Applications for the 2023 season are open! Read on to learn how you can spend your summer at Ontario Parks.
Calling all Ontario students!
Do you enjoy the outdoors and appreciate Ontario’s natural and cultural resources?
Are you motivated, with a positive attitude and desire to learn?
Do you like working and interacting with the public?
Then this is the job for you!
Don’t miss your chance to apply for a position as a student park ranger with Ontario Parks this summer.
When do I apply?
Applications are now open for the 2023 season.
Applications are reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis. The third round of applications will close on May 16, 2023. Apply early to increase your chances of being selected!
Who can apply?
To be eligible for a summer student job at Ontario Parks, applicants must meet the following criteria:
Student Status: You must be enrolled in a secondary or postsecondary institution (currently or for the fall 2023 semester) OR you must have graduated within the last six months (for example, if you graduated in December 2022, you can apply and begin a summer student position until June of the following year). Your school does not have to be located in Ontario to be eligible.
Age: You must be a minimum of 15 years of age. There is no maximum age limit.
Home: Must be a resident of Ontario for the duration of employment.
How do I sign up?
Apply to be a park ranger by visiting the Ontario Public Service Careers website.
Use the filters to search for student positions, select the Summer Employment Opportunities Program posting, scroll to the Parks and Recreation heading, and select the position you are interested in.
Once there, you will have the option to select what type of job you are interested in and which parks you would like to apply for.
Applicants must also attach a copy of their resume.
We recommend including the positions and parks you are interested in on your resume and submitting it as a PDF file.
For some more tips to make your resume the best it can be, check out these resources:
What position should I apply for?
At Ontario Parks, there are many types of ranger positions, including:
- ranger discovery
- door assistant
- store clerk
- maintenance worker
- Learn to Camp Ambassador
…and more!
Let’s delve into some of these positions:
ranger discovery
Discovery rangers participate in a wide variety of activities, including delivering programs to help visitors connect with the natural and cultural resources found within the park.
These positions also support conservation efforts by monitoring species that are invasive or at risk and engaging visitors in community science initiatives.
There are two types of discovery programs you can work on. Check out this blog for more information!
Door attendant/store clerk
Be the first smiling face to greet visitors once they arrive at the park!
Our gate attendants welcome and direct visitors through the park while checking in campers and issuing camping permits.
Both door attendants and store employees manage cash flow and credit transactions, provide retail services, and facilitate communication between departments.
maintenance worker
Maintenance workers use a variety of tools to clean and maintain park facilities such as campgrounds, public areas, and comfort stations.
Maintenance covers a lot of ground, managing recycling and trash removal, removing trail hazards, and even helping with water testing for comfort stations and swimming areas.
Jack of all trades, this is the job for you!
Learn to Camp Ambassador
Do you have a passion for camping and want to share it with the province?
Our award-winning Learn to Camp program is looking for ambassadors to teach new campers the ins and outs of car camping. You could do it in person, virtually, or a combination of both!
Still not sure which job suits you best?
Take this proof to find out which position at Ontario Parks might be right for you.
Which parks should I apply to?
No matter which park you apply to, you’re sure to have a memorable experience and make lifelong friends.
But there are some things to consider…
Maybe you want to stay close to home. In that case, you can find the park closest to you using our Park Locator.
Most of our parks require that you have accommodation nearby.
However, if you are feeling adventurous and would like to experience a new area of Ontario, there are a few parks that offer staff accommodation.
Please note that applicants can only select a maximum of 10 parks to submit their applications. Multiple applications will result in only the most recent submission being considered.
You have more questions?
Want to know more about what it’s like to work and live in a park? Need more tips and tricks for navigating the application process?
Book a 15-minute informal one-on-one virtual meeting with Ontario Parks staff here!
Apply today!
We are committed to building a workforce that reflects the communities we serve and promoting a diverse, anti-racist, inclusive, accessible, merit-based, respectful and equitable workplace. We invite all interested persons to apply and encourage applications from people with disabilities, Indigenous, Black and racialized people, as well as people from a diversity of ethnic and cultural backgrounds, sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions.
Visit the OPS Anti-Racism Policy website and the OPS Diversity and Inclusion Plan pages to learn more about OPS’ commitment to advancing racial equity, accessibility, diversity and inclusion in public service.