https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/5995?s=1&r=8

Please contact your member of the House of Representatives and ask them to cosponsor HR 5995 - the Federal Retirement Fairness Act.

This feels like a long shot, but I've got to ask. I'm seeking any opportunity to learn first-hand what it's actually like to be a ranger, and was wondering if any opportunities exist (official or unofficial) to shadow folks working in the parks. That, or some kind of short-term volunteer stint that might accomplish the same sort of exposure.

I'm currently a few years into a career in Public Relations and don't really see myself continuing on this path. I've always been interested in the possibility of working for the NPS - I tell people it's my retirement plan. It's starting to feel increasingly silly to put that dream off while I have a clear interest in it, but I'm hesitant to take a bold leap into the unkown. I can see how my working experiences and personal interests would directly plug into working in a park, but doing so would mean major changes in location and East Coast, major city lifestyle.

In May I will be within relatively close proximity to Yellowstone, Grand Teton, Arches, or Canyonlands, and would be willing to extend that trip for up to a week for any opportunity to shadow/volunteer/help alleviate short staffing. Heck, I'd make anything in those surrounding states work (WY, MT, UT, CO, OR, WA). Any way to get a glimpse into what it's all about and gauge the reality of it.

I'm a pretty competent person and could pitch in all sorts of ways. Totally willing to "work" full days to get a real sense of it.

Anyone know of programs to look into or people to speak with? Any leads or introductions would be greatly appreciated.

I realize a week is a short amount of time, but maybe someone out there can empathize with being curious about another career path while working another full-time job.

I was looking into NPSpecies during my position with NPS last summer and the park unit I was at hadn't had an update in around 7 years. Looking at other units many don't have any listed (such as history focused units) or also aren't up to date.

The reason I ask is that I wanted to create a map of the data from NPSpecies but I'm wondering if I should bother making it update automatically or manually, especially if the data only gets a few new entries each year

I currently work under DHS and I’m interviewing for an admin position with NPS. My spouse is active duty military and clearly we will have to move every so often. Is this a career that is transferable to other locations with any reliability or will it be a pretty unstable situation to try to get into this while he’s active duty?

"Attention: When you see "Applicants have not been referred to the hiring manager at this time for position GS-0025-5/7" below, this means that hiring managers haven't requested a certificate of eligible for that particular location at this time. Once we get a request for those location(s), you will be notified."

The Hell does thus even mean? Should I move on assuming I won't be refered or are they just saying wait a little longer?

Howdy all. Does anyone know if the ‘in effigy’ documentary from the common learning portal is publicly available anywhere? Not currently working as a fed so I no longer have access to the CLP, but really want to be able to share the film with folks. Thanks!

I graduated from MTU in the spring of 2022, and since then I have wanted nothing more than to move back to Houghton. I love backpacking and honestly think that working on Isle Royale would be a perfect job for me. I've actually checked the USA jobs website occasionally over the past few years, and I've never seen any listings open there. Do you just have to know someone to get in?

Hi, a woman in the campground of the park I work at brought in a kitten she found by the side of the road and was wondering if any of the rangers wanted it, or knew someone who would treat it well.

We've been joking about getting a cat for the Vistor Center because we have a big mouse problem. The superintendent is all for it except that the VC is a federal building.

Does anyone have any idea how we can "hire" the cat and have it live in our VC?

Pretty straight forward with the title, but I have been getting an increasing drive to work at National Parks, specifically as a park ranger. My hang up is that I don't have any sort of nature based job experience; most of my work experience is in the food service and retail industries and my degree is in the arts. I'm kind of worried I need to go back to school for different degree before I can even be considered for a job like that.

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Any advice for someone in my position? Tips for navigating the application/hiring process? Anything helps at this point really.

Hi, has anyone applied for a position and the position has been cut right before the start date? A few days ago I was offered a position at a national monument and I of course accepted. Today I get an email saying that the position was terminated indefinitely which has me extremely bummed. It was an internship which I can understand can lose funding but I was supposed to leave Oct 10th… just extremely disappointed and wondering if anyone else has had this issue before :’(

Anyone else applying, and applying, and applying, and....only to hear nothing back? If another week goes by, I can't even accept one if I am offered a position because I won't have to make the proper arrangements. NPS WHERE ARE YOU?

Have any of you ever gone on a detail or have done a temp position? What for? Did it help you move up? Did you enjoy it?

I’m going to Grand Teton National Park in September, but I’m flying into Bozeman and have to go through Yellowstone the Saturday of Labor Day Weekend. I will be using the west entrance to the park with a prepaid pass. What time should I be at the gate in the morning to avoid more than a 20 minute lineup to enter? Is 6:30 or 7 am sufficient or should I be there even earlier? Thanks!

Hey ya'll! I got my PLC certificate from an internship with the NPS. This was my first exposure to the Park Service. I am trying to apply for a job that is PLC eligible, but part of the application requires "Merit Promotion Eligibility documentation" such as an "SF-50". Because I haven't actually been employed by the NPS yet, what should I put for this section? I reached out to my PLC coordinator but he was unsure.

Hi I have an NPS Ranger Interview coming up and wanted to know some thing to prepare for? I’m currently a BLM wildland Fire fighter but wanting to switch careers. Anything helps thanks !

I'd like to know how common this is in NPS and what people's feelings are about it. I will share mine as well:

I have recently become very frustrated with the amount of work that is expected of me for my measly GS-7 wage. I know my pay grade is out of my supervisor's hands, but the amount of work I am expected to do for what I get paid is absurd. It doesn't help that my park is so short staffed that my division is often expected to pick up slack.

It seems to me that the entire leadership team of my park wants us all to do more than we are capable of. When I, or someone else, has advocated for doing less, it generally hasn't been supported by those above us.

I had a friend who works for BLM tell me that she thinks this is a common NPS problem. What is your experience working at your park? I am considering leaving NPS if this is the standard, as much as it would break my heart.

Anybody else forced to work extra days because of holidays?

Turns out I had more money than I thought for uniforms so I decided to order a vest! I enjoy wearing a vest with a t-shirt when in civilian clothes and figured I could do the same for work. My supervisor said she is pretty sure the vest is not up to class A standards if worn over the short sleeve button up. I am an interp ranger fyi.

I looked up the standards in the manual and it didn’t seem to say it prohibited wearing the vest over any specific garments. “The vest is worn as part of the layering system. When worn as outerwear with the field uniform, the badge and name bar will be attached.”

Can anyone clear this up for me?

Hi! I am 24yrs old with a Communication Studies and Public Relations Liberal Arts Bachelors Degree. I am no longer particularly interested in the field (I’m not sure that I ever was, either), so I’m looking to find what I’m really passionate about. I have ADHD, a multitude of hobbies and interests, so it has always been a struggle for me to pinpoint what career to pursue!

Although what I do know that I am passionate about, is parks and everything outside. I recently started working at the national parks doing seasonal work. I’m a assistant manager at a restaurant at a park entrance. I love the job because I get to live in the most beautiful places in the world, but it’s not stable. I have no benefits, and every 4 months I have to figure out the next place I will go. So I’m trying to work towards transitioning to a career.

I would love to be a park, forest ranger some day. Or anything that gets me outside, learning and teaching about nature, etc. what are good jobs with NPS or USFS to lead me in the right direction towards ranger since I don’t have the degree as a head start? Any advice is appreciated:) thank you!!

Hello, I've been interested in becoming a ranger or at least working to become one once I leave high school, however don't want to have the debt of college. Is it possible to become a ranger without college education? I have a job at a state park and am working there over the summer. If I build up enough experience would I be able to get hired with the nps?

Curious about winter seasonals.... do they exist? where at? when do those jobs start getting posted on usajobs?

Hello All!

We are looking for rehire eligible bio techs to work at SLBE in Empire, MI for the season. Preferably starting 4/24 or 5/8.

GS6 position would be leading our invasive plant treatment team and GS5 would be working across multiple vegetation projects as crew.

Please email me at varun_acharya@nps.gov if you’re interested!

Hi! Anyone work fully remote? I have a few questions, I have an interview coming up.

Hi everyone, I got a tentative employment offer as a recreation fee technician at Redwoods NP. Honestly was a dream of mine to work in or for a np. I’m going into the Peace Corps beginning of September and thought I’d only be able to land a job with nps with the preferential hiring. If anyone has experiences with this location please let me know. I wasn’t planning on my few months looking like this but the job also feels too good to be true!!

any info on housing/pay/conditions/etc especially appreciated!

I see there's a 0025(P) position in Hawaii but it's labeled physical security or similar. I'm a current federal LEO and meet the requirements. I was thinking about applying but am looking for some insight into the NPS in Hawaii. I have spoken to some NPS buddies who said it's not a very sought after location and that most want to get to the big parks. I assume promotion opportunities and cost of living play a part. I appreciate any insight.

I've gotten some referrals for NPS jobs and was warned that drug testing may be preformed. Do they take blood? Urine? Hair? I smoke weed (legally) but know depending on the test method it could take a few months to get out of the system

Hello! I saw a job listing, a perm position at YELL, and wondered, where do staff live? The post did not mention housing that I saw. Do permanent staff live in housing on site? I imagine housing in surrounding areas is quite expensive.

Hi all, I'm (probably) about to start a position as an Environmental Protection Specialist with NPS, and I'm told there are many opportunities for education/training. Can anyone out there speak to this a bit? Are there actual opportunities or is this hard to come by? I'm thinking specifically of developing subject matter expertise in NEPA / ESA and so forth in addition to whatever required training. Thank you!

Hi everyone! I start an internship at Zion National Park in a couple weeks and I’ve been assigned housing in the watchman housing area. Can’t seem to find anything online about it so I was wondering if anyone on here had some details about what the house is like. Thanks!

Hello, I recently came across a job posting on usajobs.gov on park ranger law enforcement position with NPS. Do I have to have a degree in order become an NPS park ranger and if so do I need to have a specific degree? Also I’m looking to move to Atlanta Georgia very soon, is there NPS law enforcement park rangers only in specific states? And if I get the job would I get placed or would I get a choice? Sorry for all the questions just really interested in this career.