Who's who at Washington State Parks

From park rangers to camp hosts, here’s who can help you enjoy your state park visit

Our in-park staff are excited to welcome you to Washington’s state parks. Whether you’re picnicking for the day, camping for a week or just passing through, there are staff available to help you.

Before you head out, here’s a little bit about the who’s who of staff in our parks.

A group of pe — Camp hosts come from all over the state and country to volunteer in our parks. They also receive host training at an annual "Camporee."

Park hosts

Who they are: Park hosts are volunteers who stay in designated campsites, in their own RV or camper – or on their boat docked at a marine state park. Hosts are an invaluable part of our team.

What they wear: Find them in green Volunteer vests with a name badge on the front.

Park hosts:

Provide information about park activities – from programs and concerts to equipment rentals
Help you find your campsite
Share park rules and regulations
Sell firewood
Recommend area activities and amenities
Connect you with staff for specific needs or concerns
Call 911 and/or law enforcement in emergencies
Care for the grounds, including cleaning campsites, gardening and mowing
Assist in the park office or with interpretive programming

A couple stands next to a golf cart with gardening equipment in front of a beach. — Park hosts like this couple at Fort Flagler do groundskeeping, gardening and cleaning in addition to customer service.

Park hosts don’t:

Enforce rules
Act as first responders
Work full time

Camp hosts work a minimum of 28 hours a week. When their “off-duty” sign is up, please respect their privacy, except in emergencies.

If hosting sounds like your dream many of our state parks need hosts in summer.

A man in a Parks shirt staffs a table with families crowded around near the beach. — Park aides do a little bit of everything, from cleaning bathrooms and campsites to helping interpreters with pop-up information tables.

Park aides

Park aides are staff are critical to keeping parks clean, green and welcoming.

Who they are: Park aides are seasonal employees, usually working spring to fall, though some also work in the winter. Many return to work with us for several seasons.

What they wear: They’ll be dressed in State Parks polos or t-shirts.

Park aides:

Mow and pull weeds
Clear campsites
Clean and restock restrooms
Work in the park office or Welcome Booth assisting with campsite registration and Discover Pass sales
Assist with facility maintenance
Orient you within the park
Discuss rules, regulations, quiet hours and open office hours
Connect you with appropriate staff for specific needs or concerns
Call 911 in an emergency

A woman in a Parks hat sits in an aluminum boat with a blanket and a brown dog. — In marine state park areas, park aides travel between remote islands to clean campsites, turn over compost toilets and haul away trash.

Park aides don’t:

Enforce rules
Handle first responder duties
Make major repairs, including plumbing and electrical

If you or someone you know is interested in becoming a park aide, check the State of Washington careers site for job postings.

Three men in safety vests pose in front of tree cutting equipment. — C&M staff help the State Parks Arbor Crew remove hazard trees and clean up debris, particularly after big storms. They will then rebuild park structures that were damaged or destroyed.

Construction and Maintenance (C&M) staff

Our trusty C&M staff handles facility maintenance and major repairs.

Who they are: These indispensable teammates are mechanics, plumbers, electricians, carpenters and tradespeople whose skills keep park infrastructure in shape.

What they wear: They’ll be wearing State Parks t-shirts or polos and safety gear, depending on the project.

C&M specialists and maintenance mechanics:

Install, maintain and repair trail signs
Repair major trail damage
Fix plumbing and electrical issues
Manage our water and sewer systems
Fix and maintain park equipment
Repair park docks, piers and boardwalks
Remove hazard trees with our regional arbor crews
Connect you with a ranger if needed

A woman with braids and tattoos builds a wood fence — You may see C&M staff doing projects in the park. For their safety and your own, please be careful if you enter their workspace.

C&M staff don’t:

Typically answer park questions, but they can direct you to someone who can
Sell Discover Passes
Enforce rules

An office worker in a Parks shirt helps a customer while another customer waits in the doorway — Admin staff may be your first point of contact in a park as you check in or stop by the office for recommendations.

Administrative staff

Who they are: Our friendly administrative staff work in park offices and Welcome Booths.

What they wear: They’ll be sporting State Parks polos, t-shirts or sweatshirts.

Admin staff:

Sell Discover Passes
Help you check in and find your campsite
Help you find firewood for sale
Suggest things to do in and outside the park

A woman in a sweater sits behind a computer in an office — Admin staff keep park offices organized while providing excellent customer service.

Admin staff don’t:

Enforce rules
Do maintenance and repairs
Handle first responder duties

If you need help and don’t see staff in the campground or picnic area, try the office or Welcome Booth during business hours.

A woman in a park ranger uniform gives a presentation to a class of small children. — Rangers are usually in the parks, but they also engage with surrounding communities, giving school, library and community fair presentations.

Park rangers

Who they are: When you think of State Parks staff, you probably envision a park ranger. Rangers educate, protect, preserve and enhance our parks.

What they wear: Rangers wear uniforms that may include the typical ranger’s “flat hat,” along with a badge.

Rangers:

Assist or lead interpretive and school programs, evening talks and guided walks
Educate visitors about the park and park rules
Promote a safe, respectful environment for visitors and staff
Direct traffic and crowd control
De-escalate conflicts
Give citations for infractions in the park
Perform searches, rescues and recoveries
Handle emergencies

Learn more about park rangers.

A ranger gives a talk by a snowy lake, as a volunteer and visitors listen. — Winter, spring, summer or fall, park rangers give talks and guide walks, including First Day Hikes Jan. 1, like this snowshoe at Lake Wenatchee.

Interpretive specialists

Interpretive specialists are well-versed in everything from human and natural history to plant and animal life in their park. Their storytelling methods engage visitors of all ages and backgrounds.

Who they are: Many State Parks interpreters have science, history or museum management backgrounds. They thrive on creativity and community engagement.

What they wear: They wear similar uniforms to rangers, with the designation “Interpretive” on the arm.

Interpretive specialists:

Research their parks’ histories and unique features
Develop and run themed tours
Create educational signage and presentations
Train beach naturalists and living history volunteers
Organize events with Friends groups
Educate visitors on park rules
Staff interpretive centers
Host pop-up tables showcasing park history, botany, geology or animal life
Assist kids with Junior Ranger programs
Participate in community fairs, library or school programs

A woman in a Parks uniform shows children a diagram of a park. — Parks interpreters offer programs for visitors of all ages, but some are former classroom teachers who can hold kids' attention, even on summer break.

Interpretive specialists don’t:

Enforce park rules
Do maintenance and repair
Act as first responders
Interpret in foreign languages or ASL (though some are multilingual or use ASL)

What if I can’t find a staff member?

Some state parks are remote, and staff cover several parks over many miles. Other parks are big, and you may not see staff unless you look for them.

In camping parks, you’ll probably find staff or hosts in campgrounds, offices and Welcome Booths. An after-hours phone number will be posted when the booth and office are closed.

In an emergency, call 911 first.

Additional support

The Information Center, located in our Headquarters Building in Lacey, can also provide you support when you need it. They're available 8 a.m.- 5 p.m., Mon-Fri. to answer questions about state parks, up-to-date information about park features, amenities and seasonal activities. Give them a call at (360) 902-8844 or email them at Infocent@parks.wa.gov.

Originally published July 09, 2025