Theodore Roosevelt Medora Foundation

Work & Travel USA: Kitchen Crew at the Theodore Roosevelt Medora Foundation

Imagine waking up to golden sunrises over the North Dakota Badlands, spending your day in a busy, energetic kitchen with a team of students from around the world, and finishing your shift with a cowboy sunset, live music and the smell of grilled steak in the air. That’s a summer in Medora, North Dakota — one of the most iconic and welcoming Work & Travel destinations in the United States.

The Theodore Roosevelt Medora Foundation is a legendary non-profit organization that keeps the spirit of the American West alive. Every summer, thousands of visitors come to Medora for the famous Medora Musical, the Pitchfork Steak Fondue, and the breathtaking Theodore Roosevelt National Park. As part of the Kitchen Crew, you’ll be right at the center of it all.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Assisting cooks and chefs with food preparation: chopping, portioning, mixing and plating
• Preparing salads, sides, sandwiches, breakfast items and desserts to recipe standards
• Operating basic kitchen equipment (grills, fryers, ovens, slicers) after full training
• Keeping work stations clean, organized and compliant with U.S. food safety and sanitation standards
• Receiving, storing and rotating deliveries and stock
• Washing dishes, pots and utensils as part of a rotating team schedule
• Supporting the team during high-volume service for buffets, banquets and special events

Position Details

• Employer: Theodore Roosevelt Medora Foundation
• Position: Kitchen Crew / Cook Assistant
• Location: Medora, North Dakota, USA
• Pay Rate: $14.52 per hour
• Hours: approximately 35 hours per week (extra hours often available in peak season)
• Season: Summer to Fall
• Tips: Not applicable for this position

Why Medora?

Medora is a small historic Western town with a huge personality. Population? Just over 100 year-round residents. Visitors each summer? More than 300,000. That means a lively, festival-like atmosphere all season long, combined with the safety and friendliness of a tight-knit community.

On your days off you can hike and spot wild bison, horses and prairie dogs in Theodore Roosevelt National Park, go horseback riding, play mini-golf, ride the Medora Gravity Slide, watch the world-famous Medora Musical under the open sky, or join the international student crew for BBQs, bonfires and road trips. Many students travel on to Mount Rushmore, Yellowstone and Chicago after the season ends.

What You Get

• Competitive hourly wage of $14.52 with reliable weekly paychecks
• Employer-arranged housing options in a student-friendly community
• Full paid training — no professional cooking experience required
• Real U.S. hospitality and culinary experience for your CV
• An international team and friendships that last a lifetime
• Employee discounts and access to Medora attractions and events
• The chance to extend into the Fall season and travel afterwards

Who We’re Looking For

• University students aged 18–25 eligible for the J-1 Work & Travel USA program
• Conversational English and a positive, can-do attitude
• Reliable, punctual and ready to work as part of a team
• Physically able to stand for long shifts and lift up to 20 kg
• Comfortable working evenings, weekends and holidays in a fast-paced kitchen
• Previous kitchen experience is a plus — but enthusiasm matters more

Ready to trade lecture halls for the Wild West? Apply now for the Kitchen Crew position with the Theodore Roosevelt Medora Foundation and make this the summer you’ll talk about for years.