NEWS17-008
| Contacts:
Virginia Painter, (360) 902-8562
Steve Loduha, (360) 902-8569 |
UPDATED Feb. 24, 2017 to include additional video link.
OLYMPIA – Feb. 23, 2017 – The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission has announced job openings for hundreds of seasonal park aides to help operate state parks during the 2017 summer season.
Each summer, State Parks employs 400 park aides and 45 senior park aides to work the busy season, which runs from May through September. Park aides are all ages and backgrounds. They work in parks all over the state and in many different terrains and climates, depending on location. They help out in parks by tending trails, cleaning campgrounds and comfort stations and performing a variety of custodial maintenance chores. They also may staff park offices, interact with visitors and help with interpretive and educational programs.
To read about current and former park aides’ experiences, visit http://parks.state.wa.us/1056/Park-Aides. View testimonials from a former park aide here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XiV1NMviuXA and a current senior park aide here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Uf2Y9Zq2Ns
Applications are open now through August. The jobs pay between $11 and $13.97 an hour, depending on qualifications and experience. To learn more and apply, visit www.careers.wa.gov and use the search box to type in “park aide” or the name of a specific state park. Or go directly to the State Parks jobs page, parks.state.wa.us/jobs, and follow the instructions on how to search for a job opening.
Park aides are essential to summer operations in Washington state parks. Those who have served as park aides report that they have received benefits well beyond a paycheck, as they learn about parks and the natural and cultural resources in State Parks’ care. Park aides gain people skills by interacting with the public and working with a team. They also may learn everything from trail-building techniques to how to use and operate small power tools and equipment.
For some, working as a park aide leads to a career path, said State Parks Director Don Hoch.
“A seasonal park aide position may be perfect for a high school or college student who just needs a good solid summer job—or for a person of any age looking for a great seasonal job outdoors,” Hoch said. “But many also find the park aide job to be the first step onto a lifelong career path in parks and recreation or environmental work. I, myself—and many others I know in the parks and recreation field—started out as a park aide somewhere. That’s where we discovered our passion.”
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About Washington State Parks
The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission manages more than 100 state parks and properties totaling approximately 120,000 acres. The Commission provides a variety of recreation opportunities for citizens and provides stewardship protection for a diverse array of natural, cultural and historic resources. State Parks’ statewide programs include long-distance trails, boating safety and winter recreation.
Follow Washington State Parks:
Share your favorite state park adventure on the State Parks’ blog site at http://adventureawaits.com/
Support state parks by purchasing your annual Discover Pass today, and enjoy a whole year of outdoor fun on Washington’s beautiful state-managed recreation lands. For more information, visit www.discoverpass.wa.gov.
Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission
1111 Israel Road S.W.
P.O. Box 42650
Olympia, WA 98504-2650
Washington Telecommunications Relay Service: (800) 833-6388