Summer Jobs with the National Parks Service

Are you looking for a summer job that will be exciting and adventuresome as well as put some cash in your back pocket? National Park jobs let you live and play in some of the most amazing places on the planet. Mountains, desert, seacoast, lakeshore, wildlife, geysers, glaciers and more. A summer job could turn into a lifelong passion.

Acadia National Park, Maine and Bar Harbor, Maine: The Acadia corporation is currently seeking staff to provide visitor services for the park as well as gift shops and restaurants. The season starts in May and runs through late October and your availability greatly affects your chances of employment. A positive attitude and commitment to excellent customer service is a mandatory of this job but you should be prepared to have fun and enjoy the great outdoors. Work weeks are from 36-48 hours and 5-6 days per week with anything beyond 40 counted as overtime at time and a half. You should be prepared to work weekends and holidays and next expect advanced time scheduled off. Housing near the park is available for $97 per week which includes prepared meals. The employees who are happiest here are those who enjoy outdoor activities more than nightlife.

Admiralty Island, Alaska: The island is a 955,000 acres in southeast Alaska and the Tongass National Forest hires a number of temporary positions each season which runs from April to September. The largest need is for forestry aids/technicians, biological science aids/technicians, laborers and guides although there may be other open positions. Seasonal positions have ranging salaries and include a cost of living allowance.

Death Valley National Park, California and Nevada: The park consists of more than 3.3 million acres of desert scenery, wildlife, undisturbed wilderness and history. The park contains the lowest point in the Western hemisphere, Badwater, at 282 feet below sea level and is matched in it's breathtaking beauty by Telescope Peak at 11,049 feet above sea level. The Furnace Creek Resort located with in the park is an oasis amidst the sand and offers seasonal employment May to October. For those that love the outdoors this resort has it all. Employees can use the tennis courts, swimming pool and golf course at no charge as well as horseshoes, volleyball, horseback riding and swimming.

Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona: The Grand Canyon Lodge, the only in park lodging at the North rim. The North Rim is the "other side" of the park and is less visited but just as stunning. The work is similar to that at a high quality resort but the privilege of living and working in the park is unmatched. Employees will be expected to exert high quality work as well as high moral fiber. Scheduling fluctuates throughout the season and hours average 40-48 per week and shifts can start at any hour of the day or night and may include split shifts.

Mount Ranier National Park, Washington: The park is currently only seeking volunteers but after a extreme rainstorm they are in dire need of help. In November, 18 inches of rain fell on the park in a mere 36 hours thus leaving the park devastated. You can volunteer some time at this beautiful park and enjoy the view while you help clean up a historic park.

There are many other jobs to be found working in a national park this summer. If you love the great outdoors and would enjoy spending countless hours in the beauty of nature, then this may be a job for you.