Park Naturalists

Career summary

#No alternate titles to add CJ

Park naturalists research park environments and develop educational programs. These programs teach visitors about the historical, cultural, or environmental history of parks. Naturalists use several methods to deliver information to the public. They lead park programs such as nature walks, outdoor skills, or nature crafts. They visit school classrooms to teach children about plants and animals. They write articles, newsletters, and press releases.

Naturalists may take pictures or videos of places in the park to create audio-visual displays. They create interactive visual displays for visitor centers. They also create handouts so visitors can take self-guided tours. All of these programs help people understand the park and its habitat.

Park naturalists study the animals and plants in parks. They keep track of the types of animals that live in parks and where they live. Naturalists also consult specialists to learn about birds or animals that may be in danger. Through these conversations, park naturalists may develop ideas that they want to use for their educational programs.

Park naturalists perform routine maintenance on park structures. At larger parks, naturalists may supervise staff during the busy summer season. At smaller parks, they may use volunteers to help lead programs. Some naturalists work at private agencies writing grants to raise money for parks.

Related careers

This career is part of the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics cluster of careers.

Related careers include:

• Adult and Vocational Education Teachers
• Conservation Scientists
• Fish and Game Wardens
• Natural Sciences Managers
• Recreation Workers

Job duties

Task list

The following list of tasks is specific to park naturalists.

• Conduct field trips and answer visitor questions.
• Visit schools and educate children about park or particular species of plant or animal.
• Prepare materials for lectures and talks with park visitors.
• Perform emergency duties to protect human life, government property, and natural features of parks.
• Consult with staff and specialists to gather information.
• Plan and organize duties of seasonal staff or volunteers.
• Perform routine maintenance on park structures.
• Survey park to determine environmental conditions. Record number and distribution of animals and plants.
• Write educational newsletters, brochures, articles, or handouts.
• Construct and develop historical, scientific, and nature displays for visitor centers.
• Research stories about the area's history.
• Take photographs or video of wildlife for display or for presentations.
• Raise funds in many ways, such as writing grants.

Common work activities

Park naturalists perform the following tasks. These tasks are common to many careers.

• Explain the meaning of information to others
• Perform for or work with the public
• Think creatively
• Communicate with people outside the organization
• Communicate with supervisors, peers, or subordinates
• Update and use job-related knowledge
• Get information needed to do the job
• Identify objects, actions, and events
• Establish and maintain relationships
• Perform activities that use the whole body
• Organize, plan, and prioritize work
• Use computers
• Teach others
• Develop goals and strategies
• Make decisions and solve problems
• Schedule work and activities
• Handle and move objects
• Document and record information
• Perform administrative tasks
• Assist and care for others

Work requirements

Working conditions

In a typical work setting, park naturalists:

Interpersonal relationships

• Have a high level of social contact. They work with coworkers and visitors most of the time.
• Often have to deal with unpleasant, angry, or discourteous visitors.
• Are responsible for the health and safety of plants, animals, and park guests.
• Are sometimes placed in conflict situations.
• Are required to perform public speaking on a weekly basis. Naturalists lead presentations and visit schools to educate children.
• Communicate with coworkers and the public daily by telephone, e-mail, and in person.
• Write letters and memos on a weekly basis.
• Work in a group or as part of a team.

Physical work conditions

• Work indoors and outdoors depending on duties. Nature walks and surveying of park done outdoors. Work indoors when doing administrative duties.
• Are often exposed to very hot or very cold temperatures while working outdoors.
• Are sometimes exposed to hazardous situations. They may be cut, bitten, or stung.
• Work in a closed vehicle. Naturalists may use a vehicle when surveying the park.
• Work near coworkers and visitors, but usually have a few feet of space separating them from others.

Work performance

• Must be exact in their work. They must gather accurate data about changes in their park's habitat.
• Repeat the same tasks over and over, such as leading nature walks.
• Make decisions on a weekly basis that strongly impact coworkers and visitors. They rarely consult supervisors before making a decision.
• Are usually able to set their tasks and goals without consulting with a supervisor.
• Are moderately competitive. Naturalists who work at private agencies may be more competitive. This is because fundraising and receiving grants is key to the park's survival.
• Must meet strict deadlines on a weekly basis.

Hours/travel

• Generally work 40 hours a week.
• May work overtime during busy seasons.
• May work shifts, especially when they work for parks that offer camping. These sites usually offer evening programs.
• May work seasonal jobs when new to the profession.

Physical demands

Park naturalists frequently:

• Stand for long periods of time.
• Walk or run for long periods of time.

It is important for park naturalists to be able to:

• Speak clearly so listeners can understand.
• Understand the speech of another person.
• See details of objects that are less than a few feet away.
• See details of objects that are more than a few feet away.

It is not as important, but still necessary, for park naturalists to be able to:

• See differences between colors, shades, and brightness.
• Focus on one source of sound and ignore others.
• Hear sounds and recognize the difference between them.
• Use muscles to lift, push, pull, or carry heavy objects.
• Move two or more limbs together (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while remaining in place.
• Hold the arm and hand in one position or hold the hand steady while moving the arm.
• Use one or two hands to grasp, move, or assemble objects.
• Use fingers to grasp, move, or assemble very small objects.
• Determine the distance between objects.
• Use stomach and lower back muscles to support the body for long periods without getting tired.
• Make quick, precise adjustments to machine controls.
• Be physically active for long periods without getting tired or out of breath.
• Bend, stretch, twist, or reach out.
• Coordinate movement of several parts of the body, such as arms and legs, while the body is moving.
• Keep or regain the body's balance or stay upright when in an unstable position.
• See objects in very low light.
• While looking forward, see objects or movements that are off to the side.
• See objects in very bright or glaring light.
• Determine from which direction a sound came.
• Choose quickly and correctly among various movements when responding to different signals.
• Adjust body movements or equipment controls to keep pace with speed changes of moving objects.
• React quickly using hands, fingers, or feet.
• Use muscles for extended periods without getting tired.

Skills and abilities

Park naturalists need to:

Communicate

• Speak clearly so listeners can understand.
• Understand spoken information.
• Read and understand work-related materials.
• Understand written information.
• Listen to others and ask questions.
• Write clearly so other people can understand.

Reason and problem solve

• Analyze ideas and use logic to determine their strengths and weaknesses.
• Notice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong.
• Use reasoning to discover answers to problems.
• Follow guidelines to arrange objects or actions in a certain order.
• Combine several pieces of information and draw conclusions.
• Understand new information or materials by studying and working with them.
• Judge the costs and benefits of a possible action.
• Think of new ideas about a topic.
• Think of original, unusual, or creative ways to solve problems.
• Concentrate and not be distracted while performing a task.
• Recognize the nature of a problem.
• Develop rules that group items in various ways.

Manage oneself, people, time, and things

• Manage the time of self and others.
• Check how well one is learning or doing something.
• Motivate, develop, and direct people as they work.

Work with people

• Be aware of others' reactions and understand the possible causes.
• Teach others how to do something.
• Use several methods to learn or teach new things.
• Look for ways to help people.
• Change behavior in relation to others' actions.
• Persuade others to approach things differently.

Perceive and visualize

• Identify a pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in distracting material.
• Quickly and accurately compare letters, numbers, objects, pictures, or patterns.

Education and training

Educational programs

The programs of study listed below will help you prepare for the occupation or career cluster you are exploring.

Programs of study directly related to this occupation

• Biological Sciences, General
• Botany
• Environmental Science
• Forestry
• Natural Resources Policy and Management
• Range Science and Management
• Wildlife Sciences and Management

Other programs of study to consider

• Anthropology
• Environmental Studies
• History
• Natural Resources Conservation
• Outdoor Education
• Water, Wetlands, and Marine Resources Management

Training

To work as a park naturalist, you typically need to:

• have a high school diploma or equivalent; and
• have a bachelor's degree in a life science.

Education after high school

Most park naturalists have a bachelor's degree. Several fields of study provide a good background for this occupation. These include biology, forestry, and wildlife management. You can also choose history, environmental science, anthropology, or natural resource management. Some students major in education and minor in a life science program, or vice versa.

Work experience

Experience working in a park is very helpful in this field. You may need one to two years of work experience. While in college or high school, you might volunteer at a park, work for the forest service, or complete an internship.

On-the-job training

Park naturalists spend up to one month learning about their place of employment. This means you may spend time learning about specifics, such as administrative duties and park procedures.

Helpful high school courses

In high school, take classes that prepare you for college. A college preparatory curriculum  may be different from your state's graduation requirements .

You should also consider taking some advanced courses in high school. This includes Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) courses if they are available in your school. If you do well in these courses, you may receive college credit for them. Advanced courses can also strengthen your college application.

Helpful electives to take in high school that prepare you for this career include:

• Anthropology
• Forestry
• Natural Resources Management
• Plant and Soil Science
• US History

The courses listed above are meant to help you create your high school plan. If you have not already done so, talk to a school counselor or parent about the courses you are considering taking.

You should also check with a teacher or counselor to see if work-based learning opportunities are available in your school and community. These might include field trips, job shadowing, internships, and actual work experience. The goal of these activities is to help you connect your school experiences with real-life work.

Join some groups, try some hobbies, or volunteer with an organization that interests you. By participating in activities you can have fun, make new friends, and learn about yourself. Maybe one of them will help direct you to a future career. Here are examples of activities and groups  that may be available in your high school or community.

Things to know

Employers prefer to hire park naturalists who have a bachelor's degree. Some employers may accept experience as a substitute for education. They may also accept a combination of education and experience. Employers look for people who have experience interpreting and presenting cultural, environmental, and natural history. They prefer applicants who know the plants and animals of the park. Employers look for applicants who can organize and plan special events.

Park naturalists must get along well with all types of people. They work with people of all age groups. They also need to answer visitors' questions and speak to large groups. Park naturalists need good writing skills. They must write interesting and educational handouts, as well as newsletters that spur people's interest in getting involved. Some employers may require experience working with the media.

Good physical condition and normal vision, hearing, and color perception are also required.

Tips

There is a better chance of being hired on a year-round basis if you have worked seasonally at a park and have a good work record. This is a good way to gain experience, as is volunteer or paid seasonal jobs in related fields. Competition for seasonal positions in national parks is less keen for smaller, lesser-known parks and for jobs in the winter. Be willing to relocate, since federal park naturalists may be assigned to different parks throughout the country. Maintenance skills are helpful for some positions. Gain as much experience as possible in related job fields such as a student volunteer or student conservation aide. Look for seasonal positions in fire fighting or fee collection to gain experience.

Costs to workers

Some park naturalists are required to join a union and pay an initiation fee and monthly dues.

Licensing/certification

Federal park naturalists, who also have park ranger duties, must have law enforcement training and carry a firearm.

#Called WA State Parks and Recreation Commission 4/16/03 and spoke to George Price. He said the state has a job classification for park ranger and one for park interpretive specialist. He felt the latter may be the closest match to this WOIS description. An interpretive specialist is not a commissioned officer and is not required to have law enforcement training and carry a gun.cj

Job listings

Listed below are links to job categories from the National Labor Exchange that relate to this career. Once you get a list of jobs, you can view information about individual jobs and find out how to apply. If your job search finds too many openings, or if you wish to search for jobs outside of Washington, you will need to refine your search.

• Park Naturalists 

To get a listing of current jobs from the WorkSource system, go to the WorkSource website .

Wages

Wages tend to be higher in some states than others. This depends on how much money the state or local government puts into their natural resources budget. Private agencies tend to pay higher wages than the government. However, some government agencies also offer housing and transportation as part of their pay.

Park naturalists usually receive benefits. Typical benefits include sick leave, paid vacation, health insurance, and a retirement plan.

Employment and outlook

Washington outlook

The table below provides information about the number of workers in this career in various regions. It also provides information about the expected growth rate and future job openings.

National employment

Major employers:

• Federal, state, and local government agencies

National outlook

Demand for this occupation is growing about as fast as average. Nationally, there is an increased interest in preserving the nation's natural areas and parks. Many people are expected to donate money to private agencies that manage natural areas. This may increase the number of jobs. However, park naturalist is one of the first jobs to be cut when government agencies need to reduce their budgets. Thus, the number of job openings for park naturalists may be limited.

Job openings occur as people retire from the occupation.

Other resources

American Historical Association 
777 6th St NW, 11th floor
Washington, DC 20001
202.544.2422

American Society of Plant Biologists 

Association for Experiential Education 
PO Box 13246
Denver, CO 80201-4646

Association of National Park Rangers 
PO Box 151432
Alexandria, VA 22315

Botanical Society of America 
4344 Shaw Blvd
St. Louis, MO 63110
314.577.9566

Careers in Botany 
(from The Botanical Society of America)

Ecological Society of America 
1990 M Street NW, Suite 700
Washington, DC 20036
202.833.8773

Explore Ecology as a Career 

National Association for Interpretation 
230 Cherry Street, Ste 200
Fort Collins, CO 80521

National Park Service 
Pacific West Region
333 Bush Street, Suite 500
San Francisco, CA 94104
415.623.2100

National Recreation and Park Association 
22377 Belmont Ridge Road
Ashburn, VA 20148
800.626.6772
703.858.0784

National Science Teachers Association 
1840 Wilson Boulevard
Arlington, VA 22201
703.243.7100

The Wildlife Society 
425 Barlow Place, Suite 200
Bethesda, MD 20814
301.897.9770

US Fish and Wildlife Service 

USDA Forest Service Research & Development 

Washington Recreation and Park Association 
2150 North 107th Street, Suite 205
Seattle, WA 98133
888.459.0009
206.367.8777

References

Career cluster

• Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics

Career path

• Social

O*Net  occupation

• Park Naturalists (19-1031.03) 

O*Net job zone 

• Job Zone 4 - Considerable preparation needed. A minimum of two to four years of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations.

DOT occupation

• Park Naturalist (049.127-010) 

Holland occupational cluster

• Social/Realistic/Artistic

COPSystem

• Outdoor