National Park Ranger Jobs
Have you always dreamed of being a park ranger?
How would you like the opportunity to live, work and play in
national parks like
Grand Canyon,
Yosemite,
Yellowstone
or the Great Smoky Mountains?
Maybe a national seashore like
Gulf Islands
or Cape Hatteras?
If you’re a history buff, sites like
Gettsyburg,
Shiloh
or Valley Forge
might be more to your liking.
Take your pick. The
National Park Service manages nearly 400 different sites from Alaska
to the Virgin Islands, from Maine to Hawaii to Guam.
Well, what are you waiting for?
With 44% of the federal workforce reaching retirement eligibility in
the next five years, the
National Park
Service (NPS) — like all
Yes, a serious problem for the National Park Service but a great
opportunity for you to fulfill your dream of an exciting Park Ranger
career with the National Park Service.
We’re confident that Park Ranger Careers has everything you need to
successfully land a Park Ranger job.
So grab a cup of coffee, get comfortable, and spend some time exploring Park Ranger Careers. And come back often to see what’s new. We’re always growing our lists of helpful Park Ranger job resources and links
So What Exactly Does a Park Ranger Do?
Good question. A good park ranger is a
jack of all trades and can shift gears on the fly.
First of all, you have to understand that there are two types of
park ranger jobs: law enforcement rangers and interpretive
rangers. The job descriptions and required qualifications are
very different.
Interpretive park rangers are America’s professional storytellers.
They are talented communicators trained to educate and inform the
public about the special resources that have been entrusted to the
care of the National Park Service. Interpretive park ranger
jobs may involve working in visitor centers, giving tours of
historic sites, leading campfire programs and nature hikes, or
making classroom visits.
Law enforcement park rangers (also called protection rangers) are federally commissioned law enforcement officers with the authority to carry a weapon, make arrests for violations of federal laws and regulations, conduct investigations and testify on behalf of the government in federal court.
Other duties frequently performed by law enforcement park rangers
include:
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First response or EMT duties at accident scenes.
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Performing First Aid.
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Search and rescue operations.
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Wildland firefighting.
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Safety/accident prevention.
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Providing security for special events.
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Visitor protection and education.
The park ranger's job really varies depending on the type of park
you’re stationed in. For instance, the park ranger experience
at Yellowstone will be much different than the park ranger
experience at Statue of Liberty.
To get an idea of what park rangers are doing,
take a look at the NPS Morning Report, aka the Ranger Report.
You don’t have to be a tree hugger to get a park ranger job.
If you’re more of a city person, you may find your dream job at one
of the memorials on the Mall in D.C., Statue of Liberty in New York
City, the Arch in St. Louis. There are lots of urban national
park sites, especially on the east coast.
To learn more about the
National Park Service and the approx. 400 sites they administer,
visit their website at http://www.nps.gov/.
“National parks are the home of our history, dyed in our blood, warmed by our hopes, inspired by our accomplish-ments. Memories of who we were, knowledge of who we are, and dreams of who we can hope to become.” ~ Nevada Barr
Articles: Park Ranger Jobs
A Word About Law Enforcement Training
What Kind of College Degree Do I Need for a Park Ranger Job?
Requirements for Entry-Level Park Ranger Jobs
Health Insurance for Seasonal Park Employees
Maximum Entry Age for Law Enforcement Park Rangers
3000 New Seasonal Park Ranger Jobs!
Remembering Park Ranger Kris Eggle
