Denali Gift Companies and Denali Tri-Valley Cabins

 

Denali National Park

Testimonials

LOOKING FOR AN EXCITING SEASONAL SUMMER JOB IN ALASKA?? LIVE AND WORK AT DENALI NATIONAL PARK THIS SUMMER. SEE WILDLIFE INCLUDING GRIZZLY BEARS, BLACK BEARS, MOOSE, CARIBOU, DALL SHEEP, FOX, ETC!!

 

 


Denali Gift Companies, Inc.
Denali Tri-Valley Cabins
<--Testimonials


Denali Gift Company
Canyon Gift Company - McKinley Gifts

See our stores click here -> www.denalipark.com

See our cabins click here -> www.trivalleycabins.com

We operate three of the largest gift shops at Denali National Park. All the stores are in the center of the Denali Park business district.  The Park business district is located one mile north of the entrance to Denali National Park along a 3/4 mile stretch of the Parks Highway.

The business district has several lodges including the McKinley Chalets, Denali Canyon Lodge, Denali Princess Lodge, Grande Denali Lodge and the Denali Bluffs Hotel.  There are approximately 2000 hotel rooms and a dozen bars and restaurants in this area.  There is also a liquor store, gas station, two convenience stores, flightseeing operations, river rafting companies, dozens of gift shops, and other tourist type operations in the area.

Over 4000 seasonal employees work in the area and there are over 7000 visitors each day.  Just inside the Park entrance is the Visitor's Center, Wilderness Access Center, Post Office, and Alaska Railroad Depot. 

At the Denali National Park and Preserve Wilderness Access Center you can take bus rides 90 miles into the Park, obtain camping permits, attend interpretive programs, take hiking trails and numerous other daily Park activities.  More information about Denali Park can be found here: http://www.nps.gov/dena/

Our businesses are in the center of all the activity at Denali National Park.  We are the busiest independent gift shop operation at the Park.  We offer an exciting, fast-paced work environment you will enjoy and can learn a lot while doing it!  We have been in business longer than almost everyone in the area - this will be our 35th season.

We recently opened Denali Tri-Valley Cabins.  Adjacent to our employee camp in Healy, AK we are constructing a set of exquisite nightly rental cabins.  These cabins are all newly built and have been receiving great reviews.

If you are 18 years of age or older and this sounds like the summer, you are looking for please read more below and submit an online application today.


Seasonal Employment Opportunities

At the peak of the season we employ over 20 people. We begin accepting applications beginning in January each year for the upcoming summer season. 

We have created a fun, interesting and challenging place to work in a small business environment.  We try to allow for flexible scheduling to give you time to be with your friends and explore Alaska. 

There are currently openings for housekeepers, sales associates, warehouse clerks, and drivers.

Housekeepers will be responsible for the upkeep of the rental cabins at Denali Tri-Valley Cabins.  These rental cabins are all newly built.  Many of our guests are saying that we have the nicest and cleanest accommodations along their trip.  Reviews are what drives our success and our housekeepers must continue our great reputation.  They should have previous experience with housekeeping or cleaning.  They will be required to work independently and pay close attention to detail. Their duties include:  Using a computer to see which cabins are checking out, cleaning bathrooms from top to bottom, changing beds, cleaning wood furniture, cleaning floors, restocking toiletries and condiments, cleaning laundry, answering and attending to guest service calls, monitoring stock levels of supplies and notifying management for reorders, and maintaining organized storage areas.  This position pays $11/hour plus $3/hour end of season bonus. 

Sales associates will work in our gift shops.  They are primarily responsible for assisting customers and providing them with a fun experience.  This consists mostly of cashiering and helping them find specific items in the store.  All transactions will be handled through a computerized point of sale system.  Associates must be comfortable with the US currency and be able to count every transaction accurately.  They are also responsible for maintaining the stock levels and cleanliness of the stores.  These duties include: unloading trucks, counting merchandise, tagging merchandise, creating visually appealing displays according to a template, organizing and storing merchandise, writing and retrieving stock lists, maintaining clean and accurately labeled storage areas, dusting, vacuuming, sweeping, mopping, refolding garments, and any other tasks that may be required for the business to operate.  These employees must be self-motivated and able to find and complete the tasks that need done with little supervision.  This position pays $10/hour plus $2/hour end of season bonus.

Warehouse clerks will work mostly behind the scenes of our gift shops.  They will be trained and able to complete all the duties of a sales associate, driver, and warehouse clerk.  They will be primarily responsible for transferring merchandise between locations as well as maintaining the stock levels of the clothing in all three stores.  The typical day of a warehouse clerk will start with writing a stock list to pull from the clothing warehouse.  Along their journey they will stop at other stores and pick up and drop off various items and product needed at each location.  In the warehouse they will need to work quickly finding and pulling the needed garments while maintaining organized and accurately labeled boxes.  This is a very high paced job that involves a lot of lifting.  If you are not prepared to break a sweat every day this is not the job for you.  You must be over 21 and have a clean driving record.  This position is reserved for returning employees or those who have previous experience working in a warehouse.  The starting wage is $10/hour plus $2/hour end of season bonus. 

Drivers must be over 21 and have a clean driving record.  This is an extension to your position as sales associate and is not a full-time position.  Drivers are responsible for driving the shuttle vans from the employee camp to work.  They are also responsible for ensuring that trash is being properly disposed of, doors are being properly locked, and keys are being properly handled and stored.  Sometimes drivers will be given lists of products and supplies to transfer between the stores and the storage at the employee camp.  These employees receive the same wage as the other gift shop employees, however they will recieve more hours. 

We ask only that you have a healthy work ethic and strive to do your job well.  We encourage a positive attitude.  People without happy and positive personalities will not like working for us and will very likely not finish the season nor collect a bonus check.  People who party a lot or have a drug problem will definitely not be with us for long and should not bother to apply!

Our season runs from early May until mid-late September.  Most employees will begin work at the end of April.  A few employees will begin in mid-May.  Individual employment dates are discussed at the interview and all questions will be answered at that time.

We will all be working, eating, sleeping, and generally living together for four months. This requires positive efforts from everyone to ensure we get along well every day.  We want everyone to be comfortable in order to make the most of this summer experience. We ask that only those persons who truly enjoy working with people, specifically the Alaskan Visitor, apply. If you are such a person, please read on!

 

***Pay and Bonus***

The starting wages are dependent on your position and are described above.  Experienced supervisors and managers in the retail or housekeeping industries may be offered lead positions with higher starting wages.  When factoring the wage scale please note that our Housing Program is one of the least expensive of any business in the Park!! This program will put $100's of dollars more in your pocket throughout the summer.

Full time employees will be scheduled 35 hours per week for the majority of the summer.  At the end of the season hours will be slightly lower due to reduced business hours.  

Part time employees will be scheduled on an as needed or on call basis.  

Payday is every other Friday.  You check will be direct deposited into your account.  If you do not have an account, we can give you a physical check. 

Employees are all eligible for a 30% discount off of any full price items in our stores.  Shopping is only allowed when you are off the clock. 

The Bonus is payable at the end of the season in one lump sum less taxes. Typical Bonuses are around $1200 per season per employee, depending on the number of hours worked. There are a few ways to lose your bonus - among them are: quitting before the end of your contract, stealing, unsatisfactory performance, drug use, bad attendance, or alcohol abuse at work.  

Your bonus check will be given to you when you leave the housing complex.  Before receiving your bonus your cabin and immediate area around your cabin will be inspected for cleanliness and/or damages.  You will also be required to clean a portion of the common areas before leaving.  Any cleaning or repairs will be deducted from your bonus - so PLEASE leave your cabin as you found it!! 

 

***Your Summer Home***

We house about 20 of our associates in the town of Healy, Alaska.  Healy is a small year-round town with a population of about 400.  It is located ten miles north of the Denali Park business district.  There is a fire station, medical clinic, pharmacy, bank, and State Troopers office in town.  Also, within walking distance from the employee complex are a full-service grocery store, gas stations, restaurants, bars, convenience stores, hotels, etc.  There are also a few interesting outdoor areas within walking distance of camp.  Our employees generally throw bon fires several times a year up the road at Dry Creek.  Otto Lake is a short drive up the road offering boating and biking activities.  There are several other Park businesses in Healy, notably Holland America Princess, that house a total of about 2500 employees in the town.  The population of Healy swells to over 4000 each summer.

 

We shuttle all our associates to work and back to the housing complex twice a day for morning and evening shifts.  Employees are welcome to take these shuttles on their days off to get to Denali Park.  It is about a 1-mile hike from the Denali Park business district to the Wilderness Access Center in Denali National Park.  There is also a local shuttle service that provides transportation to various stops between Healy and Denali Park.  The Alaska Train or Yukon Trails Shuttle provide long distance transportation to various stops throughout the state.   

***HOUSING***

This is an "EMPLOYEE Housing" program.  We ARE NOT renting cabins, we are charging for EMPLOYEE Housing-- not cabin rent! We do not fall under the landlord/tenant laws.  If you quit or are terminated, you must leave the property immediately.  We ONLY house our employees.  We charge $6.50 per day for use of the cabin, bathrooms, main house, kitchen, internet, rec room, and utilities.  

The employee cabins are small wood-framed cabins.  Some cabins are in better repair than others.  The cabins are insulated, sheet rocked, and have electric heat and lights.  Each cabin also has a refrigerator.  We supply mattresses and bed frames.  Some cabins have primitive shelving and have been fixed up over the years by the employees. They are clustered together on two acres of land in Healy, Alaska.

There are usually two persons to a cabin.  We will try to put compatible personalities into the same living quarters. You are free to swap roommates as you become friends with other employees.

There is a shower house with private shower and toilet rooms.  There are three showers and four toilets available to the 18 to 22 folks living on-site.

The washers and dryers are coin operated.  The cost is $2 per wash and $1 per dry.  This includes laundry detergent and dryer sheets.

No animals are allowed in the employee housing complex.

The employee housing and warehouse property is privately owned.  For security reasons no non-employees are allowed on the premises.

Employees are allowed have guests at camp for $20 per person per day.  They must be pre-approved by management.  The employee will be held responsible for their guests actions.  

We have a 3-bedroom log cabin on the property located very close to your personal cabins.  It has a kitchen and dining area.  

You (and your roommate) will have a refrigerator in which to store your food in your cabin.  You will cook your meals either individually or in groups in our kitchen in the log cabin.  We have collected a set of pots, pans, and cooking utensils over the years that you are free to use.  We provide only basic cleaning supplies and toilet paper.   

You will need to buy your own food.  There is a large full-service grocery store and two other convenience stores in the area within walking distance.  Drivers are welcome to organize a group trip to the grocery store for larger shopping trips.  These trips must be pre-approved by management.

There is a garage on the property and a portion of the garage has been converted into a non-smoking recreation room.  It has a flat screen TV, DVD player along with a large selection of movies, couch(es), chairs, air hockey table, etc.  This is an area for employees to gather when not at work.  Internet access is also available in the rec room.

The $6.50 per day charge does not include concierge service nor maid service.  It is up to all employees to work together to keep the shower house, main log cabin/kitchen area, rec room, common areas and your cabin clean.  Garbage needs to be put in the garbage trailer, etc.  You will all be living together, and everyone needs to work together to keep the employee complex a clean, nice and fun place to live all summer!   

It is your responsibility to maintain your personal and social life.  This is a business with employee housing that is designed for mature adults.  We are not a summer camp nor a rehabilitation center.  If you have not lived away from home before, have not lived in shared housing before, or have issues making new friends and getting along with others please deeply consider whether this is a fitting environment for you.  

You CAN SAVE some money this summer!!  Other than food, personal items and laundry, you can save most all your earnings, as you will have few other expenses.  Many of the activities in Denali offer large discounts to local employees.  We strongly suggest that you find these deals and explore this beautiful area that you came here to see.  

THE EMPLOYEE HOUSING AREA IS ADJACENT TO SOME NIGHTLY RENTAL CABINS.  ALL NOISE MUST BE KEPT TO A MINIMUM IN THE EVENING AND NIGHTIME HOURS!!

***Taking care of the Customers***

The summer visitor to Alaska is the only reason this business, other businesses in the Park area, and your job exists. At all times we must consider the customer and his/her needs more important than any other aspect of the business.

The tourist, most often, has never been to Alaska before and will have a variety of questions and needs that we must have empathy for and try to answer and solve. This portion of your job can be fun and personally rewarding if handled with the right attitude.  Visitors will fondly remember a friendly employee. You should be fairly well oriented to the Park and surrounding areas within a few weeks after arriving. This knowledge will help you direct visitors to local attractions, etc...

 

***Personal Responsibilities***

 

All staff are required to work as needed.  You will have the opportunity to set schedule preferences, however we do not guarantee any specific recurring schedules.  Priority will be given to single occurrence time off requests.  This is to provide people with the opportunity to take backpacking trips, trips to other parts of Alaska, or spend time with family and friends that come to visit. 

All staff are expected to work continuously from the time they clock in until the time they clock out.  We are a small privately-owned business and cannot afford to pay you to stand around.  Ask a supervisor for a project if you can not find one yourself.  Or ask to clock out. 

All personnel wear normal, regular, conservative, comfortable clothes that may include clean non-patched jeans without holes, tears, rips, etc. Sturdy shoes (hiking boots work well) and a Company Polo or T-shirt. (We issue the shirts, but you must wash and care for them.)  Employees are required to come to work smelling and looking clean.  Please do not make us ask you to fix your personal hygiene. 

We do not provide sick leave.  You have a couple of options if you need a day off.  You can find a coworker to switch days with you (provided this does not push either of you into overtime).  You can ask one of our part-time employees to take the shift for you.  You can plan your day off before the schedule is written and put in a time off request.  If you are unable to find someone to cover your shift you are expected to work.          

 

***Getting to Alaska and to Denali Park***

The main form of transportation to Alaska is by air.  It is cheaper to fly into Anchorage (ANC). The other option is to fly into Fairbanks (FAI).  We recommend flying into Anchorage as flights are less expensive.

The most reasonable place to stay in Anchorage is the www.bentpropinn.com/downtown (1-907-276-3635).  The least expensive transportation to the Park is the Alaska/Yukon Trails  www.alaskashuttle.com/parks.htm  or (907) 479-2277.  This shuttle leaves from there around 7am.

Another option for transportation to the Park is the Alaska Railroad.  They operate a Northbound train all winter every Saturday from Anchorage to Fairbanks with stops at both Denali National Park and Healy (where our housing complex is).  Around the third week in May they operate daily.  www.alaskarailroad.com.  If you would like to take the train let me know and I can book you a ticket for 50% off. 

Popular sites for finding airfares are www.cheapoair.com  www.expedia.com  www.orbitz.com  www.travelocity.com

If you are hired and need help finding reasonable fares, feel free to call and ask me about this before making your plane reservations.  Round trip fares should be around $500-$700 from the West coast and possibly a few hundred dollars more if flying from the East.  Check nearby major airports also as some larger airports have more competition and the fares can be dramatically lower.

Most employees can earn enough bonus money to cover the cost of the flight to and from Anchorage.  Some employees may elect to drive the Alcan Highway from Seattle to Fairbanks/Denali.  It is about 2400 miles from Seattle to the Park.

Lastly, you will be working around visitors and employees from all over the world.  It is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED that you obtain a FLU-SHOT prior to arriving in Alaska!  Most any Walgreens gives them at a very low cost.

 

Come Join Us!

If you have further interest in this summer adventure, please fill out this short application -->

                                             www.alaskasummerjobs.net

 

 

****IMPORTANT NOTE****

We have been in business at Denali National Park for thirty five years now.  In that time, we have had hundreds and hundreds of summer associates work with us.  Well over 98% of them have had a great time and really enjoyed it.  There have been a dozen or two that did not.  It is very unsettling for us to have someone come all the way North only to find out upon arrival or part way through the season that they do not like it.

Therefore, it is highly advised that you make certain that you are prepared to live and work in a remote, faraway place for about five months prior to applying or accepting a job with us.  Pay close attention to the remoteness of our area.  The living conditions, jobs provided, type of housing, cost of housing, food, travel, etc., as well as wages offered all need to be considered.

At the top left of this page next to "Denali National Park" you may click the link to a few testimonials from former associates that enjoyed their summer working with us.

 


Alaska State Trooper at employee housing giving an orientation meeting regarding laws and safety.
2016 Christmas (in August) Party