Nature Guide

Wildflower Farms, Auberge Collection; Town of Gardiner (NY); On-site; USD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Wildflower Farms, Auberge Collection seeks a Nature Guide to lead hikes, host foraging and birding activations, and translate local land stories into guest experiences in the Hudson Valley.

You will collaborate with the Experiences and Farm teams, bringing seasonal rhythms to life for guests while maintaining safety and high guest satisfaction.

Qualifications

• Naturalist with regional flora, fauna knowledge.
• NY DEC Licensed Guide Program requirement.
• Experience leading hikes for groups with safety awareness.
• Guest-facing teaching or instruction experience required.
• Knowledge of Hudson Valley history, landmarks, and natural features.

Responsibilities

• Lead guided hikes, walks, and treks across the property 5x/week.
• Host a complimentary nature-based activation 5x/week (e.g., foraging, birding).
• Support group and private experience requests with custom input as needed.
• Develop seasonal nature programming aligned with migratory patterns and bloom cycles.
• Build knowledge of the Hudson Valley to answer guest questions and weave regional storytelling.

Skills

Naturalist

Outdoor guiding

Guest instruction

Trail safety

Education

NY DEC Licensed Guide Program

Job description

Company Description

Sprung from the site of a fallow tree nursery, Wildflower Farms, Auberge Collection is a 140-acre retreat in New York’s Hudson Valley, just 90 minutes from New York City. Anchored by its namesake farm with orchards, heirloom gardens, and animals, the retreat offers immersive seasonal experiences like foraging walks, cooking workshops, and healing sessions. A three-mile walking trail links 65 stand-alone cabins, cottages, and suites with the Movement Studio and Maplehouse, a lofty barn home to a dynamic cooking school.

Company Description

Sprung from the site of a fallow tree nursery, Wildflower Farms, Auberge Collection is a 140-acre retreat in New York’s Hudson Valley, just 90 minutes from New York City. Anchored by its namesake farm with orchards, heirloom gardens, and animals, the retreat offers immersive seasonal experiences like foraging walks, cooking workshops, and healing sessions. A three-mile walking trail links 65 stand-alone cabins, cottages, and suites with the Movement Studio and Maplehouse, a lofty barn home to a dynamic cooking school.

Job Description

The Nature Guide leads Wildflower Farms' outdoor and natural‑world programming — guiding hikes and treks, hosting foraging and birding experiences, and drawing on deep knowledge of the property, farm, and wider Hudson Valley to bring the land's story to life for guests. This role blends naturalist expertise with guest-facing hospitality, translating a working knowledge of local flora, fauna, and history into classes, workshops, and daily activations that reflect Wildflower Farms' Soul of the Place.

Guiding & Instruction

• Lead guided hikes, walks, and treks across the property and surrounding trails, 5x/week.
• Host a complimentary nature‑based activation 5x/week (e.g., foraging walk, birding session, flower foraging & arranging).
• Support group and private experience requests, including custom route/format input as needed.

Programming & Activation Development

• Activate seasonal nature programming, refreshing offerings in line with migratory patterns, bloom cycles, and what's happening on the land and in the region.
• Partner with the Experiences team to develop new activation concepts, including stargazing, seasonal foraging, and garden‑based programming.
• Work directly with the Head Farmer and Farm team to identify opportunities for programming tied to the farm's seasonal rhythms.
• Build and maintain a working knowledge of the immediate area and wider Hudson Valley — trails, landmarks, local history, flora and fauna — sufficient to answer guest questions and weave regional storytelling into every offering.

Amenities & Personalization

• Drive personalization and surprise‑and‑delight moments — partnering with the Experiences team on nature‑themed guest touches, special occasion add‑ons, and other personalization opportunities, within reason.
• Support amenities that promote or tie back to Experiences programming (e.g., seasonal welcome touches, trail-ready guest moments).

Budget & Ordering

• Manage ordering for any program‑specific supplies (e.g., foraging baskets, stargazing equipment, garden tools) and ensure all classes/activations are properly stocked.
• Forecast and manage program‑related costs as part of the department's overall budget.

Basic Weekly Responsibilities

• Teaching and hosting scheduled public hikes, classes, and daily activations
• Prep, route‑scouting, and sourcing for classes and activations
• Administrative support, including ordering, guest communication, and scheduling

Qualifications

• Naturalist, outdoor guiding, or park/conservation‑level experience (or equivalent), with a strong working knowledge of regional flora, fauna, and ecology.
• NY DEC Licensed Guide Program
• Demonstrated experience leading guided hikes, walks, or treks for groups, including basic trail safety and group management.
• Guest‑facing teaching or instructional experience required.
• Knowledge of local and Hudson Valley‑region history, landmarks, and natural features, or demonstrated ability to build this knowledge quickly.
• Strong communication and organizational skills; ability to collaborate across Experiences, Farm, and Culinary teams.
• Ability to work a flexible schedule, including evenings, weekends, and holidays.
• Preferred / Bonus Qualifications:
  • Birding expertise or certification.
  • Foraging knowledge (edible and medicinal plants).
  • Horticulture or floral design background, with ability to lead flower foraging and arranging.
  • Stargazing/astronomy knowledge, including constellation identification.
  • Existing relationships with local conservation groups, trail organizations, or naturalist networks.

Commission: 60,000.00 + 5% on total class revenue for incremental group/private bookings

Additional Information

About Auberge Collection

Auberge Collection is a portfolio of extraordinary hotels, resorts, residences and private clubs. While each property is unique, all share a crafted approach to luxury and bring the soul of the locale to life through captivating design, exceptional cuisine, innovative wellbeing, and gracious yet unobtrusive service. With 30 one-of-a-kind hotels, resorts, and residences, Auberge invites guests to create unforgettable stories in some of the world’s most desirable destinations.

For more information: auberge.com

Connect with Auberge Collection on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and LinkedIn @Auberge and #AlwaysAuberge

About Friedkin

Friedkin is a privately held family of global brands spanning automotive, entertainment, hospitality, investments, and sports.

Founded in 1969 and headquartered in Houston, Texas, the company is led by Chief Executive Dan Friedkin, and united by a mission to build breakthrough brands that redefine the status quo.

The Friedkin portfolio includes Gulf States Toyota, 30WEST, Accelerated Solutions Group, AS Roma, Ascent Automotive Group, Auberge Collection, Congaree, Copilot Capital, Diamond Creek, Everton Football Club, GSFSGroup, Imperative Entertainment, Legendary Expeditions, NEON, Northside Lexus, Pursuit Sports, The Friedkin Group International, USAL and Westside Lexus.

For more information, please visit www.friedkin.com

Shinrin Yoku LLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer, M/F/D/V. Shinrin Yoku LLC provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all team members and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, Shinrin Yoku LLC complies with applicable state and local laws governing non‑discrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.