Outdoor Careers

National Parks Service Jobs

The National Parks Service hires workers to fill a wide variety of jobs that will appeal to outdoor enthusiasts. Each of the [Yellowstone National Park RV Camping National Parks], and the related facilities operated by the National Parks Service, recruits personnel to staff a variety of permanent, temporary, and seasonal outdoor careers.

National Parks Service job openings are published on USAJobs.gov, the official employment website for the Federal Government. Qualifications for positions in Parks Service facilities vary widely, based on particular job requirements. Some National Parks Service jobs require degrees in Forestry, Biology, or other scientific fields. Others require different types of specialized training, but some simply require a passion for nature.

Opportunities for outdoor careers within the National Parks Service include:

• Firefighting and Fire Management
• Landscape Architecture
• Park Guide
• Park Police
• Park Rangers
• Various Natural Resources Job Opportunities
• Various Biological & Physical Sciences Positions

Outdoor Guide and Instructor Jobs

Would you like to be a whitewater rafting guide?

If there is a particular outdoor activity that you enjoy, you might be able to turn your passion into a rewarding outdoor career that allows you to share your skills and enthusiasm with others. If your hobbies are activities that other people want to participate in or learn about, there is a good chance that you may be able to find employment that allows you to work as a trainer or tour guide.

There are tour guide and instructional opportunities may be available for people with skills related to:

• Backcountry Camping and Hiking
• Big Game Hunting
• Deep Sea Fishing
• Helicopter and Seaplane Operation
• Horseback Riding
• Scuba Diving
• Sea Kayaking
• Skiing
• Whitewater Rafting

For information on open tour guide or instructor positions, contact organizations in your area that provide outdoor activity and tour services, or see the online listing of openings for guide outdoor careers at CoolWorks.com.

Wilderness Experience Jobs

If combining your love of the great outdoors with an opportunity to help troubled youngsters get their lives on the right track, working for a wilderness adventure provider might be an excellent career choice for you.

Second Nature Entrada

Based in Utah, Second Nature Entrada is a therapeutic wilderness program for youth who are struggling with academic, behavioral, and emotional challenges.

The organization's staff includes full time Program Guides and Field Instructors who are passionate about the wilderness and want to help others fulfill their potential by sharing their love of nature. To work in this capacity, it is necessary to be comfortable in the wilderness. Applicants must have the ability to hike for up to ten miles per day over rugged terrain, five days per week, while carrying a filled backpack. Additionally, applicants must be at least 19 years of age and have both first aid and CPR certifications.

Outward Bound Discovery

Outward Bound Discovery provides wilderness educational experiences and adventures for at-risk and adjudicated youth and their families throughout the southeastern United States.

Outward Bound Discovery staffs numerous full-time and seasonal positions, including Wilderness Instructor, Course Director, and Logistics Coordinator. Applicants must be at least 21 years of age and have the skills necessary to plan and lead extended backcountry wilderness adventures. Comprehensive training is provided.

Ranch Jobs

Individuals whose love of the outdoors includes a passion for horses, ranch life, wide open scenery, and working in the tourism industry might find that working on a ranch is the perfect outdoor career choice. The majority of ranch career opportunities are in Colorado, Montana, and Wyoming.

Do you find the idea of working on a ranch appealing?

Applying for Ranch Jobs

Ranches staff for a wide variety of positions, ranging from jobs for ranch hands, wranglers, tour guides, cooks, housekeepers, and more. Employment information for a few of the most popular and well-known ranches in the western part of the United States can be accessed through the links below.

• Colorado
  • 4UR Ranch
  • Elk Mountain Ranch
  • Laramie River Dude Ranch

• Montana Ranches
  • A Bar A Ranch
  • Nine Quarter Circle Ranch
  • Sixty Three Ranch

• Wyoming Ranches
  • Allen's Diamond 5 Ranch
  • Lost Creek Ranch and Spa
  • The Bucking S Working Cattle and Guest Ranch

Pursuing Outdoor Careers

These are just a few of the many different opportunities for nature enthusiasts to pursue outdoor careers that can be both lucrative and rewarding. If you want to apply your outdoor skills and love for the great outdoors, you need to spend some time thinking about the types of activities you will enjoy performing on a daily basis.

When you have a clear understanding of the type of work you want to do, it's time to start working on completing the training you need to go to work in your field of choice. Once you have the credentials necessary to begin applying for jobs, the next step will be to market yourself to prospective employers. With careful research, a winning resume, and strong job interview skills, you'll be on your way to a successful outdoor career in no time at all.