Entry-level positions for aspiring California State Park Interpreters or Naturalists
California State Parks offers seasonal "senior park aid" or "park interpretive specialist" positions as entry-level roles, providing a "really good taste" of the work and allowing undergraduates to explore the field before committing. These positions, often starting before summer for training, offer a fun way to "see if this is for me," and can lead to diverse career paths within the California State Park system.
Seasonal Positions, Entry-Level Jobs, California State Parks, Park Interpreter, Outdoor Education
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Michelle Claassen
California State Park Interpreter (Naturalist)
CA State Parks
Cuesta College and Liberty University
Communications
Climate, Environment, Sustainability & Waste Management, Government & Public Sector
Climate, Environment and Sustainability
None Applicable
Video Highlights
1. Seasonal positions (senior park aid or park interpretive specialist) are available and offer a good introduction to the field.
2. These positions provide opportunities to work outdoors, teach, and gain experience in various aspects of California State Parks.
3. Working in these entry-level roles allows individuals to determine if this career path aligns with their interests before committing to a full-time position
Transcript
What entry-level positions are there in this field that an undergraduate college student might consider?
This is another great question. A really good way to enter this field or just see if you like it is through our seasonal positions. They're not just for summer; they can be all year round.
These positions include Senior Park Aid or Park Interpretive Specialist. If you go on CalCareers and want to switch things around, look for these roles in the interpretation department.
Typically, you won't be working 40 hours. We usually start these positions right before summer to train you. You'll have a fun summer teaching kids outside and can see if this is the right fit for you.
This role gives you a really good taste of what it's like. Once you're here, you get a sense of any position within California State Parks, which I highly advocate for. I was just at a recruitment booth down south.
So yes, join us in the interpretation department because it's a lot of fun. But California State Parks in general is an amazing career path. Come to our office and learn what you want to do.
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