State Park Jobs and Career Opportunities - Nevada
Name: Mandy Keefer
Current Position: Park Ranger (non-commissioned) at the Old Las Vegas Mormon Fort State Historic Park
How long have you been with the Nevada Division of State Parks and in what capacity?
I have been employed for nine months as a Park Ranger.
How did you become interested in working as a Park Ranger?
A career with State Parks fit my interests in Conservation and Preservation, as well as, my dual Bachelor?s degrees in Biology and Communication.
Describe a typical day at your job.
(If there is no such thing as a typical day, then please tell us about your primary responsibilities and duties.)
Our site if fairly small and working as a team is important. My typical day includes interpretive tours for school children or public groups, establishing/enhancing park programs, scheduling/promoting tours and general maintenance. Exploring new options for interpretation, reviewing safety files/accidents, and general outreach efforts are all part of a typical week.
How many hours a week do you work in this position?
40 hours a week.
What aspects of your job do you enjoy the most?
I enjoy educating the public about the history of Las Vegas (before the neon and casinos) and promoting preservation and conservation of historic sites and natural resources for future generations.
What do you find to be the greatest challenges of your job?
Financial barriers would be the greatest challenge. Unfortunately, great ideas cost money and state budgets don?t always allow for immediate implementation of those ideas.
Patience is an essential job component.
What kind of training/schooling is required in your position?
A Bachelor?s degree or experience that equates to formal education is required. Customer service is a vital part of public outreach and relations for our historic site.
Is there any kind of training or general experience that you wish you had before taking your job?
Being at a historic site, I continue to take interpretive classes and read historical data to enhance my knowledge and skills. I would encourage these courses that are offered at some colleges and online.
What are a few of the projects that you've been working on recently that have been the most interesting?
I have been establishing family-oriented programs that celebrate the history of our site and the various eras of time that involves. I have also enjoyed being on the safety and Park Academy planning committees.
If someone were interested in working in your position, what advice could you give them?
Volunteer, work as a seasonal part-time, find a mentor in your field of interest and pursue your dream. There are great benefits and room for advancement within the state parks system. Working in state parks is a unique job. Where else can you call some of the most beautiful areas in Nevada your office?
Please share any further thoughts you may have about working in the state park system:
Nevada State Parks has some of the best leaders that I have had the pleasure of working with. They are supportive and optimistic about changes and encourage personal growth.
Current Position: Park Ranger (non-commissioned) at the Old Las Vegas Mormon Fort State Historic Park
How long have you been with the Nevada Division of State Parks and in what capacity?
I have been employed for nine months as a Park Ranger.
How did you become interested in working as a Park Ranger?
A career with State Parks fit my interests in Conservation and Preservation, as well as, my dual Bachelor?s degrees in Biology and Communication.
Describe a typical day at your job.
(If there is no such thing as a typical day, then please tell us about your primary responsibilities and duties.)
Our site if fairly small and working as a team is important. My typical day includes interpretive tours for school children or public groups, establishing/enhancing park programs, scheduling/promoting tours and general maintenance. Exploring new options for interpretation, reviewing safety files/accidents, and general outreach efforts are all part of a typical week.
How many hours a week do you work in this position?
40 hours a week.
What aspects of your job do you enjoy the most?
I enjoy educating the public about the history of Las Vegas (before the neon and casinos) and promoting preservation and conservation of historic sites and natural resources for future generations.
What do you find to be the greatest challenges of your job?
Financial barriers would be the greatest challenge. Unfortunately, great ideas cost money and state budgets don?t always allow for immediate implementation of those ideas. Patience is an essential job component.
What kind of training/schooling is required in your position?
A Bachelor?s degree or experience that equates to formal education is required. Customer service is a vital part of public outreach and relations for our historic site.
Is there any kind of training or general experience that you wish you had before taking your job?
Being at a historic site, I continue to take interpretive classes and read historical data to enhance my knowledge and skills. I would encourage these courses that are offered at some colleges and online.
What are a few of the projects that you've been working on recently that have been the most interesting?
I have been establishing family-oriented programs that celebrate the history of our site and the various eras of time that involves. I have also enjoyed being on the safety and Park Academy planning committees.
If someone were interested in working in your position, what advice could you give them?
Volunteer, work as a seasonal part-time, find a mentor in your field of interest and pursue your dream. There are great benefits and room for advancement within the state parks system. Working in state parks is a unique job. Where else can you call some of the most beautiful areas in Nevada your office?
Please share any further thoughts you may have about working in the state park system:
Nevada State Parks has some of the best leaders that I have had the pleasure of working with. They are supportive and optimistic about changes and encourage personal growth.
Current Position: Park Ranger (non-commissioned) at the Old Las Vegas Mormon Fort State Historic Park
How long have you been with the Nevada Division of State Parks and in what capacity?
I have been employed for nine months as a Park Ranger.
How did you become interested in working as a Park Ranger?
A career with State Parks fit my interests in Conservation and Preservation, as well as, my dual Bachelor?s degrees in Biology and Communication.
Describe a typical day at your job.
(If there is no such thing as a typical day, then please tell us about your primary responsibilities and duties.)
Our site if fairly small and working as a team is important. My typical day includes interpretive tours for school children or public groups, establishing/enhancing park programs, scheduling/promoting tours and general maintenance. Exploring new options for interpretation, reviewing safety files/accidents, and general outreach efforts are all part of a typical week.
How many hours a week do you work in this position?
40 hours a week.
What aspects of your job do you enjoy the most?
I enjoy educating the public about the history of Las Vegas (before the neon and casinos) and promoting preservation and conservation of historic sites and natural resources for future generations.
What do you find to be the greatest challenges of your job?
Financial barriers would be the greatest challenge. Unfortunately, great ideas cost money and state budgets don?t always allow for immediate implementation of those ideas.
Patience is an essential job component.
What kind of training/schooling is required in your position?
A Bachelor?s degree or experience that equates to formal education is required. Customer service is a vital part of public outreach and relations for our historic site.
Is there any kind of training or general experience that you wish you had before taking your job?
Being at a historic site, I continue to take interpretive classes and read historical data to enhance my knowledge and skills. I would encourage these courses that are offered at some colleges and online.
What are a few of the projects that you've been working on recently that have been the most interesting?
I have been establishing family-oriented programs that celebrate the history of our site and the various eras of time that involves. I have also enjoyed being on the safety and Park Academy planning committees.
If someone were interested in working in your position, what advice could you give them?
Volunteer, work as a seasonal part-time, find a mentor in your field of interest and pursue your dream. There are great benefits and room for advancement within the state parks system. Working in state parks is a unique job. Where else can you call some of the most beautiful areas in Nevada your office?
Please share any further thoughts you may have about working in the state park system:
Nevada State Parks has some of the best leaders that I have had the pleasure of working with. They are supportive and optimistic about changes and encourage personal growth.
<< See other Nevada interviews -- Search by state -- Search by job title>>Interview with a Park Supervisor Name: Mandy Keefer
Current Position: Park Ranger (non-commissioned) at the Old Las Vegas Mormon Fort State Historic Park
How long have you been with the Nevada Division of State Parks and in what capacity?
I have been employed for nine months as a Park Ranger.
How did you become interested in working as a Park Ranger?
A career with State Parks fit my interests in Conservation and Preservation, as well as, my dual Bachelor?s degrees in Biology and Communication.
Describe a typical day at your job.
(If there is no such thing as a typical day, then please tell us about your primary responsibilities and duties.)
Our site if fairly small and working as a team is important. My typical day includes interpretive tours for school children or public groups, establishing/enhancing park programs, scheduling/promoting tours and general maintenance. Exploring new options for interpretation, reviewing safety files/accidents, and general outreach efforts are all part of a typical week.
How many hours a week do you work in this position?
40 hours a week.
What aspects of your job do you enjoy the most?
I enjoy educating the public about the history of Las Vegas (before the neon and casinos) and promoting preservation and conservation of historic sites and natural resources for future generations.
What do you find to be the greatest challenges of your job?
Financial barriers would be the greatest challenge. Unfortunately, great ideas cost money and state budgets don?t always allow for immediate implementation of those ideas. Patience is an essential job component.
What kind of training/schooling is required in your position?
A Bachelor?s degree or experience that equates to formal education is required. Customer service is a vital part of public outreach and relations for our historic site.
Is there any kind of training or general experience that you wish you had before taking your job?
Being at a historic site, I continue to take interpretive classes and read historical data to enhance my knowledge and skills. I would encourage these courses that are offered at some colleges and online.
What are a few of the projects that you've been working on recently that have been the most interesting?
I have been establishing family-oriented programs that celebrate the history of our site and the various eras of time that involves. I have also enjoyed being on the safety and Park Academy planning committees.
If someone were interested in working in your position, what advice could you give them?
Volunteer, work as a seasonal part-time, find a mentor in your field of interest and pursue your dream. There are great benefits and room for advancement within the state parks system. Working in state parks is a unique job. Where else can you call some of the most beautiful areas in Nevada your office?
Please share any further thoughts you may have about working in the state park system:
Nevada State Parks has some of the best leaders that I have had the pleasure of working with. They are supportive and optimistic about changes and encourage personal growth.
<< See other Nevada interviews -- Search by state -- Search by job title>>
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