Prep Cook
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
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.
Position Details & Benefits
- Pay: $16.00 per hour
- Hours: 40 hours per week, with overtime opportunities during peak weeks
- Season: Summer to Fall
- Business type: Hospitality – a well-known lodge operated by a major travel brand
- Employee housing and meal options available on or near property
- Real culinary experience in a high-volume professional kitchen
- Valuable U.S. hospitality reference for your CV
- Employee activity discounts and staff events
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.
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.
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