Park Aide; Upper Cowlitz Area Parks

Experience the natural beauty of Washington State Parks and get paid to do it!

• 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.

• 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 شدید well‑being.
• Wildlife sightings! From chipmunks and quail, to orcas and moose, and everything in between.

• 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.

Note: The following parks have low‑cost options for a recreational vehicle (trailer, camper, etc.) site for temporary Park Aides this season (most require you to provide own functioning RV, vary in size accommodation):
Ike Kinswa State Park, Lewis and Clark State Park, Mt. St. Helens Visitor Center, and Seaquest State Park.

RV spots are available on a first‑come‑first‑serve basis. Please contact recruitment directly for more information. Contact information is located at the bottom of this job posting.

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

Ike Kinswa State Park – 454‑acre camping park with 46,000‑ft of freshwater shoreline on the north side of Mayfield Lake. The park provides good fishing, recreational boating, and opportunities for swimming and children LESS play. The campsites are forested and available year‑round.

Lewis and Clark State Park – 621‑acre camping park situated in one of the last major stands of old‑growth forest in the state. Coniferous trees, streams, wetlands, dense vegetation, and wet prairie comprise the park environment. The park contains a vast stand of rare old‑growth forest.

Seaquest State Park – 475‑acre, year‑round camping park and the Gateway to Mount St. Helens National Monument. Just across Spirit Lake Highway from the Mount St. Helens Visitor Center and 1 hour from the Blast zone of the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens, there are 6 mi of hiking trails in the park and seasonal fishing, boating and swimming are available nearby.

Under the supervision of the Park Ranger, Park‑Aides perform a variety of tasks at a State Park, beach, or historical area. A typical work day may include anything from registering campers and collecting camp fees, to cleaning facilities, mowing lawns, or explaining park rules. The specific duties will have some variation by park location.

• All positions – Maintain park facilities through light routine maintenance and janitorial services.
• Perform grounds maintenance work, such as cutting grass, weeding flower beds, pruning shrubs, raking leaves, and picking up litter.
• Maintain park lawns using a mower, weed eater, trimmer, and various maintenance tools.
• Provide park information to visitors and answer phones.
• Register campers, collect,…