Work in Wisconsin State Parks, Forests, or Trails

Ranger Dave Frie of Peninsula State Park shows his patrol vehicle radio to a young visitor. Photo by Kathleen Harris

Would you like to work at a state park, trail, or recreation area? Join the parks team!

Park system employees work in:

• natural resources law enforcement
• public contact and visitor information
• interpretation and natural resource education
• maintenance of buildings and grounds
• property and resource management

Check the Department of Natural Resources or Department of Employee Relations [exit DNR] job listings for job announcements and exams.

Park Ranger and Manager Jobs

Park ranger and manager jobs require law enforcement credentials, and the applicant must meet the minimum standards set by the Department of Justice (DOJ) [exit DNR].

People interested as working as a park ranger at a Wisconsin state park, trail or forest can take a ranger operations/enforcement exam that will be offered Saturday, March 8, at 14 sites throughout the state. Results of the exam will be used to create a list of eligible candidates to fill a number of vacancies that may occur throughout the state during the next six to 12 months.

Limited-term rangers must meet the DOJ standards and have the required law enforcement training before being hired. Full-time permanent applicants must complete the civil service exam for park ranger or manager positions to be considered for employment.

Other Types of Jobs

Other positions in state parks do not require law enforcement credentials. These include naturalists, maintenance workers, visitor service workers, and clerical staff.

Limited-term Employees

Limited-term employees (LTEs) are hired directly by each park, forest, or trail for a variety of seasonal work, with a maximum total employment time of 1043 hours. See the list of LTE openings or contact the individual park, forest, or trail of your choice for details.

State Jobs [exit DNR]

For more information about park ranger and manager jobs, ask Jason Fritz , (608) 266-2152. For information about other park jobs, ask Wisconsin State Parks, (608) 266-2181.