Covid, followed by AI basically obliterated my 15 year online business the last few years. I am just completely burnt out on being chronically paid on the internet.

When I was a kid, I worked for my dad's friend during the summers in the woods. They used to do trail maintenance and other woodsy projects in oregon. I absolutely loved it. Surrounded by trees in the middle of nowhere all summer.

I crave just going back to that for a while. I'm even more in shape now than I was back then, so I've been looking into jobs for both national and state parks.

I'm moving to Washington state this year, with no real specific place to call home there yet. Shelton or belfair will probably be my permanent spots, but I want to wander around for a while and see some other places in western wa. I've got plenty of money and will have a mountain more once my house sells so no huge pressure.

So, how do these temp jobs typically work? I know I can't be a park ranger, but I see plenty pop up for things like maintenance. I don't have a formal maintenance background but I'm a quick learner. Do you need to get an apartment nearby? Or is there some kind of lodging? I stayed in concrete washington last year for a week just to escape for a bit and see a bunch of job listing there for parks stuff. What's it like doing these super rural forest service jobs?

Thanks for reading. Sorry if this is a dumb question.

Obviously interp is competitive no matter where you apply, but I’ve heard some things about the Alaska parks. Anyone have any insight or experience when it comes to working/interviewing at like Gates of the Arctic especially? I think it could be a really cool experience but am wondering how competitive it is compared to gs-5 level in the Pac-west region.

I was wondering if any of you guys have switched from accounting to park ranger and if you are happy with your decision. If you regret your decision please feel free to mention that as well. Any input would be very much appreciated

Hey everyone, I am a Park Ranger LE at a Historic Site. I was wondering how I can go about obtaining specialized training and certifying myself in Wildfire, PSAR, EMT, etc... Any others I don't know about? I would like to get all the certifications I can get while performing this great job.

I’m in North Carolina and currently a volunteer firefighter in a rural area going through a community college fire academy. I’m also working toward an associate degree in Public Safety Administration (Fire/Emergency Management). My original plan has been to become a career firefighter, but lately I’ve been looking more into the National Park Service and NC State Parks. I’ve always enjoyed being outdoors, working with my hands, helping people, and being active, so park ranger work has really caught my interest.

My work experience is mostly restaurants and Amazon delivery, along with volunteer firefighting. I don’t have a background in natural resource management or parks, although I recently applied to volunteer with NC State Parks to hopefully start getting some experience.

How difficult would it be to break into the field with my background? I’m especially curious about the difference between getting hired with NC State Parks versus the NPS, and whether an associate degree and volunteer experience would get me anywhere. I’m also wondering about the pay, schedules, and long-term stability. I enjoy firefighting and the shift schedules are appealing, so I’m hesitant to give that up for something that might only be seasonal.

I would appreciate hearing from anyone who made a similar career change or got into park work without a traditional parks or natural resources background.

I've been a state park ranger for almost a decade (my job mostly entails LE, resource management, and interp.)

Long story short, I have kids now and weekends are getting old.

What career fields has anyone had success switching into?

I'm considering maybe environmental compliance?

I've been looking at openings on USAJOBS as I want to get a feel for what requirements I might need for future jobs. I've noticed that all off my searches only cover positions for GS5 and above. Is this normal or am I doing something wrong?

I'm an interpretive ranger. I'm finishing up my season in about two weeks. I want to know what locations to look out for when receiving job offers for 2027. Here are some of the things I'm looking for:

• Close proximity to other rangers
• Things to do after work (hiking, swimming, going into town, etc.)
• Responsive, professional admin people

I've sent out applications to every single seasonal listing that's been posted. I just want to know which places I should consider especially hard once interviews/offers come in. I had fun working in the middle of nowhere this year, but I'd like to find somewhere with a different vibe in 2027.

I saw a ton of jobs posted yesterday for Biotechs, saved 10 of them, and started applying today, but only 6 were still saved. Do you think they already reach their max number of applicants? I was really looking forward to applying for one in particular :/

I was curious if anyone in this community knew when Forest Service seasonal positions were flying for summer 2027?

I tend to not talk about my 2 years of management in the fast food industry in interviews because it feels irrelevant and embarrassing for some reason. The last interview I got second pick because of my "lack of management experience." Aka: I undersold myself. I oversaw full and part time staff. I have plenty of other experience in management in parks and rec, but my FF job was the longest and highest rank I've had. How do I apply this to parks jobs?

Any word on the next round of applications for entry-level NPS LE Rangers?

Anyone hear back from forest service positions that were posted back in August for winter season? I've had a few emails regarding interest. I had a phone call discussing one position last week, but haven't heard word of next steps or an interview. I'm a bit worried. Should I reach back out or give it time? Thank you!

Hi, trying to apply for the new seasonals. Is anyone else having problems with the website?

Hi, I’m a junior in highschool, taking a fire science class in which I will earn multiple certifications and get my EMT senior year, I wanna do wildland for a season after highschool and then become a department firefighter, with that I was curious if YCC is a good fit if I love hiking,working and the outdoors, and what the experience day to day is like, and if I can do it out of state. Would love any feedback!

Yeah, just wondering if employers are actually required to consider such candidates and whether they actually take them seriously. I have disabilities that make it hard for me to be a lawyer (my old job) because I have some brain damage that causes aphasia and acalculia and a bunch of other stuff, and I have to use AI to type things, but I thing I would still be qualified for a bunch of state park jobs with mild accommodation.

Hello everyone!

Currently freaking out over some USAJobs applications for dream parks for next summer. I have a season of experience in interp with a different agency. I’m wondering how important writing a cover letter is for these federal applications. I’ve only written cover letters for a few jobs before and have had success previously without them. Anyone have any pointers for my first NPS applications for gs-5 level interp rangers?

Hey guys, wondering how rangers monitor a park when it's such a massive space. I'm guessing they've got a bunch of sensors and drones, but is it mostly tech or still people walking around? Would love to hear from anyone who knows!

Hey y'all,

I'm a wilderness ranger for the USFS on a GS5/6/7 ladder, making 7 in about a month. I work a 13PP on, 13PP off schedule, and try and find work on my off season, as well as trying to pursue a rangeland management degree. Working 40hrs a week doesn't leave time to take too many classes, which makes FAFSA irrelevant for me. My job gives me a pension and year round healthcare, but again, only paying in 6 months of the year.

Last week I got cold called for a three year GS7 term position in a higher cost of living--albeit very, very cool--town a few hours south of me. The office seems a lot healthier, I'm very intrigued, but my housing costs would go up substantially. Having run the numbers, it's a slight loss of income as I dont expect I'll be getting an overnight perdiem, but I'd finally have some stability in my life--I haven's spent more than six months in one place since 2019 on account of seasonal work, and I'm feeling like Odysseus trying to get back to Ithaca by this point.

Is holding onto a 13/13 a better career move than three or four years with a guaranteed end date?

I am aiming to get an internship with the NPS next season and I was wondering how long it takes to get a permanent position within a park. I want to settle down somewhere and with seasonal work that's hard. I would rather not bounce between park and my parents home every season and off season (No shade to my parents ofc). If it is a multi-year process, what do you do in the off season?

How intensive is the medical exam? I currently have a torn meniscus and a bone bruise along with a cyst in my knee but I am completely able to work my current law enforcement job with another fed agency but I’m a little worried about not passing medical. Any tips? I am going to get a letter from a specialist saying that I am GTG

Heyo! I’m going to be graduating here in a year or so and I’m looking forward into jobs in the Backcountry of Alaska. I don’t mind decently low pay as long as I can sustain myself to rent a small place and buy food.

To give some background, I have a degree in Outdoor Rec and Wilderness Medicine and Rescue. I’ll be graduating with my Wilderness EMT, LNT Level 2, Wildland Fire Certs (S-130 +field day, S-190, and S-180), Sawyer Cert, Part 107 Commercial Drone License, ACE Swiftwater Rescue Cert, 2 years of experience as an Interpretive Ranger, 2 years of experience in Conservation/Trail Design and Building, and a season of Rock Climbing/Caving Guiding.

Does anyone have any input on how they got into the field or any recommendations for how I can carve a path for myself to get there?

I’d love to hear any other peoples stories!

What is your lunch like at your park? How much does that vary across the park system? I have met some who say if scheduled for a 30 minute lunch, they’re lucky to get five minutes by the time they get to heat up their food and eat. They’re stopped by visitors, have a very long walk to the break area, not able to get lunch on time, or at all. They also go without hydrating properly due to limited access to bathrooms. They have strenuous positions, where active in all seasons and weather conditions. Is this normal or just those specific parks?

I need advice.

I’m 27. Graduating w/ my masters in May. Been coaching college ball for the last 3 years. It’s just not what I think I want to do anymore. I’ve always followed school and sports. I want to break out. I’ve been following the safe comfortable option.

Anyway. I feel old. I’ve been snooping on this subreddit for a while. Getting to be a park ranger and working my way up seems to start w/ seasonal gigs. Which is fine but I feel too old for that. It feels too unstable.

I just need some advice. How can I get to work in the outdoors in this sector ? Any other paths I’m missing ?

I feel strongly about this sector and working in the outdoors. Park ranger has been on my mind for awhile. Part of my masters degree has been in outdoor leadership as well if that makes any difference. No science background though.

Is it competitive ? What are the steps to make my way up ?

I don’t want to move around my whole life across the country. I’m feeling ready to settle. I’ve lived in 4 different states in the last 8 years.

Just need any advice from yall. Thanks !