Missouri State Park Jobs and Career Opportunities
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What are a few of the projects that you've been working on recently that have been the most interesting?
I planned, coordinated and then led an exploration trip into Devil?s Icebox Cave. Sixteen volunteers participated. Some were park volunteers who lead groups on wild cave tours, while others were with the Ozark Cave Diving Alliance. We went 2 1/2 miles into the cave and back out carrying 185 pounds of scuba gear in addition to our usual gear.
It was challenging physically. We were in the cave for 14 hours. The reward was that after 60 feet of water, two scuba divers entered and mapped 1300 feet of cave passage that no one had ever stepped foot into before! They reported seeing an animal that had not yet been reported for this cave, however this needs to be verified. Exciting stuff! Especially with caves, there is a lot yet to be discovered and researched.
Another exciting project was when I talked with a few hundred people who stopped by my table at a "Stream Extravaganza" held in the nearby city of Columbia. I transported supplies to the site. I used a model of a slice of the earth to demonstrate how water travels through sinkholes and into caves quickly and how it can easily become polluted. I talked about the park?s geology, bats and cave tours.
If someone were interested in working as a Park Naturalist at a state park, what advice could you give them?
There just aren?t that many positions and there tends to be little turnover, so openings of permanent positions are rare.
Therefore, you need to be willing to move around for a few years and work in seasonal jobs in order to gain experience and be available for an opening where ever it may be located. This might be difficult depending upon your family situation. My husband was willing to move with me.
I planned, coordinated and then led an exploration trip into Devil?s Icebox Cave. Sixteen volunteers participated. Some were park volunteers who lead groups on wild cave tours, while others were with the Ozark Cave Diving Alliance. We went 2 1/2 miles into the cave and back out carrying 185 pounds of scuba gear in addition to our usual gear. It was challenging physically. We were in the cave for 14 hours. The reward was that after 60 feet of water, two scuba divers entered and mapped 1300 feet of cave passage that no one had ever stepped foot into before! They reported seeing an animal that had not yet been reported for this cave, however this needs to be verified. Exciting stuff! Especially with caves, there is a lot yet to be discovered and researched.
Another exciting project was when I talked with a few hundred people who stopped by my table at a "Stream Extravaganza" held in the nearby city of Columbia. I transported supplies to the site. I used a model of a slice of the earth to demonstrate how water travels through sinkholes and into caves quickly and how it can easily become polluted. I talked about the park?s geology, bats and cave tours.
If someone were interested in working as a Park Naturalist at a state park, what advice could you give them?
There just aren?t that many positions and there tends to be little turnover, so openings of permanent positions are rare. Therefore, you need to be willing to move around for a few years and work in seasonal jobs in order to gain experience and be available for an opening where ever it may be located. This might be difficult depending upon your family situation. My husband was willing to move with me.
What are a few of the projects that you've been working on recently that have been the most interesting?
I planned, coordinated and then led an exploration trip into Devil?s Icebox Cave. Sixteen volunteers participated. Some were park volunteers who lead groups on wild cave tours, while others were with the Ozark Cave Diving Alliance. We went 2 1/2 miles into the cave and back out carrying 185 pounds of scuba gear in addition to our usual gear.
It was challenging physically. We were in the cave for 14 hours. The reward was that after 60 feet of water, two scuba divers entered and mapped 1300 feet of cave passage that no one had ever stepped foot into before! They reported seeing an animal that had not yet been reported for this cave, however this needs to be verified. Exciting stuff! Especially with caves, there is a lot yet to be discovered and researched.
Another exciting project was when I talked with a few hundred people who stopped by my table at a "Stream Extravaganza" held in the nearby city of Columbia. I transported supplies to the site. I used a model of a slice of the earth to demonstrate how water travels through sinkholes and into caves quickly and how it can easily become polluted. I talked about the park?s geology, bats and cave tours.
If someone were interested in working as a Park Naturalist at a state park, what advice could you give them?
There just aren?t that many positions and there tends to be little turnover, so openings of permanent positions are rare.
Therefore, you need to be willing to move around for a few years and work in seasonal jobs in order to gain experience and be available for an opening where ever it may be located. This might be difficult depending upon your family situation. My husband was willing to move with me.
<< See other Missouri interviews -- Search by state -- Search by job title>>Interview with a Park Naturalist (continued) What are a few of the projects that you've been working on recently that have been the most interesting?
I planned, coordinated and then led an exploration trip into Devil?s Icebox Cave. Sixteen volunteers participated. Some were park volunteers who lead groups on wild cave tours, while others were with the Ozark Cave Diving Alliance. We went 2 1/2 miles into the cave and back out carrying 185 pounds of scuba gear in addition to our usual gear. It was challenging physically. We were in the cave for 14 hours. The reward was that after 60 feet of water, two scuba divers entered and mapped 1300 feet of cave passage that no one had ever stepped foot into before! They reported seeing an animal that had not yet been reported for this cave, however this needs to be verified. Exciting stuff! Especially with caves, there is a lot yet to be discovered and researched.
Another exciting project was when I talked with a few hundred people who stopped by my table at a "Stream Extravaganza" held in the nearby city of Columbia. I transported supplies to the site. I used a model of a slice of the earth to demonstrate how water travels through sinkholes and into caves quickly and how it can easily become polluted. I talked about the park?s geology, bats and cave tours.
If someone were interested in working as a Park Naturalist at a state park, what advice could you give them?
There just aren?t that many positions and there tends to be little turnover, so openings of permanent positions are rare. Therefore, you need to be willing to move around for a few years and work in seasonal jobs in order to gain experience and be available for an opening where ever it may be located. This might be difficult depending upon your family situation. My husband was willing to move with me.
<< See other Missouri interviews -- Search by state -- Search by job title>>
