Retirement has turned out to be surprisingly more expensive than most people realize. Expenses keep rising while fixed incomes don’t keep up. That’s why more than 20% of people of retirement age in the U.S. are either still working full or part time in their primary career or have found another job after officially retiring.
One very popular way to earn extra money and cut expenses is going to work in our National Parks. Every year the U. S. National Park Service hires a few nature guides, historic reenactors, trail builders, people for information booths, computer specialists, beach patrollers, and more. Because the National Parks federal budget has been severely limited, getting the job you want at the location you want is now more challenging. Fewer people are being hired.
Find a job with a private company
Some jobs, however, are available through private companies that hold contracts with the Park Service. Most of the jobs are basic to the hospitality industry: waiter, bartender, front desk clerk, cashier, etc. There are also some behind the scenes jobs such as inventory clerk. Be aware that your competition for all these travel-related jobs includes students, post-college young people, and immigrants who come into the country on special visas to work in resorts.
These jobs are usually short term, lasting only for as long as the high season. You may be able, however, to move from National Park to National Park and work almost year ’round, with careful planning. For example, you could work in a gift shop in Yellowstone during summer months, then move on to a job in Arizona or Florida come winter. Maybe. Things always seem to be changing these days. (Image, above, is of Tumacacori National Historic Site in Arizona.)
Three ways to get work in a National Park
1) Go to work directly for the National Park Service. The NPS is part of the federal government and you would be applying for a federal government job with all the complications and screening and medical exams that involves. But if you are interested in going this route go to USAJOBS, the primary site for all federal government jobs.
2) Become an NPS Volunteer, where your only pay is free housing, most commonly parking space for your RV at no charge. It can be a great deal of fun working as a nature guide, historic re-enactor, trail builder, a fee taker in an information booth, or other job. To learn more about being a “worker camper”, as they are called, go here.
3) Private companies still hiring. The lodges and other hospitality facilities located in most National Parks are operated privately by companies like Xanterra and Aramark. They hire seasonal workers– lots of them–in places ranging from the Grand Canyon to Denali Park in Alaska to the Florida Keys. These are paid jobs and many of them also include steeply discounted housing in cabins or residences in the Park. Their websites will give you the details. These jobs go fast so you should apply as many as 6 months ahead of when you want to work.
There are also listings of jobs specifically for retirees with salary amounts indicated on the employment site Indeed. Indeed also has suggestions for improving your “retirement resume.”
Be sure to take a look at the jobs on Cool Works to find other places to work outdoors at resorts or dude ranches. These listings are very specific to location and include smaller resorts and vacation facilities. Cool Works even has a section for Seniors called ‘Older and Bolder’. It’s listed under Resources. This is a fun site with interesting listings.
A better idea: work in State Parks
Many states also hire part time seasonal workers for jobs in the over 6,500 state parks across the nation. For example, the State of California hires hosts for campsites in over 100 State Parks in locations ranging from the beach to the desert to the mountains. There are also other jobs in addition to hosting in the California park system. Some are paid; some are volunteer; some include housing or a free campsite.
Because across the country there are so many parks and campgrounds, they are almost always looking for hosts. Decide which region you would like to work in, then go to all the official state websites for that area and check out the State Park Service. You may be surprised at the variety of job openings.
There may also be part-time jobs at gift shops and restaurants near State Parks, but locals may beat you to the jobs.
(Image, above, is of Shore Acres State Park in Oregon.)
And, if in the future the budget for the National Parks changes, they may go back to hiring more seniors, again.
