Read my post just before yours. Minimum requirements for entry level are being 18 and having a drivers license.
There is a fair bit of opportunity in your state for that career, even more in the NW.
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outdoors jobs
- Thread starter sharpmind
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Read my post just before yours. Minimum requirements for entry level are being 18 and having a drivers license.
There is a fair bit of opportunity in your state for that career, even more in the NW.
You're graduated high school?
Many/most outdoor jobs are seasonal, particularly in the summer. Camp staff, archaeologists, researchers... The summer is often the best time to get outdoor work done, and the time when recreational facilities are fully staffed (ski resorts an obvious exception). And many/most of the outdoor fields hire college students to fill these seasonal positions (Philmont Scout Ranch hires about 700 summer employees, most of which are college students). Many places hire months in advance so that people can make their summer plans, but there are usually folks who don't show up or don't last on the job, leaving last-minute openings.
Many degree programs expect or even require their students to work in the field over summer vacations.
More specifically, what sort of outdoor work are you interested in?
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Not sure what insight I have to offer, but I grew up with lots of land that always needs work, and I still jump at the chance to work at the local council BSA Summer Camp. This is all taking place in Louisiana (average summer temperature of 90-95 degrees, with an average humidity of 75-80%) where the weather easily dissuades any outdoor activity. Despite the deplorable weather conditions, the month of June is the highlight of the year, since its the straight month that I live outdoors at camp. As long as you aren't breaking your back all day long, extended periods of time outdoors can be a welcome relief to comfortable air conditioned house living (sounds redundant).
Its alwayse best to spend your time outdoors doing something. For me, teaching young scouts all they need to know to be well educated and knowledgeable scouts does it for the most part. Unless your more into the idea of a Walden-esq lifestyle of solidarity written about by Henry David Thoreau, you will have friends around to pass the time and help hold on to your sanity (isolation can drive people crazy).
If you get the chance to work in New Mexico, I would jump at it. Since my hike at Philmont (Itin 24) I've always wanted to go back. Theres something about hiking mountains that makes Louisiana look even flatter.
I promote the idea of living outdoors, and wish you well if you go on to make it a reality. Do it for me, since for the majority of my adult life I will remain behind a desk.
Unfortunately I hold education in a high regard, and I think everyone should be educated beyond simple High School learning. You should definitely go to college to get some kind of degree and become a Game Warden or Park Ranger. That's one way I can think of being outdoors as a career. (My college offers a forestry major if you are interested in trees, look for a college with that major).
Its alwayse best to spend your time outdoors doing something. For me, teaching young scouts all they need to know to be well educated and knowledgeable scouts does it for the most part. Unless your more into the idea of a Walden-esq lifestyle of solidarity written about by Henry David Thoreau, you will have friends around to pass the time and help hold on to your sanity (isolation can drive people crazy).
If you get the chance to work in New Mexico, I would jump at it. Since my hike at Philmont (Itin 24) I've always wanted to go back. Theres something about hiking mountains that makes Louisiana look even flatter.
I promote the idea of living outdoors, and wish you well if you go on to make it a reality. Do it for me, since for the majority of my adult life I will remain behind a desk.
Unfortunately I hold education in a high regard, and I think everyone should be educated beyond simple High School learning. You should definitely go to college to get some kind of degree and become a Game Warden or Park Ranger. That's one way I can think of being outdoors as a career. (My college offers a forestry major if you are interested in trees, look for a college with that major).
OT:
What year(s) did you attend Philmont? I worked there ten years, Wife worked there seven years, and both brothers each worked there multiple years.
What year(s) did you attend Philmont? I worked there ten years, Wife worked there seven years, and both brothers each worked there multiple years.
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- May 18, 2011
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Well, I just got an offer to become a rafting guide for Wide Open Adventure (I believe that's what they are called) and I may take it when my birthday comes around but I'm looking for something a little more, I cannot think of the correct terminology I am looking for, free? and more in the bush. I climb, backpack and raft religiously every year but I am not sure of how to make a career out of all of it. Being a guide would be wonderful, but I have to stay realistic and start out small. I would enjoy teaching scouts (heck I was one for years) but I do not believe i would be welcome. I was promptly kicked out because of my faith, or lack of faith there-of and have never looked back. I am definitely planning on a college education and am currently searching for a school to go to at this moment in time.
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I was out there 608 of '09. We were the first Itin 24 group of the season, and the trails were barren for the first 2/3 of our hike.
I was so nervous because the physical said I was 16lb over max weight, but after talking to the physician, they let me hike on anyway.
According to BSA standards I'm unfit, but if you were to ask any on the members of my group, they would disagree.
I out-hiked a lot of the more fit members, mainly because I had more stamina.
2 hours at max on an elliptical machine each day can get you ready for anything.
I got a job application in the mail to be on '10 staff, but I turned it down to be with my local council.
I'm the Archery Director, and I didn't want to deprive my local camp of one of its more skilled staffers.
Philmont gets tons of experienced staff each year, so they can do just a good without me.
I'd rather use my experience to teach the local scouts and reinforce the scouting program locally.
One of my favorite stories my ranger told was the reason why Philmont stopped serving the dehydrated potato/cheese dinner.
My last year was '97, so I guess we didn't overlap any.
Don't know which camps you visited (the itineraries change every year, and even camps change), but I was Camp Director at Ponil, Iris Park, Sawmill, and Harlan. Wife worked at Cimarroncito, Abreau, and Dan Beard.
Don't know which camps you visited (the itineraries change every year, and even camps change), but I was Camp Director at Ponil, Iris Park, Sawmill, and Harlan. Wife worked at Cimarroncito, Abreau, and Dan Beard.
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- Nov 2, 2009
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- 461
In my country, so many westerners working in outdoor fields; as conservationist, in mining company, and plantation company. My ex supervisors (husband and wife) are great American biologist-conservationist (i learn a lot from them, at the moment they moved to Africa). I also got support from mining company as well, they working in the middle of the jungle. They also need conservationist-environmentalist.
At the moment, i have two beautiful volunteers, a veterinarian student from Germany, and a master degree veterinarian from UK. My adviser also a PhD student of Cambridge University.
i have been working with people from Northern Europe to Australia and from Rusia to US. In the past i worked for The Wildlife Conservation Society (American based NGO founded by Theodore Roosevelt, from 1998-2007) then The Nature Conservancy (also American based NGO, from 2008-2010). I have been in the forest of Sumatra-Papua. Now, working for local NGO in my country. Graduated from Forestry, majoring in conservation then got another degree on Biological Anthropology.
My older sister, she is geologist-lecturer. She is wandering in wilderness as well. Many option to be outdoor person. Choose your own interest. Last Wednesday, i was in Al Jazeera program, few months ago in TV Poland, and Germany radio. And at the moment a TV program from Germany also want to see our project. It is not celebrity things but spreading the information to whole world.
Few years ago, i also help BBC made movie for one of their program. Become a journalist, movie maker also broaden your opportunity to work in the wilderness.
The BBC team, on that time, hiring a professional climber to set up platform on tree (20-40m of height), with very-very good salary. The camerawoman told me that working for 3 months able to support more than a year of her living cost in London. But, don't ask about my life LoL, almost 40 and have nothing (no car, no home), just my beloved wife and newly born son. But i am happy, you can hear gibbon singing from my office, voice of hornbill and several species of primates on the trees in my working area (from orangutan to proboscis monkey).
forgot, my younger brother in law is photographer, now he is in very remote area, in the tip of East Java, surrounded by forest, taking picture for a outdoor company for >6 months. In the past he worked in several project for malaria research (as photographer of course, in several small islands in Java Sea).
At the moment, i have two beautiful volunteers, a veterinarian student from Germany, and a master degree veterinarian from UK. My adviser also a PhD student of Cambridge University.
i have been working with people from Northern Europe to Australia and from Rusia to US. In the past i worked for The Wildlife Conservation Society (American based NGO founded by Theodore Roosevelt, from 1998-2007) then The Nature Conservancy (also American based NGO, from 2008-2010). I have been in the forest of Sumatra-Papua. Now, working for local NGO in my country. Graduated from Forestry, majoring in conservation then got another degree on Biological Anthropology.
My older sister, she is geologist-lecturer. She is wandering in wilderness as well. Many option to be outdoor person. Choose your own interest. Last Wednesday, i was in Al Jazeera program, few months ago in TV Poland, and Germany radio. And at the moment a TV program from Germany also want to see our project. It is not celebrity things but spreading the information to whole world.
Few years ago, i also help BBC made movie for one of their program. Become a journalist, movie maker also broaden your opportunity to work in the wilderness.
The BBC team, on that time, hiring a professional climber to set up platform on tree (20-40m of height), with very-very good salary. The camerawoman told me that working for 3 months able to support more than a year of her living cost in London. But, don't ask about my life LoL, almost 40 and have nothing (no car, no home), just my beloved wife and newly born son. But i am happy, you can hear gibbon singing from my office, voice of hornbill and several species of primates on the trees in my working area (from orangutan to proboscis monkey).
forgot, my younger brother in law is photographer, now he is in very remote area, in the tip of East Java, surrounded by forest, taking picture for a outdoor company for >6 months. In the past he worked in several project for malaria research (as photographer of course, in several small islands in Java Sea).
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- Oct 10, 2009
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- 517
I've seen where a few people have mentioned Surveying, but if you notice, they only did it for a summer job or for a year or two. I recently quit surveying fulltime after 11 years in the field, and while I enjoyed it and it can be very rewarding if you like the outdoors, it is also not a old man's game. Being in the woods is almost a thing of the past as most of the Surveying done in my area, is construction related, which just in case you haven't been following the news the past 3-4 years, construction has all but died off.
The powers that be here in the state of GA are pushing for a 4 year degree in order to become a licensed Surveyor. I personally wasn't willing to try to get a 4 year degree while working fulltime and raising a family, for a Land Surveyor's salary. If you're young and just want a job for a few years until you figure things out, by all means it can a fun job but you will starve those first 3-4 years until you can move up in the ranks, and now that most companies realize that there are hundreds of applicants standing at the door, getting a raise and/or bonus is almost a thing of the past.
I know it sounds like I am disgruntled possibly, but I just want to point out that while there is a good side to working in the Land Surveying industry, there just happens to be more on the bad side in this day and age. Good luck!
The powers that be here in the state of GA are pushing for a 4 year degree in order to become a licensed Surveyor. I personally wasn't willing to try to get a 4 year degree while working fulltime and raising a family, for a Land Surveyor's salary. If you're young and just want a job for a few years until you figure things out, by all means it can a fun job but you will starve those first 3-4 years until you can move up in the ranks, and now that most companies realize that there are hundreds of applicants standing at the door, getting a raise and/or bonus is almost a thing of the past.
I know it sounds like I am disgruntled possibly, but I just want to point out that while there is a good side to working in the Land Surveying industry, there just happens to be more on the bad side in this day and age. Good luck!
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River Guides, Raft guides, canoe instructors, backpacking instructors. ALl of those and plenty more require a lifestyle of one that can move around with a small amount of gear and anchors, living out of their cars, etc. Check out the touristy areas and go talk to the younger raft guides. They can tell you where to go, and in most cases, who is looking for what, where.
I started out being sent away to camp as a kid, then rented sea kayaks, and hobie cats as a teen. AFter that I used to do wetland delineation work and ecosystem mapping work. I have a graduate level geoscience/cartography/remote sensing/GIS background. I sincerely enjoyed doing that type of work, but the need for a PhD and grant pulling "gravity" kind of limits opportunity. Did coastal survey work for a while too. Again, I enjoyed it quite a bit.
I have literally dozen of friends and acquaintances that work in everything from hydrology, river guides, petrochem geologists, back pack leaders/trip guides, fishing/hunting guides, etc.
My general observation is that there are always more options with higher education achievement, else an abundance of domain knowledge is requisite which may suite you if academic credentials aren't your thing, and you have serious hunting/fishing/rafting/boating guide skills, etc.
Now I sail a keyboard in the geospatial industry: grass is always greener... I like what I do know too.
I have literally dozen of friends and acquaintances that work in everything from hydrology, river guides, petrochem geologists, back pack leaders/trip guides, fishing/hunting guides, etc.
My general observation is that there are always more options with higher education achievement, else an abundance of domain knowledge is requisite which may suite you if academic credentials aren't your thing, and you have serious hunting/fishing/rafting/boating guide skills, etc.
Now I sail a keyboard in the geospatial industry: grass is always greener... I like what I do know too.
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