Prep Cook
Cook Up an Alaskan Summer at Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge
Imagine starting your shift with a view of the Nenana River canyon and finishing your day watching the midnight sun glow over the tundra. HAP Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge is looking for energetic international students to join its kitchen team as a Prep Cook for the Summer to Fall season. If you love food, teamwork, and the outdoors, this is the Work & Travel USA adventure you’ve been dreaming about.
About the Location
Located at the doorstep of Denali National Park & Preserve in Alaska, the lodge sits in one of the most spectacular wilderness areas on the planet. Denali is home to North America’s tallest peak, grizzly bears, moose, caribou and wolves. On your days off you can hike alpine trails, go whitewater rafting, take a flightseeing tour over the glaciers, ride an ATV through the backcountry, or simply relax in the buzzing seasonal village of Glitter Gulch, where hundreds of international students live and work every summer. The friendships you make here last a lifetime.
Your Responsibilities
- Washing, peeling, chopping and portioning fresh vegetables, fruits, meats and seafood
- Preparing sauces, soups, salads, dressings and other menu items following recipes
- Assisting line cooks and chefs during busy breakfast, lunch and dinner services
- Labeling, dating, rotating and storing products according to food safety standards
- Keeping workstations, coolers and equipment clean, organized and sanitized
- Receiving deliveries and helping with inventory and stock rotation
- Supporting the kitchen team wherever an extra pair of hands is needed
What You Get
- $16.00 per hour with approximately 40 hours per week
- Overtime opportunities during peak season (paid according to US law)
- Affordable employer-arranged housing and employee meal options
- Employee discounts on tours, rail excursions and lodge activities
- Real experience in a large American hospitality operation for your CV
- A multicultural team and an unbeatable national park location
Requirements
- Full-time university student aged 18–25 eligible for the J-1 Work & Travel USA program
- Conversational English communication skills
- Ability to stand for long shifts and lift up to 15–20 kg
- Reliable, punctual, hygienic and comfortable in a fast-paced kitchen
- Willingness to work early mornings, evenings, weekends and holidays
- Previous kitchen experience is a plus, but not required – training is provided
- Availability from Summer through Fall (late season availability preferred)
Note: This position does not include tips.
Alaska’s summer is short and legendary. Grab your knife roll, pack your hiking boots and apply now for the Prep Cook position at HAP Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge – spots fill fast!
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.
