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Working in the Wild:  Ever worked in the wild?  |
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Jen
Expedition Leader
1384 Posts
Jennifer
Calico Rock
AR
USA
1384 Posts |
 Posted - Apr 03 2007 : 3:32:46 PM
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| Have you ever worked outdoors (paid, volunteer, whatever)? If so, tell us a bit about it. How did you find the job? Share some of the highlights & darker days... |
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catscharm74
outbound
35 Posts
35 Posts |
Posted - Apr 04 2007 : 09:13:20 AM
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Well I used to clean up the road I walked everday- about 3 miles of it. I dragged out so much garbage from that beautiful back road. I was really sad to see people dumping their trash in the local pond. I would love to find an "outdoor" job, but I don't have a background that would qualify. I wouldn't even mind being the secretary in a local wildlife office or something.
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Jen
Expedition Leader
1384 Posts
Jennifer
Calico Rock
AR
USA
1384 Posts |
Posted - Apr 04 2007 : 11:42:24 AM
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| There are actually some opportunities for, say, lower level tech positions that don't require much experience. Unfortunately, they don't pay much either. Also, volunteering with wildlife-type projects counts as experience & can help get your foot in doors! I'll dig up some info on this kind of work for people who are generally unexperienced.... |
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Mountain Girl
outrigged
237 Posts
JoAnn
Colville
WA
USA
237 Posts |
Posted - Apr 04 2007 : 11:44:29 AM
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| I have volunteered at a Nature Center mainly leading little kids through the woods showing them interesting bits of nature. Had one little inner city girl who was deathly afraid of being in "the woods" Mind you the Nature Center was in a big city and about 2 blocks from a busy intersection. She held my hand tightly almost the whole time. I kept encouraging and reassuring her that it was safe fun and interesting. She finally "got it" let go reluctantly and skipped off with the others. I also have volunteered with groups that rehab wildlife. My favorite two animals I rehabbed(sp) was a baby porcupine and I think my favorite baby crows. I got the porcupine so yound I could hold it in the palm of my hand (without gloves) They are born fully quilled but have none on their belly. Even when he got large you could scoop it up without gloves. Now we volunteer with the nearby Wildlife Refuge. They have a program that the 2nd graders and 5th graders go to the refuge for a field trip at the end of the school year (they use to go to the bowling alley for their trip) The 2nd graders are the cutest. One every trip usually proclaims loudly "this is the best field trip ever!" Granted they haven't been on many but it does your heart good. JoAnn |
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catscharm74
outbound
35 Posts
35 Posts |
Posted - Apr 04 2007 : 7:53:15 PM
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| Thanks for the information...I am a really great organizer, people person if that helps!!! |
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Jen
Expedition Leader
1384 Posts
Jennifer
Calico Rock
AR
USA
1384 Posts |
Posted - Apr 05 2007 : 2:02:12 PM
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A few options that often get overlooked are local Soil and Water Conservation Districts and their parter agency the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (my hub works for them). Your SWCD might have some part-time or summer work available.
Also, there may be a Youth Conservation Corps in your area; they need summer crew leaders to supervise kids who perform fence repair, trail maintenance, etc. The website for the national Corps Network is http://www.nascc.org/. The only real trouble with outdoor jobs is that everybody wants one! In places like western Montana, PhDs will work for peanuts ($7/hour) just to be out there.
I always thought that a pretty great job would be surveying (you know, like land/road surveys?). I did some stream survey work for the US Forest Service, and it was great. There are plenty of private survey companies, and I've seen them advertise through state job service offices (which are also a good place to check for other outdoor job possibilities). I'll keep digging for more info!
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Jen
Expedition Leader
1384 Posts
Jennifer
Calico Rock
AR
USA
1384 Posts |
Posted - Apr 05 2007 : 2:21:40 PM
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Outdoor Job Insights from GORP:
"The period between 'What do you want to be when you grow up?' and 'What am I doing with my life?' can arrive all too fast. For those whose dream jobs lie in the great outdoors, there is hope. We've spoken with real people who hold real jobs and asked them to offer advice on finding the perfect outdoor career..."
Go to http://gorp.away.com/gorp/eclectic/jobs.htm
(also remember to check Backcountry Jobs at www.maryjanesoutpost.com)
The View From My Boots
www.bovesboots.blogspot.com
"The earth is your grandmother and mother, and she is sacred. Every step that is taken upon her should be as a prayer." - Black Elk, Lakota |
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catscharm74
outbound
35 Posts
35 Posts |
Posted - Apr 05 2007 : 7:47:43 PM
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| Thanks for the help Jen!! I will check it all out... |
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Working in the Wild: Ever worked in the wild? |
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Ever worked in the wild?
