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outdoors jobs
- Thread starter sharpmind
- Start date
4 years in the Navy. Plenty of fresh air and sunshine on the flight deck. And you're hardly ever more than a mile from land...straight down! Another outdoor job is delivery. FedX, UPS, USPS. I was a home delivery milkman for 4 years. Almost any law enforcement job is outside work. I too took a while to find my niche. When I was 27 I had the good fortune to be hired as a game warden. 191 tested and they hired 4 of us. One guy quit the next month. Cancer got the other two. I got my 35 year pin in February. I'll be here 'til they run me off.
- Joined
- Jul 3, 2009
- Messages
- 1,213
Come to Alberta and work on an oil rig. You work outdoors all the time and as a roughneck you will make $90,000 your first year and it only goes up from there, trust me you can climb the ranks quick. I am a driller on a rig here and if you are interested let me know i'll let you know how to get in touch with the right people. We are desperate for workers and you are guaranteed a good job. Its dangerous though, people can die quick.
I was around the drill rigs for a few years as a geologist. Lots of time outdoors, saw lots of backcountry, had some 4x4 driving adventures, spent plenty of nights in the forest, and made lots of money (for around here anyway).
The noise, more than anything else, kept the job from being enjoyable.
- Joined
- Jul 27, 2005
- Messages
- 8,167
I grew up working the family farm in spring-early fall (weekends too). When I got a bit older I did whitewater guiding and volunteered for SAR. I was outside all the time and sometimes it was awesome....sometimes it sucks. I mean the weather, depending on where you are at the days arent always sunny and warm and sometimes you wished you were inside. Would not have traded the experience for anything and sometimes I think about getting into the DNR or something that will put me outside. Then there are the days its 45 degrees and raining out and I sit here in my warm office as a Network Engineer and am happy I can choose the nice days to go out and play. Just saying everythings a trade off.
Thank you all for the responses. i'm kind of leaning towards going to school again for something forestry related, with a minor of some kind of medical training (have a fair amount of training in this already, worked as a PCA for a while) as for the oil rig thing i like all my extremities a little too much. i do however like the idea of ending up in Canada.
mckrob
Gold Member
- Joined
- Jan 15, 2007
- Messages
- 2,018
I've been working in mineral exploration as a geophysicist for almost 20 years now. I was enrolled in chemistry my first year in university and very quickly realised that I would never see the light of day as a chemist. I wanted a profession that a) let me work outside; b) let me travel; c) paid a decent wage. Geology seemed to fit the bill so I changed to a combined geophysics and geology programme and never looked back.
The first couple of years after graduation were hell, and I loved it. The work is not all that glamorous, the pay is low, and working conditions can be be pretty miserable. For the first ten years, I lived in a tent for eleven months of the year and worked in some of the most remote places on the planet (Canadian Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Labrador, Greenland, Alaska, Amazon, Andes, Scandinavia, Africa, Australia, etc...). 20 years later and I still love it. There is a lot to be said for truly enjoying what you do for a living!
If interested in this sort of work, there is potential to still be a technical crew leader (running a geophysical survey crew) without any formal training if you have the right stuff. As mentioned, in the beginning the pay is low, but you'll know right away if it's for you. You would work outside 99% of the time, in the bush/jungle/tundra/desert , and if you like to travel, it's hard to beat. PM me if you like and I can forward you some links to potential employers.
Good luck !!
The first couple of years after graduation were hell, and I loved it. The work is not all that glamorous, the pay is low, and working conditions can be be pretty miserable. For the first ten years, I lived in a tent for eleven months of the year and worked in some of the most remote places on the planet (Canadian Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Labrador, Greenland, Alaska, Amazon, Andes, Scandinavia, Africa, Australia, etc...). 20 years later and I still love it. There is a lot to be said for truly enjoying what you do for a living!
If interested in this sort of work, there is potential to still be a technical crew leader (running a geophysical survey crew) without any formal training if you have the right stuff. As mentioned, in the beginning the pay is low, but you'll know right away if it's for you. You would work outside 99% of the time, in the bush/jungle/tundra/desert , and if you like to travel, it's hard to beat. PM me if you like and I can forward you some links to potential employers.
Good luck !!
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I've been working in the forestry field for 20+ years. I can say it has been the dream job for me. Many people do not realize that there are many different types of forestry jobs. Many jobs are in government working on pubic lands. Other government jobs are advising private landowners in the management of their lands. Most full time government forester jobs require a 4 yr degree. Many jobs are in forest industry managing industrial lands. Sawmills have procurement foresters who purchase logs from independent loggers or buy standing timber. Utility companies have foresters on staff for managing vegetation along their power lines. If you want to work for yourself, there are many consulting foresters who work for private land owners to assist them in the management of their lands. Cities have urban foresters who manage tens of thousands of urban trees along streets. Some cities also have watershed foresters on staff to manage their watershed properties. If you are a traveler, there is the field of international forestry - often in tropical countries.
Most foresters go into the field because they love being in the woods. In the end, forestry in all about managing trees and other forest resources for the needs of PEOPLE. If you go into forestry, you will end up dealing with people AND forests. Forestry jobs can be hard to find but if you get the necessary education and are a smart, persistent, enthusiastic worker, and willing to relocate, you will find a job. The pay might not be the best, but the work can be very rewarding in other ways. On the other hand, if you want an easy to find job that pays well - go to nursing school and go to the woods on your days off.
Trail maintenance jobs are typically seasonal positions with government or trail clubs working on public lands. Wild land firefighting is something you may want to consider working on a US Forest Service fire crew.
Most foresters go into the field because they love being in the woods. In the end, forestry in all about managing trees and other forest resources for the needs of PEOPLE. If you go into forestry, you will end up dealing with people AND forests. Forestry jobs can be hard to find but if you get the necessary education and are a smart, persistent, enthusiastic worker, and willing to relocate, you will find a job. The pay might not be the best, but the work can be very rewarding in other ways. On the other hand, if you want an easy to find job that pays well - go to nursing school and go to the woods on your days off.
Trail maintenance jobs are typically seasonal positions with government or trail clubs working on public lands. Wild land firefighting is something you may want to consider working on a US Forest Service fire crew.
Shrodinger's Cat
BANNED
- Joined
- Mar 20, 2011
- Messages
- 907
someone mentioned surveying, it is great advice
you need training to make a career out of it, usually a dedicated 2 year degree, experience, then licensure
the money is good, and they are in great demand in many areas
in PA many PE's who were grandfathered in are retiring, leaving a real shortage
with no experience, but some desire, you may find work in the field working the 'dumb end' of the stick and lugging the equipment...
our field guys are in the field 32-34 hours a week, and a bit in the office maintaining the gear and helping put the data on paper
you need training to make a career out of it, usually a dedicated 2 year degree, experience, then licensure
the money is good, and they are in great demand in many areas
in PA many PE's who were grandfathered in are retiring, leaving a real shortage
with no experience, but some desire, you may find work in the field working the 'dumb end' of the stick and lugging the equipment...
our field guys are in the field 32-34 hours a week, and a bit in the office maintaining the gear and helping put the data on paper
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- Joined
- Jul 12, 2008
- Messages
- 1,397
Some kind of biology researcher is definitely an tough outdoor job.
I know a guy lost his life in the Antarctic.
I've also heard geographical and meteorological survey are also an outdoor job.
I know a guy (he's a climber) doing job for such services.
All the jobs I listed require serious outdoor skills.
I know a guy lost his life in the Antarctic.
I've also heard geographical and meteorological survey are also an outdoor job.
I know a guy (he's a climber) doing job for such services.
All the jobs I listed require serious outdoor skills.
- Joined
- Sep 2, 2008
- Messages
- 7,702
I've actually been looking into the same thing. I'm doing basic science research with a university right now, and I have found myself veering away from a career in medicine or medical research. I've decided to pursue the graduate education necessary for a career that will allow me to combine my interest in biology, the skill-set picked up through years of experience in a basic science lab, and my passion for being outside. At the moment, I'm considering Forestry, Conservation Science, and Zoology or Wildlife Biology. I'm not crazy about committing the time and lack of money required to complete a PhD, so right now, I'm trying to find out just what sort of career I could do with just a MS, or even better, no additional schooling. Alas, it seems I'll just have to compromise somewhere.
Funny thing, once I decided conclusively that a career as a physician just wasn't worth pursuing (considering my personality, interests, and skills) I actually considered doing what Sylvan mentioned: going to nursing school, becoming a Nurse Practitioner, and just enjoy being outside on my free time. Unfortunately, from what I've seen of nursing, it's basically all the stuff I knew I wouldn't enjoy as a physician and none of the things I would enjoy. And unlike getting a medical degree, I wouldn't be able to pursue a career in scientific research. So, it's been "back to the drawing board" since....
Check out the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook for a good primer on some of the more easily defined careers. For example: Conservation Scientists and Foresters :thumbup:
Funny thing, once I decided conclusively that a career as a physician just wasn't worth pursuing (considering my personality, interests, and skills) I actually considered doing what Sylvan mentioned: going to nursing school, becoming a Nurse Practitioner, and just enjoy being outside on my free time. Unfortunately, from what I've seen of nursing, it's basically all the stuff I knew I wouldn't enjoy as a physician and none of the things I would enjoy. And unlike getting a medical degree, I wouldn't be able to pursue a career in scientific research. So, it's been "back to the drawing board" since....
Check out the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook for a good primer on some of the more easily defined careers. For example: Conservation Scientists and Foresters :thumbup:
Sharpmind - You should check out the web site for the Society of American Foresters (SAF). They are the main organization that represents professional foresters. See the student section of their site. Anyone who is interested in becoming a forester should go to an SAF accredited school. Stevens Point is accredited by SAF. Many schools have "natural resources" programs but if they are not SAF accredited, they may not prepare you for an actual job. Instead, these programs may offer students a general background education in environmental sciences but they may not offer enough depth in coursework to prepare the student to compete in the forestry job market.
A second web site you may want to browse is the Forest Guild. This is somewhat newer organization that represents foresters and other natural resource professionals. Their site has a lot of info to give you an overview of the issues that foresters deal with.
Lastly, here is some advice that is strictly my opinion, sort of related to my first point. The universities now offer many degree programs in other fields related to forests and forestry than when I went to college. These programs include topics such as ecology, conservation biology, environmental sciences, wildlife biology, ecosystem studies, etc. These programs prepare students to become biologists, ecologists or environmental scientists. They are the IST job titles. Foresters are are one of the ER job titles. If you have a burning passion to study, write and communicate about problems - be an IST. IF you are a doer and want to take action and DO something about a problem, be an ER. Foresters tend to be doers. Society needs both ISTs and ERs. The ERs learn from the ISTs. The ISTs tend to think they know everything, but they often lack on the ground knowledge that the ERs have. There are IST jobs that involve outside work, but they tend to spend lots of time inside writing reports. The number of job opportunities are very limited and you often need advanced degrees. Forestry is unique in that it is the only field of knowledge whose specialty is about trees and forest systems. Trees or timber, are a commodity that have economic value. Timber markets are interconnected world wide. Society needs timber, or the money generated from timber, so society also needs foresters. Thus, there are more jobs for foresters than many of the other ISTs that also work in the woods.
Be careful about the field of study you choose. I have met many unemployed or underemployed people with IST degrees who really just want to work outside and do forestry work...but they do not have a forestry degree. They only realized that they did not get the right education until after they have completed their schooling.
A second web site you may want to browse is the Forest Guild. This is somewhat newer organization that represents foresters and other natural resource professionals. Their site has a lot of info to give you an overview of the issues that foresters deal with.
Lastly, here is some advice that is strictly my opinion, sort of related to my first point. The universities now offer many degree programs in other fields related to forests and forestry than when I went to college. These programs include topics such as ecology, conservation biology, environmental sciences, wildlife biology, ecosystem studies, etc. These programs prepare students to become biologists, ecologists or environmental scientists. They are the IST job titles. Foresters are are one of the ER job titles. If you have a burning passion to study, write and communicate about problems - be an IST. IF you are a doer and want to take action and DO something about a problem, be an ER. Foresters tend to be doers. Society needs both ISTs and ERs. The ERs learn from the ISTs. The ISTs tend to think they know everything, but they often lack on the ground knowledge that the ERs have. There are IST jobs that involve outside work, but they tend to spend lots of time inside writing reports. The number of job opportunities are very limited and you often need advanced degrees. Forestry is unique in that it is the only field of knowledge whose specialty is about trees and forest systems. Trees or timber, are a commodity that have economic value. Timber markets are interconnected world wide. Society needs timber, or the money generated from timber, so society also needs foresters. Thus, there are more jobs for foresters than many of the other ISTs that also work in the woods.
Be careful about the field of study you choose. I have met many unemployed or underemployed people with IST degrees who really just want to work outside and do forestry work...but they do not have a forestry degree. They only realized that they did not get the right education until after they have completed their schooling.
Another career that has not been talked about in detail is wildland firefighting. You spend most of the summer in the woods and depending on where you work you work for about 5-6 months out of the year. Pay is pretty good compared to most outdoors jobs - you can make about double what a trail crew makes in a season at the lower pay grades. Starting out you can easily make around $25k for your first season, and then once you get a season or two of experience you can make $30-40k in a summer. That may not sound like a lot but you rarely have time to spend any of that during the season, so you easily have around 90% of your total pay in the bank at the end of the season. A lot of guys then spend the winter traveling, skiing, going to college, and working out for the next season. After you have done if for a few years, you can move up into leadership roles which pay even more, ~$50k+ for about 5-6 months work. No specialized degree or education is required, although a degree in certain natural resource subjects can get you into higher pay-grades with the feds. A good work ethic, maturity, physical and mental toughness are the keys to success and will take you far in this career.
It is pretty hard to do this job and not work for the government - either the feds or the state. There are a lot of contractors (especially on the west coast) out there now which provide crews, engines, and overhead to fires, but the pay is not quite as good and the employment can be spotty at best. If you work for the feds or a state agency you have employment for the entire summer, even when not on fires.
Some positions have housing and mess halls so you do not have to worry about much for the entire summer so it is not much of an issue if your job is on the other side of the country from your home.
It is a bit late to get into this this year but the applications for the feds start opening usually in Dec and they can start hiring as soon as 1 Jan for the following season.
If you have any questions, or if anyone has any questions I have been doing this for a while so just PM me. I got out of the Army in 2007 and jumped right into this and it has been a blast. Best job and lifestyle in the world in my opinion.
It is pretty hard to do this job and not work for the government - either the feds or the state. There are a lot of contractors (especially on the west coast) out there now which provide crews, engines, and overhead to fires, but the pay is not quite as good and the employment can be spotty at best. If you work for the feds or a state agency you have employment for the entire summer, even when not on fires.
Some positions have housing and mess halls so you do not have to worry about much for the entire summer so it is not much of an issue if your job is on the other side of the country from your home.
It is a bit late to get into this this year but the applications for the feds start opening usually in Dec and they can start hiring as soon as 1 Jan for the following season.
If you have any questions, or if anyone has any questions I have been doing this for a while so just PM me. I got out of the Army in 2007 and jumped right into this and it has been a blast. Best job and lifestyle in the world in my opinion.
- Joined
- May 18, 2011
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- 1,476
Not trying to hijack here, but I was actually about to post a thread like this. Without being rude by stealing the attention for a post, what would be the best course of action for a rewarding outdoor career outside of high school? Yup, I'm a youngin'.....and sorry Sharpmind, its all you my man...