About the employer
HAP Copper River Princess Wilderness Lodge is part of Holland America Princess Alaska (HAP Alaska – Yukon), the largest tour operator in Alaska and the Yukon. It sits in Copper Center, Alaska, a community of about 450 people, four hours east of Anchorage and two hours north of Valdez, on a bluff above the Copper and Klutina Rivers with views of the Wrangell-St. Elias mountains.
The positions are Cook and Housekeeping. Your focus is excellent guest service and a safe place to work and live. Many locations offer overtime, bonuses and second jobs, and the referral program pays up to $400 for every person you refer.
Prep Cook
General information
Job duties
- Performs a variety of entry-level dishwashing tasks
- Routinely cleans, washes and stores food and beverage service items, equipment, and the kitchen area
- Keeps all kitchen areas, equipment, machines, etc. clean, sanitized and organized during individual shift
- Assists all cooks and chefs as necessary
- Assists in daily cleaning and sanitation duties
- Maintains clean and safe work area
- Maintains cleanliness of all kitchen and dining room materials
- Follows all machine cleaning procedures
- Works in designated station set by the Location Chef / Sous Chef
- Assists all cooks in daily preparation of menu items
- May periodically train new employees or staff from other departments
- Complies with all health and safety codes in handling and storage of all food products and kitchen equipment
Housing
Details
Trade Your Textbooks for a Chef’s Knife in the Alaskan Wilderness
Imagine starting your shift with a view of the Wrangell–St. Elias mountains, glaciers glinting in the distance and the Copper River rushing below. At HAP Copper River Princess Wilderness Lodge in Copper Center, Alaska, you won’t just get a summer job – you’ll get a summer story worth telling for the rest of your life.
We’re looking for energetic university students to join our kitchen team as Prep Cooks. If you love food, thrive in a fast-paced environment and want to spend your Work & Travel USA summer surrounded by some of the most spectacular scenery on the planet, this is your position.
What You’ll Be Doing
- Washing, peeling, chopping and portioning fresh vegetables, fruits, meats and seafood
- Preparing sauces, soups, salads, dressings and cold appetizers following recipes and chef instructions
- Assisting line cooks and chefs during busy breakfast, lunch and dinner services
- Labeling, dating and properly storing all prepared ingredients
- Maintaining a clean, organized and safe kitchen and prep station
- Following all health, hygiene and food-safety standards
- Helping with deliveries, stock rotation and inventory support
What We’re Looking For
- University students aged 18–25 eligible for the Work & Travel USA program (J-1 visa)
- Conversational English and a friendly, team-first attitude
- Willingness to work early mornings, evenings, weekends and holidays
- Ability to stand for long shifts and lift up to 20 kg
- Reliability, punctuality and a strong work ethic – no prior kitchen experience required, just enthusiasm to learn
- Comfortable living in a remote, nature-focused location with limited nightlife (but unlimited adventure)
Ready for the Last Frontier?
Positions at Alaska’s Princess Wilderness Lodges fill quickly every season. Apply early, secure your spot, and spend your summer cooking, exploring and growing in one of the most beautiful places on Earth.
Why choose HAP Copper River Princess Wilderness Lodge
Why Copper Center, Alaska?
Copper Center sits at the gateway to Wrangell–St. Elias National Park – the largest national park in the United States, six times the size of Yellowstone. During your free time you can hike to glaciers, go river rafting, spot moose, bears and bald eagles, photograph the midnight sun and watch the first northern lights appear as autumn arrives.
You’ll live and work alongside international students and Americans from across the country, building friendships that stretch far beyond one summer. Weekend trips to Valdez, Anchorage and the Kennecott Mines are a rite of passage for our seasonal team.
About Alaska
Alaska is the ultimate Work & Travel adventure - glaciers, Denali, midnight sun and untouched wilderness. Most students work in remote lodges, national-park resorts and on tour boats, earning some of the highest summer wages in the country.
More offers from HAP Copper River Princess Wilderness Lodge
Room Attendant @ HAP Copper River Princess Wilderness Lodge
