I'm going to be stationed on a tower that gets a bunch of visitors. In the past, ways I have entertained them (aside from the view) include having a popular hummingbird feeder, and asking the visitor to sit right in front of it wearing a red shirt I kept on hand; also hand-taming the chipmunks; training the jays to eat birdseed out of my ranger hat which the visitor would then don; and blowing car-sized soap bubbles off the catwalk on rainy calm days. I was wondering if anyone else had ideas like these for entertaining and astonishing (especially young) visitors to the lookout.

Since my childhood i want to experience at least once in a lifetime being a fire lookouts. But their is none in Europe and even less in France (wich i live) I was wondering if i still could get a chance, with a work permit, to work in one of those tower?

Hey everybody, like the title says I’m 17 years old. I’m a senior in high school and graduating early (in January) and would love to get into an opportunity for this, as I absolutely love nature. Unfortunately I don’t turn 18 til late July, at which point I go to college in late August.

So I’m wondering,

• is there any way to get a job at 17 years old? Of course paid would be great but at 17 I expect volunteer
• I saw Forest Service USDA has all their jobs at 18 years old, are there other places I should look?
• would i have any chance if I cold called forests? (Wouldn’t mind doing it for hundreds)
• anything else I should know?

Thanks guys

Hello! So I’m 18 just a freshman in college and i’ve been interested in working as a fire technician for a while now specifically the lookout job. However I have a huge problem with this because I legit have no experience in this stuff and I want to build a good resume obviously but also actually get those experiences. I’m trying to get a bachelor’s degree in “Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior” and maybe even minor in marine biology as a backup but I still need to see what career interests I have in that field. I honestly dont feel like I have gone to enough parks in my life, or camped since i was a kid or anything for serious exploration in nature and I feel like a poser. But a career in this just seems so fulfilling.

I guess i would just some input on where i should start and where i should go. What types of experiences should i build? Academically and like in the field and even just for self growth. Am I in an adequate major? Is the unrelated minor a good backup? I have a plan to go to the North Cascades next summer because I love the pacific northwest (with the very little time ive been there) and want to test out if thats the region of the US that i want to focus on and then pick other places from there. I also may have the opportunity to study abroad in Australia where id focus on feild and lab work in both rainforests and the reefs. Im hoping id hone in on what i want there and if that would look like good experience. I think it wojld be super cool to check out the Appalachian trail, maybe even backpack it, never done anything like that before tho. Im wondering if theres stuff i can do on campus? Im at a pretty good college for research so if theres any ideas im sure i have the chance.

Lastly, I have been digging and digging and I just cannot figure out the logistics of this and if its even realistic. I understand how temporary and rare a position in this field is, and I live in the dead midwest so Id probably have to move off to somewhere in the pacific northwest right? What would I do in the winter? If I get the chance to live in a tower, how does that even work? Is rent owed? Does this job actually work as a solid life plan?

I appreciate y’all for reading through all this, and I would love any sort of tips on this situation. Thanks

Hello all!

I have been browsing this community for a while as I've always had a certain love for the idea of being a fire lookout. And now that I just graduated, the time feels right.

I have a decent amount of outdoor and survival experience through things like outward bound, outdoor leadership and survival extra curriculum, and outdoor vounteering experience as well as regular multi day hikes. However, almost none of it is in a formal educational manner as the job listing seems to prefer. And if im being completely honest, a lot of my skills are rusty. I haven't done a lot of the back country stuff since high school almost 5 years ago.

So my question is, I've submitted my application, and I've done my best to express my skills in an honest way. Is their anything I can do to help my chances beyond that?

Thank you for your help!

Hey there!!

I have what is probably a stupid question, but here we go. How do the job duties for a fire lookout work? Like do you just stare at the horizon for eight hours, or can you do hobbies and stuff during your shift? Are you only there to look for fires and talk to visitors, or is there other stuff? I'm just very curious lol.

I was interested in working on a project about fire lookouts and was wondering if any fire lookouts were interested in helping? It's just be some questions for accuracy and maybe cross referencing with their own tower. It's just a little passion project and I wouldn't want to take up too much of anyone's time, but I wanted to ask here just in case.

If this violates anything with the subreddit or is a bit annoying anyway please let me know! This post certainly isn't anything serious (Plus I'm not sure if the flair is correct- if not sorry in advance)

Thank you for reading!

The Forest Service has issued its job announcements for seasonal fire positions for 2025 -- and that includes lookout jobs. There are a bunch of them, all up on USAJobs.gov. Announcements are for both GS-4 and GS-5, but new lookouts should usually expect to be hired at GS-4. Application deadline is November 6.

These listings will comprise the vast majority of lookout job openings for next summer. The Forest Service will likely issue a supplemental announcement later this winter for any unfilled jobs, and there are a very small number of Park Service and BLM lookout jobs that will also be advertised this winter.

I would be interested to spend a summer as a lookout. From what I have seen it is very hard to get a position in the states even as an american. I am swiss, which makes it impossible for me to do it in the states (at least from what I've read). Does anyone know of place where something like this exists for my nationality, preferably in Europe? Thank you in advance

Just seeing if anyone else had any issues filling with unemployment in the past? I’m a Michigan resident but worked in New Mexico with the USFS as a first year lookout. Been trying to collect unemployment since the 17th of September and it’s still pending, waiting on wages from previous employers. Feeling like this might be a lost cause?

A few weeks ago I was trying to find a lookout job opening on usajobs bc I know they come early for a small window. I also looked every once in a while til now. I'm a 21F junior in college (studying ecology) so I got kinda caught up in exams/ assignments. I looked up everything I can think of but nothing comes up (fire technician, lookout, just "fire" and looking through, etc...). Usually just wildland on ground firefighter comes up, but no lookout positions.

I know its soo competitive, but is there another place I can look that may have vacancies? Or am I doing something wrong? Ik a lot of application periods are closing, am I too late? Or could I be too early?

If so is there anything else you could suggest I do over the summer? I applied to ACE and ranger type openings, but finding and applying to these jobs is a nightmare 😭😭

With my first season as a lookout wrapping up, I really wanted to thank the experienced lookouts here for sharing their knowledge and answering all the newbie questions. I probably read over the pinned hiring guide a half dozen times while building up my resume and prepping my application.

Inspired by peace and serenity: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1RKqf2t8xwsI7nvCKO5Wvl?si=99965c603e4e4de7

I'm still in school right now, but when I get out I plan on applying to be a fire lookout. Besides being able to read a map, use a fire finder, and being alone what other skills should I learn

Where can I volunteer as a 17yearold to have more experience so I can work as a lookout at 18

I've tried everything I can think of up until now and still can't find the answers I'm looking for so if there is anyone out there who can help me, it would be greatly appreciated. I am just coming out of high school and want to get a job as a fire lookout and then eventually get into forestry technician/professional and I am confused on how I can get a job as a fire lookout. Whether I need a university or college degree/diploma is still unclear to me and who and where to apply to is also a mystery. I have been told that I need a forestry degree if I want to do it but I've also been told that in Canada (more specifically BC) a degree in forestry/forestry technology has nothing to do with it and I'd need to be going into firefighting territory if i would want to get the job. Can someone please help out a very confused kid, I'd very much appreciate it.

I’m an 19 year old from Texas looking for a job that’s also an escape. I’ve looked into being a fire lookout and it seems like everything I want. I was wondering what job conditions are like and if anyone knew of any job opportunities in Texas or surrounding states.

Does anyone know when I can apply to become a lookout?