responded to accidents on the river and managed the safety of everyone involved.
Swiftwater Rescue Instructor
Rocky Mountain Outdoor Center
04.2025 - 08.2025
- Developed engaging lesson plans to enhance student learning and retention.
- Implemented teaching strategies to accommodate diverse learning styles.
- Mentored assistant instructors, fostering professional growth and development.
- Evaluated student performance and provided constructive feedback for improvement.
- Led real-life scenarios to implement the technical rescue skills learned in class.
- Monitored the safety of instructors and students, both on and off river settings.
Snowmobile guide
NOVA Guides
01.2024 - 01.2025
- Led day trips snowmobiling with up to 18 guests.
- Ensured the safety of guides and guests through varied terrain and adverse weather.
- Responded to safety/injury calls of other guests snowmobiling.
- Maintained safety standards during excursions, resulting in zero accidents or incidents.
Ski Instructor
Copper Mountain
11.2023 - 04.2024
- Delivered expert skiing instruction to diverse skill levels, ensuring safety and engagement.
- Developed personalized lesson plans to enhance student performance and enjoyment on slopes.
- Conducted regular assessments of student progress, adjusting techniques as needed for effectiveness.
- Implemented best practices in ski safety protocols, promoting a secure learning environment.
Snowmaker
Steamboat Ski Resort
01.2021 - 01.2023
- Worked 12-hour shifts moving and managing heavy equipment in adverse conditions.
- Maintained constant communication with the team to ensure that duties were fulfilled safely and efficiently.
- Monitored weather patterns to adjust snow production schedules effectively.
- Implemented safety protocols to ensure compliance during snowmaking operations.
- Operated various types of heavy machinery for transport and set-up of snow guns, improving overall productivity during peak season.
Ski Technician
Ski Butlers Steamboat
10.2022 - 04.2023
- Delivered customer service, catered to individual customers' needs before, during, and after deliveries.
- Packed orders to be delivered.
- Delivered orders, fit customers to boots, and skis.
- Ensured that correct products were given to each customer.
- Answered phones, fulfilled orders, and answered any questions that customers might have.
Educator
Keewaydin Environmental Education Center
08.2022 - 10.2022
- Led environmental courses for sixth-grade students throughout the week. Topics included watersheds, glaciers, communities within the environment, and populations, just to name a few.
- Managed a group of students and initiated activities throughout the week.
River Guide
ROW Adventures
05.2022 - 08.2022
- Guided multi-day trips on the Rogue River (3-4 days) and the Lower Salmon River (5 days).
- Responsible for efficiently packing and cleaning up gear before and after trips, catering to guest needs throughout the trip to ensure a memorable and safe experience.
- Ran the rivers in a safe manner for the guides and guests.
- I cooked three meals a day, and properly cleaned all cookware after meals.
- I guided a 22-foot gear boat, rigged the boats properly with gear, and set up camp completely before the guests arrived.
- Educated guests on each unique river corridor, with environmental issues and overall history throughout the trip. Education was aimed at spreading awareness to the guests of the importance of our freshwater systems.
Lead cook and Bartender
Blue Sage
01.2018 - 01.2021
- Managed shifts and other employees.
- Responsible for handling cash drawers before and after each shift.
Education
AA - Outdoor Education
Colorado Mountain College
BA - Sustainability Studies
Colorado Mountain College
05.2022
WEMT -
Northern Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS)
Lander, WYSkills
- NREMT - Basic, Issued November 2025, expires November 2027
- Wilderness First Responder - Issued November 2025, expires November 2027
- AHA - BLS Certification
- ACA L4 Swiftwater Rescue Instructor
- Risk management
- Safety protocols and communication
- Strong communication skills
- Emergency response
- Equipment maintenance
- Collaborative team player
Timeline
Swiftwater Rescue Instructor
Rocky Mountain Outdoor Center
04.2025 - 08.2025
Snowmobile guide
NOVA Guides
01.2024 - 01.2025
Ski Instructor
Copper Mountain
11.2023 - 04.2024
Ski Technician
Ski Butlers Steamboat
10.2022 - 04.2023
Educator
Keewaydin Environmental Education Center
08.2022 - 10.2022
River Guide
ROW Adventures
05.2022 - 08.2022
Snowmaker
Steamboat Ski Resort
01.2021 - 01.2023
River Guide, Safety Kayaker, Guide Trainer
River Runners
01.2020 - 01.2025
Lead cook and Bartender
Blue Sage
01.2018 - 01.2021
AA - Outdoor Education
Colorado Mountain College
BA - Sustainability Studies
Colorado Mountain College
WEMT -
Northern Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS)