National Park Service Employees

To say there is a wide variety of work environments within the National Park Service is an understatement. For instance, NPS employees might work mainly outdoors at sites like Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona or Denali National Park in Alaska; or mainly indoors at a historical site, such as the Lincoln Home National Historic Site in Springfield, Illinois; or at Independence Hall at Independence National Historical Park in Philadelphia. They might work at George Washington Birthplace National Monument, in Virginia, where unique breeds of farm animals are raised; or at Isle Royale National Park in Michigan, located on the largest island in Lake Superior and noted for its wilderness area and wildlife.

Because of these vast differences in work environment, people interested in working for the National Park Service should carefully consider their preferences before applying for a job with the service. For example, an aspiring NPS employee who likes working outdoors should think twice about taking a clerical or administrative job with the service. On the other hand, a desk job or some other position may be a good way to break into the field, gain experience, and eventually serve as a launching pad to other careers in the National Park Service.