SeasonalPark Ranger (I)

These positions are located in Biscayne National Park and Everglades National Park, in the Resource Education and Interpretation Division. The typical seasonal period for these parks is October - July but can be variable during these months due to weather conditions, project needs, or funding. Anticipated Entry on Duty: Mid-October through early November depending on location. Likely entry on duty: October- December 2026. Please see the "Education" section of this announcement for additional information regarding these positions. Major Duties: Rangers deliver curriculum-based education programs for K-12 students from October through April, managing groups of up to 70 participants from diverse backgrounds and learning abilities. Programs include ecological and historical explorations, hands-on scientific data collection, and plant and animal identification. Rangers lead physically demanding activities, which may include walking through knee-to-thigh deep water in swamps, enduring heat, humidity, mosquitoes, and rugged terrain. Responsibilities include presenting pre-trip classroom lessons, ensuring group safety and time management, maintaining educational equipment and supplies, and assisting with teacher workshops. Rangers also develop lesson plans, activities, videos, and web content that align with state and national education standards while working closely with volunteers, interns, and staff. Rangers also conduct outreach by researching, developing, and presenting interpretive programs for adult special interest groups, both within the parks and in nearby communities. These programs may include wet walks, canoeing and kayaking excursions, biking tours, boardwalk hikes, dark sky programs, snorkeling trips, history talks, field science activities, and multi-day camping experiences. Rangers represent the parks at festivals and events, partner with environmental organizations, create interpretive media such as exhibits and program flyers, and assist in training new staff, interns, and volunteers. Additional duties include handling visitor inquiries, submitting program statistics, assisting visitor centers, maintaining government vehicles, and identifying and reporting safety issues. The role requires knowledge of paddling, water safety, and natural resource management, as well as the ability to work in physically demanding environments. Area Descriptions: These positions are located in Biscayne National Park, and Everglades National Park. These NPS units boast subtropical climates with mild, pleasant winters and hot, rainy, and buggy summers. Winter temperatures seldom drop below 40 degrees and only for short periods. Biscayne National Park preserves a rare blend of aquamarine waters, emerald islands, and vibrant coral reefs, all within sight of downtown Miami. As a gateway to South Florida's natural and cultural history, the park partners with local organizations to provide access for visitors to explore its breathtaking landscapes, diverse wildlife, and rich maritime heritage. Educational programs, based out of the Dante Fascell Visitor Center in Homestead, FL, feature day trips, classroom visits, distance learning, and overnight camping programs. More information about Biscayne National Park can be found at www.nps.gov/bisc. Everglades National Park is a vast, subtropical wilderness unlike any other, home to sawgrass prairies, cypress domes, mangrove forests, the Florida Bay, and a stunning array of wildlife. As a World Heritage Site, International Biosphere Reserve, and Wetland of International Importance, it plays a critical role in protecting the Greater Everglades ecosystem. Incumbents provide educational programs at the Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center in Homestead and the Shark Valley Visitor Center in Miami, helping visitors connect with the park's rich biodiversity, cultural history, and ongoing conservation efforts through day trips, distance learning, and overnight camping programs. More information about Everglades National Park can be found at www.nps.gov/ever.