Any Park Rangers out there?

[JLiz]

I'm currently a high school biology teacher but am seriously considering a career change to park ranger (interpretation).

If any of you work for the park system, please give me the pros and cons of the job from your perspective. Also, any tips you have for the application process would be great. Finally, do you think it would be more advantageous to take an entry level/ seasonal position (and thus a pay cut) to get a "foot in the door" or get a master's in something like forest resource management while still teaching in order to qualify for a high gs level?

 

[RangerPooh]

I thinki that it really depends on where you would like to work and what the hiring commitee is looking for. A teacher that I had back in high school spent her summers (and a few years following retirement) working for both Yosemite NP and Pinnacles NM as an interpretive ranger. I'm not sure what her degree was in, but she taught hs history.

While in college I worked as a seasonal inetrpreter for the Ca State Parks. My undergrad majors wer eForestry, Natural Resources, and Environmental Studies. Today I have a Masters degree in Teaching (Elm. Ed.). Many of the individuals that I worked with were certified teachers, so it isn't a hard stretch. I have considered returning to inetrpretation but the majority of positions are only seasonal, and as I have a family relocation isn't always feasable.

Where are you looking to work? National Parks, State Parks, County Parks, BLM, USF&W? I would ask around HR and see what they are looking for. Read a variety of the job requirements pertaining to education as well. From what I ahve seen they usually require a background in science with experience in teaching, which you have. Also some agencies like the Ca State Parks do have exams that need to be passed to advance to the next level or to be considered for the position. Plus having a Masters degree certainly won't hurt as it does boost you GS potential.

 

[JLiz]

I'd like to get into the federal system, rather than state parks. I'm open to any geographical area but would prefer the Southwest.

One of the things that draws me to the job is the seasonality of the work. I love the idea of moving around and seeing so many different parts of the country. I don't have any children, so I don't need to worry about uprooting them.