Student Ranger Student

Park Rangers on Harding Icefield Trail — Connect with and find mentorship from other rangers both local and from afar.
NPS Photo/G. Russell

Looking for an Exciting Summer Opportunity?

Join us in the green & gray at Kenai Fjords National Park.

Want to help people from all walks of life learn and care about the beautiful place you call home? Work with other local youth and supportive colleagues as you develop professional skills for your future.

Kenai Fjords National Park has a unique summer employment opportunity for local youth to work in the Division of Interpretation and Education as a Park Guide. As a Student Ranger Student, you will bring your local knowledge to the park, and bring your experience in the park back to your school.

Opportunities for youth applicants 16+ to work full-time during summer between the school calendar at ~$17/hr. Applicants under 18 must have parental consent to participate in the program.

Application information and eligibility can be found at the bottom of the page.

Build Professional Skills That Will Take You Places

The Student Ranger Student program will train you and help you develop a wide variety of skills that will set you up for success as a Park Guide and for your future career—whatever that is!

Learn important skills such as public speaking, how to develop and give programs to a wide range of audiences, how to work as a professional on a collaborative team, how to build your resume for the future, and more.

Work with and learn all about the many different roles that together keep the park running.

A Park Ranger speaks to an audience of four in the Kenai Fjords National Park Visitor Center — Use local knowledge and new skills learned to connect with visitors.
NPS Photo

What's a Student Ranger Student?

Student Ranger Student is a unique program to Kenai Fjords National Park where local youth have the opportunity to work summers as park rangers. When Student Ranger Students return to their school in the fall, they share their summer experience with classmates by classroom presentation. Currently, the position available through this program is Park Guide.

What's a Park Guide?

As a Park Guide in the Division of Interpretation, you interpret the park to visitors, helping them find connections that tie them to this rapidly changing landscape (no extra languages required!). Duties include working in the Exit Glacier Nature Center and on nearby trails as well as behind the desk at the Kenai Fjords National Park Visitor Center in Seward Harbor. Provide orientation, information, and interpretation services to visitors. Give 20-minute talks to visitors with pre-established material on local wildlife, or channel your creativity to create your own.

Two park rangers in uniform reach out an arm towards each other in front a park sign reading "Kenai Fjords National Park / Exit Glacier Area" — Work with amazing community at Kenai Fjords National Park.
NPS Photo / A. Fejes

How to Apply

Applications will are CLOSED for summer 2025

If you are 16+ and looking to jump right in to a rewarding opportunity we invite you to apply to be a Park Guide with the Student Ranger Student program. Applicants under 18 must have parental/guardian consent to participate in the program.

Check the Local Hire Authority Page to obtain a downloadable version of the application and instructions on how to apply. Look for the Park Guide, GS-0090-03 position.

The number of openings for the Student Ranger Student Park Guide position vary from year to year. If you are a local youth between the ages of 15 and 18, we recommend you also apply for the Youth Conservation Corps at the same time.

Questions? Contact Joe Rodrigues or 907-422-0532.