Generalist Park Ranger Internship - Lucky Peak State Park

Minimum Requirements Must be at least 18 years of age. This position requires you to have or obtain a valid driver’s license, you will also be required to adhere to uniform policies. This position requires pursuit of a degree in Parks, Recreation, and Tourism or a related field. 

All positions involve working evenings, weekends, and holidays, in all weather conditions, and with potentially caustic materials and pesticides. It also involves lifting items weighing 40 pounds and occasionally up to 100 pounds, bending, stooping, and climbing ladders.

 Seasonal Park Ranger Intern Duties: All internship positions involve various skills including but not limited to: (25%) Generalist Park Ranger Skills:
• Building and Grounds Maintenance: maintains park facilities and grounds to ensure resource preservation and visitor safety. Including Janitorial services, minor repair of facilities and equipment; snow removal and trail maintenance. Operates and repairs vehicles, trucks, mowers, groomers, backhoes, and hand and power tools
• Clerical: Keeping required records and files, preparing correspondence and reports, or filing and compiling data for reports as directed.
• Visitor Services: maintaining positive public relations, and engagement through interpretative and experiential programming. Maintaining park publication inventory, displays, and Shelter Reservations; responding to information requests from management, staff and visitors; providing information in person and via email, and phone.
• Retail: handling money including balancing and closing cash register; completing sales transmittals and making bank deposits.
• These positions may also include supervisory duties of seasonal park aides.

(50 %) Visitor Services and Interpretive/Naturalist Skills:
Mentorship will be provided for hands on training in the field of interpretation, resource stewardship, and park operations. At the end of this internship, the intern should have additionally:
•Explored the core principles of interpretation.
•Engaged in environmental education lesson planning and interpretive theme program writing.
•Participated in the execution of 3 types of interpretation: in person, online/social media, and self-guided.
•Planned and/or led a new interpretive program of their choosing.
•Explored ways to adapt current programs to be more accessible to a more diverse visitor group.
•Developed communication & collaboration skills with other government agencies, community businesses/organizations, volunteers, and diverse visitor populations.
•Assisted in the planning and facilitation of larger events, current volunteer & staff led programs.

(25%) Compliance Enforcement Officer Aide Skills:
Mentorship will be provided for hands-on training in the field of park and recreation rule compliance, conflict resolution of visitor and user issues, and park operations. At the end of this internship, the intern should have additionally:
• Informed visitors of pertinent regulations of the Department as well as other partner organizations such as Idaho Department of Fish and Game, US Army Corps of Engineers, Department of Lands, etc.
• Collected visitor fees
• Shadowed Compliance Enforcement Officers, enforcing compliance with outdoor recreation program and park rules
• Patrolled Park to protect and preserve park resources from vandalism and abuse
• Promoted public safety
• Represented the department at meetings with the public, user and/or special interest groups and partner agencies
• Developed communication, verbal defense, non-escalation, de-escalation, and situational awareness skills. 

Intern/Park Specific Project: This project will be discussed and determined to meet the needs of the Intern and Park at the onset of the internship.
You will receive constructive feedback and guidance throughout the course of this professional development opportunity. Our goal is to have you walk away with lifelong skills that may encourage you to pursue a career supporting natural resources and parks.
Supervision and Reporting:
Onsite supervision, mentorship and time served validation will fall to Bri Sabin