Working in a National Park
By Sherril Steele-Carlin
Living in a place that most people only get to visit is one of the many rewards of working in a national park. On your way to work in the morning you might walk through a forest of ponderosa pine (yes, they really DO smell like vanilla!) or a grove of aspen. After work you might sit on the rim of the Grand Canyon and watch the ravens turn cartwheels overhead, or go fishing in a cold mountain lake in the Grand Tetons. You'll meet people from all over the world, and make friendships that could last a lifetime.
There really is no "typical" park employee. Jobs run the gamut from cleanup and labor to history lecturer and naturalist. There are jobs for all levels of education and background, from working for a park concessionaire (such as a hotel or tour operator), to working with the National Park Service or the Forest Service. Some jobs are only seasonal, some year-round.
Living conditions also vary. Seasonal employees may live in dormitories and share a room with one or two other employees. Long-term employees at higher levels often live in apartments or single-family homes. A few employees bring their housing with them, and live in their own trailers or motor homes while they work in the park.
Don't expect palatial quarters when you're living in a park! Most dorm rooms are small, and all rooms share a common bathroom. Few Parks have accommodations for families or pets. Most workers are single or couples. There are some accommodations for couples, but not as many as for single workers.
In urban parks, like many on the East Coast, employees will work in the park during the day, and provide their own room and board. These smaller parks often hire fewer employees, but still offer opportunities to begin your career in a national park.
Most parks have some kind of concessionaire. Lodging, restaurants, gift shops, and tour operations in the parks are all provided by concessionaires who bid for the privilege to do business in the parks. For example, in Grand Canyon National Park, the lodges, restaurants, gift shops, bus and mule tours, trailer park, and gas stations are run by Grand Canyon National Park Lodges, an Amfac Company. There are a few other concessionaires who also do business in the park, like the air tour companies who fly over the park in planes and helicopters, and the river tour companies who run raft trips down the Colorado River. So you see, there are a wide variety of jobs available for someone interested in working in the parks. All these companies require support personnel, as well as tour guides, drivers, pilots, and other more specialized skills.
Each park offers its own unique housing and employment opportunities. Some parks may offer trail rides or horseback riding. If you have skills with animals you could be a mule wrangler or horseback trail guide. Chances are, if you have a special skill or interest, you can find a park where it will fit in.
Oh, did I mention you'll work hard? The reason parks hire so many people during their tourist season is because a LOT of people visit the parks all at once! You'll be very busy cleaning rooms, serving meals, checking in hundreds of guests, or leading large groups on hikes and walks. You'll earn your salary, that's for sure! Most all the parks are extremely busy and crowded during the season, and you'll work very hard. The good news is, you can play right where you live on your days off!
