What You'll Do

  • Provide visitor services, such as explaining regulations, answering visitor requests, needs and complaints, and providing information about the park and surrounding areas.
  • Conduct field trips to point out scientific, historic, and natural features of parks, forests, historic sites, or other attractions.
  • Prepare and present illustrated lectures and interpretive talks about park features.
  • Perform emergency duties to protect human life, government property, and natural features of park.
  • Confer with park staff to determine subjects and schedules for park programs.
  • Assist with operations of general facilities, such as visitor centers.
  • Plan, organize and direct activities of seasonal staff members.
  • Perform routine maintenance on park structures.
  • Prepare brochures and write newspaper articles.
  • Construct historical, scientific, and nature visitor-center displays.

Essential Skills

Speaking 4.12/5
Reading Comprehension 3.88/5
Active Listening 3.88/5
Writing 3.75/5
Social Perceptiveness 3.75/5
Critical Thinking 3.62/5
Service Orientation 3.5/5
Active Learning 3.25/5
Learning Strategies 3.25/5
Instructing 3.25/5
Judgment and Decision Making 3.25/5
Monitoring 3.12/5

Career Fit Overview

Use this summary to sense whether the day to day rhythm and focus of this path line up with what energizes you.

Top passions

  • Helper: Supporting people and making a difference matters to you.
  • Analyst: Investigating problems and finding patterns keeps you engaged.
  • Maker: Building and fixing energizes you. You like tangible results and practical tools.

Common styles

Integrity, Self-Control, Cooperation, Concern for Others, Dependability

Want a personal read on fit. Take the free assessment and see your exact compatibility with this career and many related roles.

Key Abilities

This career demands strong capabilities in the following areas:

Oral Expression 4.12/5
Speech Clarity 4.12/5
Oral Comprehension 4.0/5
Written Comprehension 3.75/5
Written Expression 3.75/5
Speech Recognition 3.75/5
Deductive Reasoning 3.62/5
Problem Sensitivity 3.5/5

Technologies & Tools

Adobe Acrobat Adobe PageMaker Email software Facebook Mapping software MicroFocus GroupWise Microsoft Active Server Pages ASP Microsoft Excel Microsoft Office software Microsoft Outlook Microsoft PowerPoint Microsoft Word Point of sale POS software Web browser software Word processing software

Work Environment & Style

Common Styles for This Career

  • Integrity (High importance: 4.59/5)
  • Self-Control (High importance: 4.41/5)
  • Cooperation (High importance: 4.4/5)
  • Concern for Others (High importance: 4.31/5)
  • Dependability (High importance: 4.24/5)

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How to Become One

Most employers require a bachelor's degree in a relevant field. Some positions may also require experience through internships, co-ops, or entry-level work to strengthen your candidacy.

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Also Known As

This career is known by many different job titles across industries. Here are all the variations:

Camp Ranger Environmental Education Specialist Environmental Educator Interpretation Park Ranger Interpretive Naturalist National Park Ranger Natural Resource Educator Naturalist Park Activities Coordinator Park Guide Park Interpretive Ranger Park Interpretive Specialist Park Naturalist Park Protection Ranger Park Ranger Park Ranger Assistant Park Specialist Park Worker Program Production Specialist Ranger