DCNR Ranger Trainee (Seasonal) - Caledonia State Park

Caledonia State Park is currently looking to fill a full-time seasonal position for a DCNR Ranger Trainee. This important role involves serving as a public service representative, safety officer, and law enforcement official within the Caledonia and Mont Alto State Park complex. The primary responsibilities include ensuring the safety of visitors, protecting the natural environment, maintaining park facilities, and engaging with the public. If you are interested in making a positive impact in the park, we encourage you to apply today!

Watch this video to see how DCNR Rangers make Pennsylvania a better place to work, live and play!

In this position, you will be responsible for conducting patrols throughout the parks within the Caledonia complex, utilizing various modes of transportation such as motor vehicles, bicycles, or on foot to monitor visitor activities. This role necessitates the ability to navigate diverse and potentially challenging terrains, which may include rough and uneven surfaces, as well as the capacity to work under a range of weather conditions, including harsh environments. Your primary focus will be to ensure the safety of visitors while also safeguarding the natural resources of the park. You will provide assistance to guests as needed and conduct inspections of buildings, structures, and facilities to assess security and safety measures. Additionally, you will be tasked with ensuring that informational materials, such as posters and bulletin boards, are up-to-date and in good condition, which includes repairing and replacing park signage as necessary. Maintaining cleanliness and organization in assigned work areas and equipment will also be a key responsibility.

In terms of public relations, you will embody a professional Park Ranger image, which includes maintaining a neat uniform appearance and demonstrating effective verbal and telephone communication skills. Your self-confidence and comprehensive knowledge of the parks, their environmental significance, historical context, regulations, and local attractions will enable you to provide valuable information and assistance to park visitors. You will also be involved in staffing park offices and visitor centers, where you will register visitors using the Active Works Outdoor system.

Regarding law enforcement duties, you will support the full law enforcement team by familiarizing yourself with legal provisions relevant to State Parks. This includes learning the procedures for making physical arrests and issuing citations, warrants, and warnings in accordance with established State, Departmental, and Bureau guidelines. You will investigate complaints, accidents, and crimes, determining appropriate actions to take, preparing incident reports, and collaborating with local and state police as well as the Fish and Boat and Game Commissions. When necessary, you will file information with the District Magistrate and participate in hearings, presenting evidence, documentation, and witnesses, while also engaging in cross-examinations and testifying on behalf of the Commonwealth in court.

In emergency situations, you will play a crucial role in assisting with search and rescue operations and managing accidents to ensure the safety and well-being of all individuals involved.

Interested in learning more? Additional details regarding this position can be found in the position description.

Work Schedule and Additional Information:

• This is a seasonal, full-time position with no healthcare benefits. There is not an option to buy into health care benefits. The season runs from approximately March 2025 until November 2025 at which time the employee will be placed on leave without pay. The employee will automatically be returned to employment approximately March 2026.
• Shift hours and days vary due to operational need, 8 hour shifts, 5 days per week.

• Weekends, holidays, and all shifts as needed at 40 hours per week.

• Telework: You will not have the option to telework in this position.

• You will receive further communication regarding this position via email. Check your email, including spam/junk folders, for these notices.

QUALIFICATIONS

Minimum Experience and Training Requirements:

• Six months of experience providing visitor services in a public park, forest, recreation area, or a privately-owned and operated nature or outdoor education center; or
• Completion of 15 college credits in natural or environmental sciences, natural resource management, park management, parks or outdoor recreation, forestry, environmental education, ecology, wildlife management, or in a closely related field; or
• An equivalent combination of experience and training.

• All candidates must be at least 21 years of age at time of employment.
• All positions require possession of an active motor vehicle license.
• All employees must successfully complete a structured law enforcement training program to obtain authority in exercising the powers of arrest during the trainee period.
• All employees must obtain valid certification in standard first aid and adult, child, and infant CPR approved by the American Red Cross, American Heart Association, or equivalent during the trainee period.
• All employees must pass psychological testing (Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI). Failure to pass this test is a basis for removal from the position.
• All employees must pass Pennsylvania State Police and FBI Criminal Background Checks. A record of conviction of a criminal offense for which more than one year in prison can be imposed as punishment is a basis for removal from the position.

• This position requires employees to successfully pass a physical fitness test within 6 weeks/months of the start of employment. Click here to learn more about these requirements.
• You must meet the PA residency requirement. For more information on ways to meet PA residency requirements, follow the link and click on Residency.
• You must be able to perform essential job functions.

• You must pass a background investigation.
• This position falls under the provisions of the Child Protective Services Law.
  • Under the Law, a conditional offer of employment will require submission and approval of satisfactory criminal history reports including, but not limited to, PA State Police clearance, PA Child Abuse history clearance, and FBI Fingerprint clearance.

• Resumes, cover letters, and similar documents will not be reviewed, and the information contained therein will not be considered for the purposes of determining your eligibility for the position. Information to support your eligibility for the position must be provided on the application (i.e., relevant, detailed experience/education).
• If you are claiming education in your answers to the supplemental application questions, you must attach a copy of your college transcripts for your claim to be accepted toward meeting the minimum requirements. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable.
• Your application must be submitted by the posting closing date. Late applications and other required materials will not be accepted.
• Failure to comply with the above application requirements may eliminate you from consideration for this position.

Veterans:

• Pennsylvania law (51 Pa. C.S. *7103) provides employment preference for qualified veterans for appointment to many state and local government jobs. To learn more about employment preferences for veterans, go to www.employment.pa.gov/Additional%20Info/Pages/default.aspx and click the Veterans' Preference tab or contact us at ra-cs-vetpreference@pa.gov.

• 711 (hearing and speech disabilities or other individuals).

• Completing the application, including all supplemental questions, serves as your exam for this position. No additional exam is required at a test center (also referred to as a written exam).
• Your score is based on the detailed information you provide on your application and in response to the supplemental questions.
• Your score is valid for this specific posting only.
• You must provide complete and accurate information or:
  • your score may be lower than deserved.
  • you may be disqualified.
• You may only apply/test once for this posting.
• Your results will be provided via email.