Park Aide (Central Cascades Area) Multiple Parks

Temporary Washington State Park Aide

Experience the natural beauty of Washington State Parks and get paid to do it! Temporary Washington State Park Aide jobs are perfect for:

• People who like to get outside and enjoy nature, do physical work, and contribute to a truly important mission - maintaining a fantastic Parks system for everyone!
• Individuals who are interested in a longer-term career with State Parks. Many permanent staff, including members of our executive team, started their careers as Park Aides.
• Students who are looking for summer work.
• Active retirees looking for work that keeps them moving and doing good in the world. Less than full-time work is a possibility in many locations.

Some benefits you might not know or be thinking about:

• Temporary positions are eligible for vacation and sick leave.
• Holiday pay might be available to you depending on when and how long you work.
• Great teammates who care about their work.
• Learning and refining a set of very practical and transferrable job skills.
• Being in nature is good for your physical and mental well-being.
• Wildlife sightings! From chipmunks and quail, to orcas and moose, and everything in between.

Park Aide jobs can be fun, fulfilling and career starters, but there are a few important things to consider:

• Weekend work is expected, and you might be asked to work evening shifts.
• Our Parks are busiest on spring and summer holidays, so we need more of our workers to be on schedule those days. Getting time off around a holiday is not guaranteed.
• Bathroom cleaning is a task that most Park Aides get to experience fairly regularly.
• Most positions are at least moderately physical – walking, raking, bending, kneeling, lifting and moving lighter items (and heavier ones with assistance). If that is not appropriate for you, but you are still interested, read the announcement carefully to determine if there might be a position dedicated to less physical work at the park(s) you are interested in.

The following parks have low-cost housing options for temporary Park Aides this season: Wanapum State Park.

This recruitment will be used to fill multiple non-permanent Park Aide positions located throughout the Central Cascades Area; Ginkgo/Wanapum, Palouse to Cascades Trail, Lake Easton, Fort Simcoe, Olmstead Place, and Yakima Sportsman State Parks. The majority of positions are available and may begin March, April, May, or June and are typically 3-5 months in duration. The number of vacancies will vary from park to park.

Positions in this area typically are scheduled to work 40 hours a week, but we may have ability to offer less than full-time work – over the entire period of employment or for specific periods. If you are interested in less than 40 hours a week, just let us know in the supplemental questions section of the application process.

This position is not eligible to telework, as physical in-office presence is required to perform essential functions. Benefits eligibility for this position may be different than what's listed in the benefits tab of this recruitment announcement, for more information on employee benefits eligibility visit- Public Employee Benefits Board (PEBB).

Park Aide Recruitment Video - Typical Day - Washington State Parks

To read about other current and former Park Aides' experiences, click Here!

Ginkgo/Wanapum State Park - (located in Kittitas County) is a 7,470-acre park with camping at Wanapum Recreational Area. The park features 27,000-feet of freshwater shoreline on the Wanapum Reservoir along the Columbia River. Petrified wood was discovered in the region in the early 1930s, which led to creation of the park as a national historic preserve. Ginkgo Petrified Forest is a registered national natural landmark. It is regarded as one of the most unusual fossil forests in the world.

Palouse to Cascades Trail- (located in Kittitas/King County) is a 1,612-acre park that was once part of the path of the Chicago-Milwaukee-St. Paul-Pacific Railroad. This portion of trail is 84 miles from Hyak to the Columbia River. The park also contains 5 old rail tunnels including the 2.3 mile Snoqualmie Tunnel.

Lake Easton State Park- (located in Kittitas County) is a forested, 516-acre year-round camping park with 24,000 feet of freshwater access on the shores of Lake Easton in the Cascade Mountain foothills. The park has beautiful mountain views and hiking trails to explore in the summer and cross country and snowmobiling trails to enjoy in the winter. The park's location also allows for snowy winter-sport opportunities.

Yakima Sportsman State Park- (located in Yakima County) is a 247-acre camping park created in 1940 by the Yakima Sportsman's Association to promote game management and the preservation of natural resources. The park is on the floodplain of the Yakima River and is an irrigated green zone in an otherwise desert area. The park has a variety of deciduous trees that shade camping and picnic areas.

Olmstead Place Historical State Park - (located in Kittitas County) is a 221-acre day-use park on an original 1875 pioneer homestead only a few miles from Ellensburg. Highlights include homesteading, gardening and agriculture in the Kittitas Valley; Coleman Creek, ecology and local wildlife/plants; and changes in culture, family and lifestyle between 1875 and the 1960s.

Fort Simcoe State Park - (located in Yakima County) is a 196-acre, day-use heritage site and is primarily a historic preservation effort. Due to its historic significance, Fort Simcoe was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in June 1974. Camping is available at Brooks Memorial and Yakima Sportsman state parks.