At the intersection of trails, which way will you go?
WPA’s Mentorship, Certification, and Paid Adventure Pack Leadership Program
The opportunity of a lifetime, to learn from and work with the industry leader in multi-sport wilderness dog adventures
This program is a one-year commitment with unlimited opportunities available to successful graduates thereafter. It is designed to welcome top applicants into a part-time, year-long study and work experience based near Beaverton, Oregon. Over the course of the program, participants will progress through four levels, building and deepening their skills and responsibilities. Upon completion, graduates will earn the Wild Pup Adventures Solo Multi-Sport Adventure Leader Certification, establishing their credibility as recognized and trusted professionals who are eligible for job opportunities within Wild Pup Adventures as the organization continues to expand.
At stages of the program, participants will demonstrate their skills by managing WPA’s dog adventure packs independently, filling a critical leadership role while Toby is on medical leave.
The program involves a tuition fee for the mentorship and training components, but participants will be compensated for solo leadership of adventure packs (compensation details to be finalized).
This innovative curriculum, developed and documented during the program, will lay the groundwork for emerging professional standards within the industry. Beyond individual and professional growth, this is a rare opportunity to contribute to shaping the future of this unique specialty. Wild Pup Adventures is committed to setting new benchmarks for excellence and leadership within the dog adventure community.
A Note from Toby about this opportunity
“The goal shouldn’t always be to get the opportunity and be accepted, but to honestly assess for oneself whether the opportunity is aligned with the life you truly want to live. ”
Dear Friends,
If we haven’t formally met, I’m Toby Joy, WPA’s creator, leader, and wizard behind the curtain. I hope the following opportunity lights a fire in you. Most of all, I hope it helps bring you to the place you long for, or keep you away from one you won’t be happy with. The goal shouldn’t always be to get the opportunity and be accepted, but to honestly assess for oneself whether the opportunity is aligned with the life you truly want to live. In this interview, I ask the important questions, some hard ones, to realistically present you with things you’d encounter or subjects you’d need to know if committing to this program.
After 8 years, Wild Pup Adventures is at an intersection of trails. Each path leads to the unknown. Each holds the promise of both accomplishment and challenge. Which one is the right one to choose? That, I can’t know or foresee. I am happy remaining here at the intersection, or going back the way I came, until or unless I feel a different pull and I’m also aware that, no matter what, I may return to this intersection again later. One of these routes forward requires others join me, because it can’t be done solo.
One thing I know for sure, I’m not willing to consider that path with just anyone who shows up, it must be the right person or people.
What precipitated opening up to this new program?
Unbelievably, within one week of each other, Raven, my soul mate dog and the pack leader of all WPA packs was diagnosed with hip dysplasia AND so was I! We were both told to prepare for surgery. Raven’s was completed successfully. My first surgery will be in March/April, and I’ll have the other hip done in the future.
This means, after considering bringing others in to WPA for a long time, now may be the opportunity to do so, since I’d like excellent Adventure Leaders to take over my packs during my medical leaves this year. How incredible it would be if this led to more permanent opportunities to work at WPA! It’s a goal of mine!
If this possibility excites you, please complete the virtual interview process. I look forward to getting to know you.
Sincerely,
Toby
Program Overview
The proposed timeline for this program spans one year and is subject to adjustments as needed. It includes the progression to mentorship opportunities and paid roles at appropriate intervals, contingent upon the successful completion of preceding levels.
The Tentative, General Skills Schedule
Level 1: Hiking Adventure Assistant, Dec-Feb
Fundamentals of assisting a Senior Adventure Leader on hiking adventures. 2 days a week on-adventure mentorship. (Tuition)
Level 2: Solo Hiking Adventure Leadership, Mar-May/June
Taking over at least one adventure pack during my medical leave (Paid), with continued mentorship throughout. 1-2 adventures per week + satellite/in-person mentorship.
Level 3: Multi-Sport Adventure Assistant, Jun-Aug.
On-Adventure Mentorship, possible paid adventure leader also.
Level 4: Solo Multi-Sport Adventure Leader, Sep-Nov
Leading all types of adventure sport trips. Possibly taking over adventure packs during Toby’s 2nd medical leave.
Training complete, move on to more advanced roles within WPA locally and eventually progress to opening WPA’s in other locations.
Your Mentor
Toby Joy is the Owner and Pack Leader of Wild Pup Adventures. Her life is shared with her three foster fails, Raven, Jonah, and Wally. Toby has been a nature and animal lover since she was a young child. She was swimming before walking and climbing trees soon after. Her love of sports and adventure grew in adolescence and became a passion.
Toby’s been guiding multi-sport off leash dog adventures and working with human clients too during private training sessions since 2016. During that time, Toby has lived and worked with dog packs in the wilderness, mostly in silence, observing and learning from them about their language, culture, personalities, and more. Throughout this time, she’s developed her own methods, philosophies, and techniques for assessments, acceptance, and integration of new dogs. Toby has developed methodical processes around training, pack leadership, and safety protocol for adventures. Experiential and long-term learning have allowed her to find best practices that work in her unique circumstances and settings.
Prior to starting WPA, Toby was a long time teacher and academic. She studied Wilderness Spirituality and created and led personalized backpacking adventures for client’s personal growth. Toby’s lifelong passion has been backpacking high ridgelines such as the Sierra High Route and exploring the natural beauty of our planet.
She has two Masters degrees in Administration in Education and Philosophy and Religious Studies. Toby’s undergraduate degrees are in Psychology, Gender Studies, and Philosophy. She holds certifications in Dog Psychology, Animal Reiki, Wilderness First Responder and Dog First Aid.
About the Interview:
Duration
The Interview must be completed in one sitting, with no other tools or resources used, within 1.5 hours. Your submission will be timestamped automatically. Please only start when you can do so without interruption.
You’ll be asked approximately 30 questions including 6 longer video questions which may be answered using videos of yourself or in writing. Preference is given to video responses, as it shows the ability to work with media in ways similar to those used in our work.
Assessment
The interview will be assessed not only by content, but also presentation, and completeness of information shared. You may be asked to provide documentation on any claims made during the interview. Please share in such a way that Toby can really get to know you as an individual. While not every answer needs to be perfect, and for many there is no perfect answer, the whole of your interview should express your experience, knowledge, humility, interest in learning, grit, abilities, character, and personality.
Start the Interview.
Toby will contact you once submissions come to a close.
Photographs of Toby in kayak surrounded by dogs and Toby letting dogs out of the van credited to Brian at BMAC Studio during video shoot for American Dream TV with Pam Blair of Yoga Bug Real Estate
Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.
— Howard Thurman