State Park Jobs in California
State Park jobs in California allow RVers to share their time in exchange for rewards, such as the opportunity to live in some of the most beautiful and sought-after locations California has to offer! From beaches to mountains and just about everywhere in between, location is one of the main benefits of volunteer-based State Park jobs. California has much to offer RVers each and every season!
California State Parks Jobs
As a vital part of the overall success of California State Parks, volunteers make up a large part of the staff. You’ll notice them around, ready to educate and teach the public about these valued locations that are scattered throughout the state.
The system’s properties include more than just your typical idea of a state park. It also includes a variety of treasured resources like historic monuments, lighthouses, ghost towns, beaches, museums, historic homes, visitor centers, and even off-road vehicle parks.
The California State Park system, which according to the California Department of Parks and Recreation, now includes “280 state park units, over 340 miles of coastline, 970 miles of lake and river frontage, 15,000 campsites, and 5,200 miles of trails, 3,195 historic buildings, and more than 11,000 known prehistoric and historic archaeological sites”, continues to thrive and grow with over 68 million people annually visiting State Park jobs in California.
“Working for California State Parks is more than just a job, it’s an opportunity to become a steward of some of the most important historic, beautiful and culturally significant resources in the state,”
California State Parks Director Lisa Mangat
Lisa Mangat said in a recent press release. “Our employees work tirelessly to preserve delicate environments, modernize visitor connections through technology, and protect and uphold the law – all the while remaining dedicated to living the parks life throughout California.”
Living the Parks Life is a phrase California State Parks uses to describe the life of those who work and volunteer inside the park system. They encourage people to “become a California State Parks volunteer and BE the difference!”.
Why Volunteer For State Park Jobs California
Many RVers are interested in volunteering for government agencies, charities, and non-profits, where their hourly contribution is highly sought after. Their participation is heavily relied upon and the reward for such flows in forms other than monetary compensation.
Volunteering can be a very rewarding choice for RVers who desire experiences and benefits other than cash and have other means to sustain their travels such as savings, retirement, or social security.
On the other hand, some folks have found that volunteering is an entrance ticket to paid positions or a way to gain experience in Workamping when they are just starting out. These folks accept a volunteer gig in hopes of gaining experience and building their Workamper resume to give them a leg up for future positions down the road.
Overall, volunteering is just another way to work and travel!
It’s a way to travel and see the country in exchange for work completed at various sites along the way. I encourage you to think of the possibilities that working for an organization such as California State Parks would do, not only for you but for the bigger goal of preserving and maintaining our country’s natural resources.
As a volunteer, you will have the opportunity to experience and learn the history of the area while living in a historical site and spending time in nature. You can help maintain and preserve the state’s natural environment and help habitats that are endangered or in need of repair.
Many volunteers in State Park jobs in California, choose to take on these opportunities for the chance of making new friends, meeting new people, and sharing the things they learn with the general public.
Available Positions for State Park Jobs in California.
There are many positions available for interested volunteers to choose from!
Your time and your skills will be contributing to maintaining the park’s assets, encouraging visitor engagement, and sometimes behind-the-scenes tasks whose direct goals are to keep the park’s operation up and running smoothly.
You can volunteer to work in a state park as a campground host and live onsite at one of many properties, or maybe help out in the visitor center and conduct tours as a docent.
There are also park jobs available for roles in maintenance, safety patrol, landscaping, and many others!
Docents Jobs in California State Parks:
Becoming a trained volunteer historian who interprets the natural and cultural features of the state parks, is an amazing opportunity to have direct contact with park visitors. A highly trained position that requires continuous enrichment and training, Docents are able to receive the facts and information pertinent to the location and add their personal style into the delivery.
Job responsibilities may vary based on your location placement, but the opportunity to become involved with the educational programs, tours, living history reenactments, and more, entices energetic folks to apply for these roles! People who are genuinely great with public speaking, have a knack for communications, and a passion for sharing stories, are a great fit for these positions!
Public Safety Patrol Jobs in California State Parks:
The overall job of the Public Safety patrol volunteers is to provide safety information to the public. This includes, but is not limited to, first aid and emergency assistance that might be required during the foot, boat, mountain bike, horseback, or ATV patrol on the property.
Park Hosts Jobs in California State Parks:
The most well-known job for a Workamper is a Park Host. The Park Host is the face of the campground areas and more. A highly visible and accessible representative of the park system that assists day use and overnight visitors in a variety of ways from collecting fees, and cleaning facilities, to encouraging compliance with park rules and maybe even some light maintenance work.
The Park Host performs a broad range of job duties and is more like a jack of all trades than a master of one. These positions will usually require onsite living for ease of access and may require a 1-3-month commitment, or longer depending on the park. Some parks prefer long-term commitments, while others accept shorter stays from multiple hosts throughout the year.
In most cases, the park host will work about 20-30 hours per week in exchange for their campsite, utilities, and access to the facilities. While many parks offer full hookups, there are some parks that offer a more rustic experience and have partial hookups or none at all.
Visitor Center Jobs in California State Parks:
If you’re best at customer service, then the Visitor Center might be the best place for your service inside the park system! Every business needs a smiling cheerful and moreover, helpful representative to greet visitors and provide accurate information! You can be that person as a Visitor Center Volunteer!
The main job duties will likely include answering questions in person and over the phone about the specific park amenities, trails, location, and more, in addition to greeting guests onsite! Those who excel with direct contact with the public and who also have great people skills and a friendly disposition should do well in these positions!
Natural Resource Protection Jobs in California State Parks:
These dedicated volunteers will play a critical role in the protection of natural resources in the California State Parks. Volunteers may be asked to assist with variety of hands-on jobs like exotic plant removal or relocation, trail maintenance and construction, beach cleanups, habitat restorations, and even native plant nurturing and enhancement projects.
With something always on the list to do, to add to the overall welfare of the park, the Natural Resource Protection volunteer is a great position for someone who likes to stay busy and work with nature!
Want to learn more about workamping and how you can make money on the road? Check out Workamping: Jobs for RVers |The Ultimate Guide.
Apply for State Park Jobs in California
If you’re really interested in State Park Jobs in California, my suggestion before applying for any position is to thoroughly research the park, its location, and to find out the amenities that will be offered in exchange for your time.
Since not all volunteer positions will likely come with the same benefits such as a campsite with full hookups, it’s best to know upfront what exactly you are applying for. Once you know for sure that the position is something you are interested in and are capable of doing for the set time commitment, you’ll want to complete a Volunteer in Parks Application.
Since each park is managed separately, you’ll need to send your completed application to the volunteer coordinator at the park you are interested in working for. ***If applying to more than one location, be sure to send each location a separate copy of your application.
On your application, put your best foot forward!
These positions will be competitive, and the best applicant will end up getting the job. Take your time to fill out the application entirely and to your best ability, paying particular attention to the education and employment background section, and then attach a more detailed resume that further highlights your skills and experience!
Make sure to provide the information for three verifiable references who can vouch for your work ethic and abilities as they pertain to these positions. The more information you provide to the volunteer coordinator the better chances you’ll have.
Volunteer opportunities are open to those over the age of 18.
A medical and/or criminal background check may be required, along with a State Park Volunteer Application and a Volunteer Service Agreement. Volunteers need to be both reliable and willing to complete assigned job duties, as like all Workamper employers, the state parks rely on you to help them during their busiest times and efforts are said to be made to match your interests, skills, and desires to the positions available.
Contacts for State Park Jobs in California
It’s time to consider adding a State park job to your list of ways to travel the country! California is a big, beautiful state and has the most diverse state park locations in the nation. Become a part of the action today and let your skills work for you.
To assist you in your job search for volunteer positions (and possibly paid jobs as well) with California State Parks we’ve included a list for your reference of the volunteer contacts for each of the systems districts below:
ANGELES DISTRICT (818) 880-0363
1925 LAS VIRGENES ROAD CALABASAS, CA 91302
VOL.ANGELES@PARKS.CA.GOV
BAY AREA DISTRICT (707) 769-5652
845 CASA GRANDE ROAD PETALUMA, CA 94954
VOL.BAYAREA@PARKS.CA.GOV
CAPITAL DISTRICT (916) 445-7373
111 I STREET SACRAMENTO, CA 95814
VOL.CAPITALDISTRICT@PARKS.CA.GOV
CENTRAL VALLEY DISTRICT (209) 536-5930
22708 BROADWAY STREET COLUMBIA, CA 95310
VOL.CENTRALVALLEY@PARKS.CA.GOV
CHANNEL COAST DISTRICT (805) 585-1850
911 SAN PEDRO STREETVENTURA, CA 93001
VOL.CHANNELCOAST@PARKS.CA.GOV
COLORADO DESERT DISTRICT (760) 767-4037
200 PALM CANYON DRIVE BORREGO SPRINGS, CA 92004 VOL.COLORADODESERT@PARKS.CA.GOV
GOLD FIELDS DISTRICT (916) 988-0205
7806 FOLSOM-AUBURN ROAD FOLSOM, CA 95630-1797
VOL.GOLDFIELDS@PARKS.CA.GOV
INLAND EMPIRE DISTRICT (951) 940-5600
17801 LAKE PERRIS DRIVE PERRIS, CA 92571
VOL.INLANDEMPIRE@PARKS.CA.GOV
MONTEREY DISTRICT (831) 649-2836
2211 GARDEN ROAD MONTEREY, CA 93940
VOL.MONTEREYDISTRICT@PARKS.CA.GOV
NORTH COAST REDWOODS DISTRICT (707) 445-6547-0
P.O. BOX 2006 EUREKA, CA 95502-2006
VOL.NORTHCOAST@PARKS.CA.GOV
NORTHERN BUTTES DISTRICT (530) 538-2219
400 GLEN DRIVE OROVILLE, CA 95966
VOL.NORTHERNBUTTES@PARKS.CA.GOV
OCEANO DUNES DISTRICT (805) 773-7170
340 JAMES WAY, SUITE 270 PISMO BEACH, CA 93449
VOL.OCEANO@PARKS.CA.GOV
OCOTILLO WELLS DISTRICT (760) 767-5391
5172 HIGHWAY 78, #10 BORREGO SPRINGS, CA 92004
VOL.OW@PARKS.CA.GOV
ORANGE COAST DISTRICT (949) 492-0802
3030 AVENIDA DEL PRESIDENTE SAN CLEMENTE, CA 92672 VOL.ORANGECOAST@PARKS.CA.GOV
SAN ANDREAS DISTRICT (831) 637-8186
7800 CIENEGA ROADHOLLISTER, CA 95023
VOL.SANANDREAS@PARKS.CA.GOV
SAN DIEGO COAST DISTRICT(619) 688-3260
4477 PACIFIC HIGHWAY SAN DIEGO, CA 92110
VOL.SANDIEGO@PARKS.CA.GOV
SAN LUIS OBISPO COAST DISTRICT (805) 927-2065
750 HEARST CASTLE ROAD SAN SIMEON, CA 93452
VOL.HEARSTCASTLE@PARKS.CA.GOV
SANTA CRUZ DISTRICT (831) 335-6318 OR 429-2850 303
BIG TREES PARK ROAD FELTON, CA 95018
VOL.SANTACRUZ@PARKS.CA.GOV
SIERRA DISTRICT (530) 525-7232
7360 WEST LAKE BLVD. TAHOMA, CA 96142
VOL.SIERRA@PARKS.CA.GOV
SONOMA MENDOCINO COAST DISTRICT(707) 865-2391
25381 STEELHEAD BLVD. DUNCANS MILLS, CA 95430
VOL.SONOMAMENDOCINO@ PARKS.CA.GOV
TEHACHAPI DISTRICT (661) 724-1206
15101 LANCASTER ROAD LANCASTER, CA 93536
VOL.TEHACHAPI@PARKS.CA.GOV
Contact Details
Web: https://www.parks.ca.gov/
Phone:(916) 653-9069
Email: Volunteer.inparksprogram@parks.ca.gov
