Park Ranger Career Development Internship

The Virginia Department of Conservation (DCR) is the state’s lead conservation agency, and it takes a diverse agency to work for a diverse commonwealth. DCR protects what people care about – access to the outdoors, natural habitats, open spaces, clean water and safe infrastructure.

We manage 38 Virginia State Parks, which have thousands of campsites, hundreds of cabins, beaches, festivals, educational programs, more than 500 miles of trails… the list goes on.

DCR is currently searching for students to join our Park Ranger Career Development Internship program in multiple locations throughout the state.

The Park Ranger Career Development Internship program offers college students a great way to get started in a state parks career. It’s a two to three-year intern program, held in the summer, which introduces college students to park operations and ensures that applicants are prepared for entry level management positions.

Those accepted into the program will spend from 10 to 12 weeks each summer working in a state park. Students are trained in all aspects of the state park chief ranger position. Students that perform well are invited to participate the following summer and will be assigned to a different park. Upon graduation from college, students are encouraged to apply for park ranger and chief ranger positions in the state park system.

The duties of a State Park Intern include a wide variety or responsibilities. The goal of the program is to provide exposure to the many facets of state park operations including: Maintenance, Customer Service, Business, Interpretation/Education, Housekeeping, Administration and Resource Management.

If you’re someone who wants to love what you do and make a difference, DCR is the place for you!

In order to be considered for the Park Ranger Career Development Internship, you must:

Must be at least 18 years of age and possess a valid driver’s license.

Be enrolled as a college student (or enrolled as a transfer student for fall 2019) and possess a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.5 or above on a 4.0 scale.

Volunteering or paid experience in a customer service capacity.

Experience with volunteering, community service, participant in sports, clubs or other team environment.

Volunteering or paid experience with cash management (running a cash register, tendering cash ect.)

Education and/or experience working in parks or other outdoor recreational settings, including Youth Conservation Corps.

Experience or knowledge in building and grounds maintenance.

Experience or knowledge of supervising employees, employee safety and record keeping.

Special Requirements Criminal history record check, references, work history and DMV driving record will be verified prior to employment. Ability to work in diverse conditions including exposure to the outdoors, weather in all seasons, dust, animals and insects. Ability to perform heavy manual labor to include standing, bending, pulling, climbing, and frequent lifting.

State applications will only be accepted as submitted online by 11:59 pm on the closing date through the Recruitment Management System (RMS). State applications submitted via email, postal mail, fax, or in person will not be considered. Applicants are expected to fully represent qualifications and work history on the State application. The decision to interview an applicant is based on the information provided on the application, therefore, it is essential to fully complete each section of the application and provide detailed information. Submitting an incomplete state application, or a state application lacking in detail, may impact your interview eligibility. Applications that say See Resume will not be considered. This website will provide a confirmation of receipt when the application is submitted successfully. Please refer to “Your Application” in your RMS Account to check the status of your application for this position. The Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) is an Equal Opportunity Employer by both policy and practice. Women, minorities, and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

Employment in all positions within the Virginia State Parks is contingent upon satisfactory completion of a background check.