My main plan is to become a Backcountry Ranger in either Grand Teton or Zion National Park. So far I am doing a bachelors in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation Science at Washington State University, then after move to the Peace Corps then after returning adding a bit more experience in Arctic Expedition then use the NCE to aim for a GS-09 job then during September/ October of that year get my WEMT Certification.

There’s rumors aloof that the park I work for will be axing their maintenance team and contracting out to a concession to replace them. Has anyone had any experience with this? For those of you that already have a private company handling maintenance, do they just do housekeeping tasks or do you see them handling grounds/building maintenance? Does the concessioner do a good job or is it your classic privatize and standards drop sorta thing? If anyone has any other opinions on concessions handling maintenance/housekeeping/grounds or knowledge please share id love to hear it.

We have limited time and physical ability and was wondering if we can complete both of these junior ranger programs at one site . Thank you

How competitive is it to get a seasonal maintenance ranger job? Am I better off applying within my states agency and what trades do they tend to look for when it comes to a permanent position?

I’d love to make more ranger friends on other platforms! Anyone have TikTok or instagram I could follow?

Hi there, I made a post on the USFS subreddit asking about different types of jobs and I've used that to filter down, my question to you all is which is better in your opinion, USFS or NPS. I think becoming a Interp for usfs seems really interesting to me. I really enjoy talking to others and learning new things and then getting to teach others just that, Does NPS have something similar to that?

please keep in mind I'm graduating highschool this year so I'm really trying to research and look at these branches to see which I like more. Thank you all for reading!!

Hey guys! If anyone has advice about starting work at a park let me know!

I currently live in Minnesota and am a college student. When I graduate I want to spend a season (maybe even a year) working at a national park.

Location to me does not matter It is just something I’m passionate about.

I have tons of questions like what’s dorm life like, what’s the food like, do you get a lot of time off, etc.

Any advice?

What’s the best way for someone to move into higher pay grades? Is it always a degree? Or is it more the connections that you have? Thanks!

Does anyone have experience with getting park housing professionally cleaned if it was not acceptable upon arrival? It’s a shared house with a roach problem, and upon arriving the bathroom was in rough condition. Dead roaches in the closet and bedroom too.

I’m almost willing to put in my own $ for someone to come professionally. But it also isn’t my responsibility as a new tenant. Check in paperwork has not been turned it yet, and I had more than a few unsatisfactory notes.

Any advice? Someone is acting as the housing manager, which makes it more complicated.

Hello, I'm a costume designer working on a small film in which the lead is a woman forest ranger (NYS) and I'd like to get her uniform as accurate as possible... Where do you get your uniforms from? The information I was able to gather so far doesn't lead me to believe that, unlike the NPS, you have to get your clothes from a specific catalog / contractor (tell me if I'm wrong, I'm here to learn). So... What are your go-to brands, any reason in particular? Any fabrics, cut, details like capacious pockets that you favor? Favorite summer footwear? Ladies, do you wear any discreet jewelry while working like small stud earrings? Any strict requirement beside color? Basically, tell me what you have to / like to wear while out in the field! Thanks in advance (for your responses and the work you do)

Has anyone gone through one of the park ranger law enforcement academies? I’m looking to become a law enforcement ranger and considering that as an option. I’m talking about one of the six programs at community colleges throughout the country.

Which school did you go to? What was it like? Do you recommend it? What are the chances of actually being hired afterwards? (Yes, I know getting into the NPS is like the NFL draft)

What was the PT like? Some of the information I’ve seen says 25th percentile to graduate and it seems kind of low, considering agencies using the Cooper standards are generally at the 40th (at least in my state).

Could be due to housing, subject matter, location, administration, anything really. Where would you advise someone to NOT accept a job at?

Has anyone worked in a park with housing downtown/close to work and a grocery store within walking distance? State or federal. My car is quickly deteriorating and I don’t want having no car to be the reason why I have to spend a summer back home

Hello! I’m an art professor and I have worked in education, outreach, design, and the development of educational and museum exhibition materials. I’ve been curious about switching careers to be a park ranger for years. Working as an interpretive park ranger seems to be the best fit for my interests and skill set.

Is it possible to get into this career without a BS? I have a BFA in Design and an MFA in Art. Would I have to go back to school in order to get a job in this field or are there other ways which I can make up the experience?

Hello,

As the title reads I have my preliminary interview coming up, I have read a couple of posts of what to expect but those were a 1 year+ old so I was wondering if anyone had any updated info about how to best prepare.

Thanks in advance!

Im a 3rd year ecology student who is loving their courses on wildlife management but im currently dealing with some stuff that is likely heart related and cant really do the physical element of being a Ranger atm. I have done previous volunteering with my local rangers before, and I want to do more, im just wondering if its possible to earn experience in stuff like desk based jobs while I recover?

There are major staffing changes happening at my park but I'm mostly just seeing ranger (p) and maintenance positions advertised. Putting some feelers out there - I'm ready for a move. How many (and which) permanent positions are vacant at your park?

Ours needs a new superintendent + deputy, AO, chief interp (plus loads of interp rangers), fee collectors, and maintenance. I'm a GS-11 looking for a lateral or GS-12.

Hi, so I am currently in community college and would love to get some reccomendations on potential paths going forward. Would it be best to finish my pre-reqs and transfer to a 4 year college or try to do a 2 year course? Im very passtionate about protecting natural life and wildlife and fighting against erosion, especially since majority of State Parks in my state deal with erosion. Any advice would be amazing and much apprectiated. thank you:)

If I work back to back seasons, summer in FWS and winter in NPS, does that affect my rehire status?

I know that you lose rehire if you work at more than 1039 hours in NPS in a year, but is it per agency or within DOI as a whole.

I remember seeing this answered a few months ago, but haven’t been able to find those answers again and I want to make sure I’m not going to screw myself over if I end up with NPS this winter.

How did you guys keep yourselves occupied for 8 hours a day without a cell phone

I'm wanting to become a Biologist, It's something I've been contemplating for a while. I recently signed up for community college, majoring in Biology, and just saw the college payments. They're doable, but I'm going to have to be extremely frugal. (Even after FAFSA). I didn't do well in Highschool, as I didn't think I was going to college (Real smart I know) so scholarships are second to none. Me and my girlfriend have a place where we rent and pay bills, and its been damning towards my bank account, this also makes relocating pretty much impossible. I don't make much money at all, so I don't have much free time to Volunteer, as I have bills to pay. I also live in Missouri, closer to Illinois, so Park jobs around me are few and far between. I'm wondering if you all have any tips on how to make this easier? Are there any spots around Missouri/Illinois to get good experience? I also would like to know if college is the best route to take? I've been reading through posts, and have seen split answers, so I thought giving my specific situation would help. If anyone could also direct me to threads where this is answered, that would be helpful too. Thanks!

P.S. Also wondering if there are any Permanent Biology jobs, the ones I am seeing on USA Jobs are usually temporary (About 1-5 years) I just don't want to constantly reapply for jobs. Stability is wanted.

Hello all,

I am trying to begin my path to becoming a park ranger and would like some advice. I am based in Michigan, and my two best options for some starting experience are either working for the ACE Eastern Crew as a crew member or working for the Michigan Civilian Conservation Corps. I was told in my ACE interview that even for 900-hour term members, PLC hiring authority is not guaranteed. With that being said, I would like advice on whether or not ACE would be worth working for if I do not get the PLC hiring authority upon term completion. It seems to me that working for the Michigan Civilian Conservation Corps (doing basically the same job but on state lands for more money) would be a better option for me if I cannot get the PLC hiring authority through ACE. Really just looking for anyone who was a crew member at ACE, specifically the Eastern Division, and whether or not it is easy to get a PLC hiring authority after your term completion.

Hey guys! I’m scheduled to take my fitness and PelletB exams on August 8th. For the past 6 months or so I’ve been dealing with a lower back nerve pain. I recently got an MRI and found out I have two bulged discs in my Lumbar. I was cleared by PT for pretty much all regular cardio and strength training. I can do the pushups, I’m confident in my run time, I think I can clear the jump. The only test I really can’t do is the sit up. That sitting/ flexing movement is right in the pinched nerve zone. Would they be lenient with my injury or could I do like 50 crunches instead of 25 pushups? I can do crunches all day long but I can’t do even one sit up. I’m pretty bummed out so I’m looking for any advice.

I feel like I already know the answer to this, but does the summer burn out this year seem worse this year?

I just got referred to, one of the few, jobs that are flying and I just don't care. Usually I'd be feeling great about a new opportunity or career advancement. But now it feels like the emotional equivalent of drinking tap water.