National Park Service Careers: Interpretation, Education, and Visitor Services

This article is part of a series about National Park Service (NPS) Careers. Visit our Work With Us page to learn more about the different types of work NPS employees do.

Many interpretive and education rangers lead hikes on park trails. NPS / Ted Toth

What is “Interpretation”?

Interpretation can be a confusing term because it has multiple meanings. No, we don’t all speak another language!

In this context, interpretation refers to the work of rangers and other staff who interpret the park to visitors. Interpreters, as they’re known, aim to help visitors make their own connections to the park and its stories. They want the people who visit to see themselves in park stories and make intellectual and emotional connections to park resources.

To help people make these connections, interpreters try to learn a lot about the park where they work. Ideally they should have a good understanding of the things people ask about: the history of the park, the plants and animals that call it home, and lots of other related topics. Interpreters need to do their homework!

Rangers Who Lead Hikes

There is much more to it than that, but it’s true – many interpreters hike as part of their job. Sometimes these rangers lead school groups on field trips or lead hikes for the visiting public. In some parks they may lead kayak programs or tours of historic buildings or forts. Other times they “rove” trails, answering questions and providing assistance as needed to the visitors they meet. Either way, interpreters tend to get plenty of steps during a typical workday. If you like the idea of a job where you get paid to hike, bike, or paddle, this might be the career for you.

There are sedentary parts of interpretation too. Working at visitor center desks, answering phone calls and emails, and working on the park website are examples of indoor tasks performed by interpreters.

What Kinds of Careers Are There?

There are several different careers that fall into this category. Some of the common positions include:

• Park Rangers – create and lead interpretive programs; work in and manage visitor centers; write interpretive signs, brochures, and digital stories; supervise volunteers
• Park Guides – lead interpretive programs, work in visitor centers, post to social media
• Education Technicians – lead educational programs, develop curriculum
• Visitor Use Assistants – collect entrance fees, monitor parking lots and entrance gates
• Visual Information Specialists – create park maps and brochures, update park websites
• Volunteer Coordinators – recruit and train volunteers, manage volunteer activities

Supervisory Park Rangers – supervise and lead other interpreters, create weekly and annual work schedules, coach other interpreters on their programs, manage special projects

What Skills Are Needed?

Interpreters come from many different backgrounds and have different educational journeys. Some study history or archeology. Others have a background in sciences such as biology or geology. Some studied to be teachers. Each one enjoys being outside and talking to people about parks.

The best way to get started in an interpretive career is to get experience working in a related setting. Some jobs require experience handling money and making change. Others require a person who has experience developing programs and is comfortable with public speaking.

A lot of interpreters start their career by doing an internship or signing up for a volunteer position. This is a great way to gain experience working in a park. Learn more about internships and the federal application process on our How to Apply page.

Interpreters Across the Service

• Gayle Hazelwood: A Career of Making National Parks Relevant — Gayle Hazelwood began her 35-year career with the National Park Service at what was then Cuyahoga Valley National Recreation Area. In a 2022 oral history, she recalls her childhood influences, longtime friendships, and career path to leadership positions. Many places she worked focus on outreach to urban communities and Black history.
• Staff Spotlight: Vanessa Torres — Meet Vanessa Torres, Program Manager of Interpretation,
  Education, and Community Engagement for Lyndon B Johnson National Historical Park
  and Waco Mammoth National Monument. Hear her story and advice she has for youth and young adults.
• Portraits of Acadia: Dianna McKeage — Dianna McKeage, volunteer coordinator
• Portraits of Acadia: James Zordan — James Zordan, education ranger
• Portraits of Acadia: Kirk Lurvey — Kirk Lurvey, park naturalist
• Ranger Edmonia-Making Your Own History — For Black History Month 2021, Ranger Edmonia shares her experience of trying to find her place in the history of Glen Canyon National Recreation Area.
• Sara Falch, Park Ranger, Independence National Historical Park — Sara Falch is a Park Ranger. She works at Independence National Historical Park in Philadelphia. Watch the video to learn about her career in the National Park Service.
• Sara Karpinski, Park Ranger, Independence National Historical Park — Sara Karpinski is a Park Ranger at Independence National Historical Park in Philadelphia. This park includes Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell. Watch the video to learn about her career in the National Park Service.
• Yvette Cano: Director of Education at Everglades National Park — Ranger Yvette Cano, the Director of Education at Everglades National Park, shares her journey to the National Park Service, how her cultural background has influenced her work, and what she finds most rewarding about her job.

Where this belongs

• Cuyahoga Valley National Park

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