State Park Jobs and Career Opportunities - Idaho
Name: Kristi Stephens
Current Position: Park Manager 3
How long have you been with Idaho State Parks and in what capacity?
I started with the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation in 1986 as a seasonal maintenance worker at Harriman State Park while still attending college. I became a ranger with the agency in 1989 at Massacre Rocks State Park. I worked as a ranger at several locations including Massacre Rocks State Park, Bruneau Dunes State Park, Ponderosa State Park and Lake Cascade State Park.
I dove into management after 17 years as a ranger.
How did you become involved in working as a Park Manager?
I like to tell people it was pure luck. A college friend and I were looking for summer jobs. We saw an ad for state parks and we applied to a couple of parks. I was hired as I stated earlier at Harriman State Park as a maintenance worker (thanks dad for teaching me the maintenance stuff to get me hired). I was already a Physical Education and Recreation major in school so I found my niche in outdoor recreation.
Describe a typical day at your job.
(If there is no such thing as a typical day, then please tell us about your primary responsibilities and duties.)
As a ranger every day was different. I did everything: maintenance duties (including plumbing, carpentry, janitorial duties, snow plowing, concrete, you name it we did it), law enforcement, public contact, interpretive programs, fee collection, equipment operation, safety and hazard tree inspections, hazard tree removal, initial attack for fires, and of course fiscal and administrative duties.
Today, being in management I have some opportunity to do all of those things, but by far I spend more of my time doing those administrative and fiscal duties. Currently I am working on a large marina expansion for my park. I write grants, supervise people, talk with VIP?s like senators, attend meetings, and make sure it all keeps going.
How many hours a week do you work in this position?
40+
What aspects of your job do you enjoy the most?
I love the variety, and working with people. It is a must to be a people person in this business.
What do you find to be the greatest challenges of your job?
Spending so much time in the office.
What kind of training/schooling is required in your position?
Today it seems like most of the new employees have degrees in Recreation, or Land Management. It also helps to have maintenance skills.
Is there any kind of training or general experience that you wish you had before taking your job?
Moving from the ranger ranks to the management ranks it would be good to have great writing skills, speaking skills, and accounting and fiscal skills.
What are a few of the projects that you've been working on recently that have been the most interesting?
Again the marina expansion has been exciting, but a long slow process. I also have obtained a new playground system for the campground and day use area. A grant was awarded to the park for a new vault toilet in a camping loop that currently doesn't have a restroom.
If someone were interested in working as a Park Manager, what advice could you give them?
Be sure to get seasonal work in the field while attending school. This will help you see what rangers really do. Get some training in vehicle and building maintenance. It?s a definite plus with our agency to have plumbing and carpentry skills.
Recreation degrees for colleges and University are great, but really learn what you will be doing with what ever agency you are looking at. Some agencies specialize more and some do everything like we do.
Current Position: Park Manager 3
How long have you been with Idaho State Parks and in what capacity?
I started with the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation in 1986 as a seasonal maintenance worker at Harriman State Park while still attending college. I became a ranger with the agency in 1989 at Massacre Rocks State Park. I worked as a ranger at several locations including Massacre Rocks State Park, Bruneau Dunes State Park, Ponderosa State Park and Lake Cascade State Park. I dove into management after 17 years as a ranger.
How did you become involved in working as a Park Manager?
I like to tell people it was pure luck. A college friend and I were looking for summer jobs. We saw an ad for state parks and we applied to a couple of parks. I was hired as I stated earlier at Harriman State Park as a maintenance worker (thanks dad for teaching me the maintenance stuff to get me hired). I was already a Physical Education and Recreation major in school so I found my niche in outdoor recreation.
Describe a typical day at your job.
(If there is no such thing as a typical day, then please tell us about your primary responsibilities and duties.)
As a ranger every day was different. I did everything: maintenance duties (including plumbing, carpentry, janitorial duties, snow plowing, concrete, you name it we did it), law enforcement, public contact, interpretive programs, fee collection, equipment operation, safety and hazard tree inspections, hazard tree removal, initial attack for fires, and of course fiscal and administrative duties.
Today, being in management I have some opportunity to do all of those things, but by far I spend more of my time doing those administrative and fiscal duties. Currently I am working on a large marina expansion for my park. I write grants, supervise people, talk with VIP?s like senators, attend meetings, and make sure it all keeps going.
How many hours a week do you work in this position?
40+
What aspects of your job do you enjoy the most?
I love the variety, and working with people. It is a must to be a people person in this business.
What do you find to be the greatest challenges of your job?
Spending so much time in the office.
What kind of training/schooling is required in your position?
Today it seems like most of the new employees have degrees in Recreation, or Land Management. It also helps to have maintenance skills.
Is there any kind of training or general experience that you wish you had before taking your job?
Moving from the ranger ranks to the management ranks it would be good to have great writing skills, speaking skills, and accounting and fiscal skills.
What are a few of the projects that you've been working on recently that have been the most interesting?
Again the marina expansion has been exciting, but a long slow process. I also have obtained a new playground system for the campground and day use area. A grant was awarded to the park for a new vault toilet in a camping loop that currently doesn't have a restroom.
If someone were interested in working as a Park Manager, what advice could you give them?
Be sure to get seasonal work in the field while attending school. This will help you see what rangers really do. Get some training in vehicle and building maintenance. It?s a definite plus with our agency to have plumbing and carpentry skills.
Recreation degrees for colleges and University are great, but really learn what you will be doing with what ever agency you are looking at. Some agencies specialize more and some do everything like we do.
Current Position: Park Manager 3
How long have you been with Idaho State Parks and in what capacity?
I started with the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation in 1986 as a seasonal maintenance worker at Harriman State Park while still attending college. I became a ranger with the agency in 1989 at Massacre Rocks State Park. I worked as a ranger at several locations including Massacre Rocks State Park, Bruneau Dunes State Park, Ponderosa State Park and Lake Cascade State Park.
I dove into management after 17 years as a ranger.
How did you become involved in working as a Park Manager?
I like to tell people it was pure luck. A college friend and I were looking for summer jobs. We saw an ad for state parks and we applied to a couple of parks. I was hired as I stated earlier at Harriman State Park as a maintenance worker (thanks dad for teaching me the maintenance stuff to get me hired). I was already a Physical Education and Recreation major in school so I found my niche in outdoor recreation.
Describe a typical day at your job.
(If there is no such thing as a typical day, then please tell us about your primary responsibilities and duties.)
As a ranger every day was different. I did everything: maintenance duties (including plumbing, carpentry, janitorial duties, snow plowing, concrete, you name it we did it), law enforcement, public contact, interpretive programs, fee collection, equipment operation, safety and hazard tree inspections, hazard tree removal, initial attack for fires, and of course fiscal and administrative duties.
Today, being in management I have some opportunity to do all of those things, but by far I spend more of my time doing those administrative and fiscal duties. Currently I am working on a large marina expansion for my park. I write grants, supervise people, talk with VIP?s like senators, attend meetings, and make sure it all keeps going.
How many hours a week do you work in this position?
40+
What aspects of your job do you enjoy the most?
I love the variety, and working with people. It is a must to be a people person in this business.
What do you find to be the greatest challenges of your job?
Spending so much time in the office.
What kind of training/schooling is required in your position?
Today it seems like most of the new employees have degrees in Recreation, or Land Management. It also helps to have maintenance skills.
Is there any kind of training or general experience that you wish you had before taking your job?
Moving from the ranger ranks to the management ranks it would be good to have great writing skills, speaking skills, and accounting and fiscal skills.
What are a few of the projects that you've been working on recently that have been the most interesting?
Again the marina expansion has been exciting, but a long slow process. I also have obtained a new playground system for the campground and day use area. A grant was awarded to the park for a new vault toilet in a camping loop that currently doesn't have a restroom.
If someone were interested in working as a Park Manager, what advice could you give them?
Be sure to get seasonal work in the field while attending school. This will help you see what rangers really do. Get some training in vehicle and building maintenance. It?s a definite plus with our agency to have plumbing and carpentry skills.
Recreation degrees for colleges and University are great, but really learn what you will be doing with what ever agency you are looking at. Some agencies specialize more and some do everything like we do.
<< See other Idaho interviews -- Search by state -- Search by job title>>Interview with a Park Manager Name: Kristi Stephens
Current Position: Park Manager 3
How long have you been with Idaho State Parks and in what capacity?
I started with the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation in 1986 as a seasonal maintenance worker at Harriman State Park while still attending college. I became a ranger with the agency in 1989 at Massacre Rocks State Park. I worked as a ranger at several locations including Massacre Rocks State Park, Bruneau Dunes State Park, Ponderosa State Park and Lake Cascade State Park. I dove into management after 17 years as a ranger.
How did you become involved in working as a Park Manager?
I like to tell people it was pure luck. A college friend and I were looking for summer jobs. We saw an ad for state parks and we applied to a couple of parks. I was hired as I stated earlier at Harriman State Park as a maintenance worker (thanks dad for teaching me the maintenance stuff to get me hired). I was already a Physical Education and Recreation major in school so I found my niche in outdoor recreation.
Describe a typical day at your job.
(If there is no such thing as a typical day, then please tell us about your primary responsibilities and duties.)
As a ranger every day was different. I did everything: maintenance duties (including plumbing, carpentry, janitorial duties, snow plowing, concrete, you name it we did it), law enforcement, public contact, interpretive programs, fee collection, equipment operation, safety and hazard tree inspections, hazard tree removal, initial attack for fires, and of course fiscal and administrative duties.
Today, being in management I have some opportunity to do all of those things, but by far I spend more of my time doing those administrative and fiscal duties. Currently I am working on a large marina expansion for my park. I write grants, supervise people, talk with VIP?s like senators, attend meetings, and make sure it all keeps going.
How many hours a week do you work in this position?
40+
What aspects of your job do you enjoy the most?
I love the variety, and working with people. It is a must to be a people person in this business.
What do you find to be the greatest challenges of your job?
Spending so much time in the office.
What kind of training/schooling is required in your position?
Today it seems like most of the new employees have degrees in Recreation, or Land Management. It also helps to have maintenance skills.
Is there any kind of training or general experience that you wish you had before taking your job?
Moving from the ranger ranks to the management ranks it would be good to have great writing skills, speaking skills, and accounting and fiscal skills.
What are a few of the projects that you've been working on recently that have been the most interesting?
Again the marina expansion has been exciting, but a long slow process. I also have obtained a new playground system for the campground and day use area. A grant was awarded to the park for a new vault toilet in a camping loop that currently doesn't have a restroom.
If someone were interested in working as a Park Manager, what advice could you give them?
Be sure to get seasonal work in the field while attending school. This will help you see what rangers really do. Get some training in vehicle and building maintenance. It?s a definite plus with our agency to have plumbing and carpentry skills.
Recreation degrees for colleges and University are great, but really learn what you will be doing with what ever agency you are looking at. Some agencies specialize more and some do everything like we do.
<< See other Idaho interviews -- Search by state -- Search by job title>>
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