• LAVA Moderator: Shinji Ikari

Anybody worked for the National Park Service?

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Bluelight Crew
Joined
Sep 19, 2006
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I'm interested in working outdoors, preferably for the government in a large National or State Park. I'm mostly looking for opinions or first-hand experience from people that have this experience. I wouldn't mind making this a life-long thing, so any type of position is a possibility.

Or, if you know of any other outdoorsy jobs, let me know!
 
I'm not so much into the social aspect, ala leading tours or being a Ranger.

Perhaps I should be looking for organic farming jobs or something of that nature.
 
and then there is this article in the New York Times!: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/06/us/06farmers.html

Yes: Being outdoors! Not having to own the land! Not having to pay for room & board! Not having to pay back college loans! Doing something honest and seeing the fruits of your labor!

I think I may be onto something here folks...
 
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man living amongst nature would be nice
much more of an adventure then the grey streets of the city
do you think you would ever miss the city though?
the transport systems, the availability of food, the people?
 
I think some of the cities on the Pacific Northwest coast of America can offer both: Portland, Seattle, Eugene, specifically.

I love the sociability of a big city, and the ability to walk everywhere, and the beautiful women.

I don't know what I'm doing :o
 
You'll need at least a bachelor's degree in park management, natural history, forestry, outdoor recreation or a related environmental field for a full-time entry-level position as a park ranger. Prior to that, and you'll need to have worked for two to five years as a seasonal (part-time) ranger.

I wanted to have a job with the park service years ago, as a on horse back ranger, but with 2 little kids at the time, it was out of my reach. Its a great job tho.
 
I was an intern for the Forest Service back in '05, and asked about this topic. As others have said, it's not easy to obtain a position, and the Park Service is harder to get into than the Forest Service. For such salaried jobs, a good place to start is USAJobs:

http://www.usajobs.opm.gov/

That said, there are plenty of other ways to get into outdoor work; my own internship was through the SCA, which employs plenty of people of all ages. If you have the qualifications, such a job is a good way to test the waters, so to speak, and I know I'm only touching the surface of the work possibilities out there.
 
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