HAP Holland America Denali Lodge

Trade the Classroom for the Last Frontier

Imagine starting your shift with a view of snow-capped peaks, grizzly bears roaming nearby valleys, and the tallest mountain in North America towering on the horizon. At HAP Holland America Denali Lodge, located at the doorstep of Denali National Park, Alaska, you’ll spend your summer doing something most students only dream about — working, cooking, and exploring in one of the wildest and most beautiful places on Earth.

We’re looking for energetic university students to join our kitchen team as Prep Cooks. No professional chef experience required — just enthusiasm, reliability, and a willingness to learn from experienced culinary professionals who serve thousands of guests from around the world every season.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Washing, peeling, chopping and portioning fresh vegetables, fruits, meats and seafood
• Preparing stocks, sauces, salads, soups and cold dishes following standardized recipes
• Supporting line cooks and chefs during busy breakfast, lunch and dinner services
• Labeling, dating, rotating and safely storing all food products
• Maintaining a spotless, organized and sanitary work station at all times
• Following strict food safety, allergen and HACCP standards
• Receiving deliveries and helping with inventory and stock organization
• Assisting with dishwashing and general kitchen cleaning duties as needed

Why Denali National Park?

Denali is six million acres of untamed wilderness — a place of tundra, glaciers, spruce forests and endless daylight. In summer, the Alaskan sun barely sets, giving you long evenings to hike, raft the Nenana River, go flightseeing over Denali’s summit, spot moose and caribou, or simply sit by a campfire with new friends from across the globe.

The lodge community is famous for its social atmosphere: staff barbecues, movie nights, hiking clubs and shuttle trips into the park make it easy to build friendships that last long after the season ends. If you stay into September, you may even catch your first northern lights.

Compensation & Benefits

• $16.00 per hour — a strong Alaskan wage
• 40 guaranteed hours per week, with overtime frequently available
• Season runs from summer through fall — one of the longest programs available
• Staff housing available on or near property
• Discounted employee meals and access to the staff dining room
• Employee discounts on tours, activities and Holland America excursions
• Real culinary training and a U.S. reference for your CV
• Daily English practice in an international, English-speaking team

What We’re Looking For

• University students aged 18–25 eligible for the Work & Travel USA J-1 program
• Conversational English communication skills
• Ability to stand for long shifts and lift up to 20 kg
• Comfortable working early mornings, evenings, weekends and holidays
• Team-oriented, punctual, clean and detail-focused
• Previous kitchen experience is a plus, but not required — we train you
• A positive attitude and genuine excitement for adventure

Ready for the Adventure of a Lifetime?

Positions in Denali fill quickly every season — Alaska is one of the most requested Work & Travel destinations in the USA. Apply today and spend your summer earning great money, sharpening real culinary skills, and living inside a postcard.