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If you’re curious about Vermont outdoor careers, you’ve come to the right place.
Whether you’re job hunting, exploring training or education, or an employer who wants to train their workforce or promote a job opportunity, we’ve got it all mapped out.
What is a Vermont Outdoor Career?
In our state, a better question might be what isn’t an outdoor career–that’s because outdoor recreation represents 4.8% of Vermont's GDP, the second highest ranking in the nation. Vermont is deeply associated with outdoor recreation: the industry and its vibrant culture are rooted in every corner of the state, from Bennington to Beecher Falls.
To us at VOBA, an outdoor career is any job that has a connection to the outdoor recreation ecosystem, even those that involve working entirely indoors. Accountant at a bike shop?–that’s an outdoor job. IT person for a photography company that serves outdoor clients?–count it. One cannot exclude the line cooks at the golf courses who prep the egg salad sandwiches for after the 9th hole.
There are outdoor jobs wherever a business is interacting with the industry either by directly providing access to the outdoors or outdoor products, or by serving other businesses that do those things.
Why work a Vermont outdoor job? From our perspective, the hardworking folks who find themselves in outdoor careers are extremely fortunate. These jobs can come with great perks like ski/bike passes, stellar discounts on gear and equipment, and convenient access to our most treasured resource: the outdoor landscape. Some employers even offer days off when the weather is gifting ideal conditions (thank you Jay Cloud)! It’s true–this is common across the industry in every state.
So, why work in Vermont? To us at VOBA, and probably to the 16,000+ people working in the industry, it boils down to access to a few things (beyond maple syrup and artisan cheese):
THE LAND
The unparalleled natural landscape is full of features for every type of recreationalist, from remote backcountry skiers to backyard birders.
THE CULTURE
There is a strong and unique culture of being intimately tied to the land beyond the recreation capacity, including as craftspeople and environmental stewards.
AMPLE CAREER OPPORTUNITIES
For most VT employers, working in one area of the industry has a direct relevance to other parts of the industry, so there are always opportunities to advance in one’s career.
A SENSE OF PURPOSE
Many of Vermont’s outdoor employers, including the state government, have a strong commitment to addressing societal needs, whether it be making the industry a more inclusive, diverse, and equitable space, or innovating to meet environmental sustainability opportunities to address the climate crisis.
Watch Career Spotlights
We've set out to uncover the stories behind the folks who love their Vermont job. Listen to their stories and learn about their career journey from educational backgrounds to on-site experience. We're covering careers across both popular and unexpected fields to give you a glimpse into what it's like to work and live in Vermont.