Animal encounters, hunting huckleberries and hanging with visitors – all in a day's work for a park aide

The life of a Washington State Parks park aide is always an adventure, and it's a job you'll never forget. We recruit new park aides every spring. Hear from current and former park aides about their backgrounds, career goals and favorite parts of the job. Get inspired — it might be the perfect fit for you!

Looking for your dream job?

We still need park aides to fill out our 2026 seasonal staff. In particular, parks in the Methow Valley and Pacific Coast, two Pacific Northwest destinations, are recruiting for April.

A young man in red pants stands next to a dump truck — Now Southwest Region Manager, Miles Wenzel pictured in 2004 working as a park aide at the coast. Courtesy of Miles Wenzel.

Miles Wenzel, Southwest Region Manager

In the summer of 2001, I was hired as a park aide at Twin Harbors State Park. My mother was a park aide for a few summers in previous years, and my dad was a deputy sheriff who had worked closely with the rangers working there at the time. They both encouraged me to apply, as it was solid work and would keep me busy.

I was eager to learn how to use equipment, and park staff was willing to show me. That first year I learned how to drive a manual transmission pickup, use mowers, tractors and the one-ton truck. I painted buildings, and more. Between 2001 and 2007, I worked three seasons in the South Beach Area and three seasons in the North Beach (now Northern Shores) Area. As the seasons rolled on, I learned additional skills such as towing trailers and chainsaw work.

Best parts of the job

My favorite part of the job was being trusted to take on big tasks. Whether it was painting buildings, fixing mowers, or using tractors, I was trained how to use equipment properly and entrusted to use my skills to help make the park better.

Career path

My time as a park aide prepared me to be hired as a Park Ranger in the fall of 2007 at Twin Harbors. I worked as a Park Ranger in the South Beach Area until 2016 when I transferred to Lake Sylvia State Park. There, I was able to run a small park and hone my skills in leadership and management. In 2018, I was hired as the Area Manager back in the South Beach Area. For the next five years I worked back at my “home” park. In fall of 2023 I was hired as the Southwest South Region Manager. Apparently, I can’t stay away from the ocean parks, no matter how hard I’ve tried.

Animal interaction

We have a front row seat to the cycle of life at the coast and find many ocean creatures washed up on the beach. But we also get seal pups that eventually go back in the water to live their lives. While they're here, we put signs out to keep people and dogs away.

A black and white spotted seal pup lays on the beach in front of a carrier. — Occasionally, staff at the coast assists the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife to bring seal pups like this cutie for rehabilitation. Courtesy of Miles Wenzel.

Beach lovers take note

South Beach area (Twin Harbors, Grayland Beach, Bottle Beach and Westport Light), is still hiring park aides for the 2026 season!

Selfie of a young person with dyed orange hair in the sunset overlooking a valley — Park Aide Camryn Harbert found that Mount Spokane sunsets were a favorite part of the job. Courtesy of Camryn Harbert.

Camryn Harbert, Park Aide, Mount Spokane

I got my AA Degree shortly before I started, so I’m still early in my career. I’d been teaching art for a local school district, but I’d always wanted to do something outside. So, I was watching for opportunities at Mount Spokane. My first season was 2024.

There are routine things to get done every day. Facilities and bathrooms to clean, opening the lodge doors. Then it depends on weather, for example, if we have trees down on trails.

Best parts of the job

We have quite a bit of public contact. People are genuinely nice. They’re here because they want to learn things. I give activity recommendations in the park, including the best places to find huckleberries. People take their huckleberry picking very seriously at Mount Spokane.

I’ve learned about chainsaws and gotten certified to operate a chainsaw. We had a tractor from the 1970s that we used to mow (we’ve since upgraded). I’ve learned to drive the snowplow truck. There’s a lot of variety within and across seasons.

I’m not going to soften the bathroom thing. But that’s a small part of the job, and it helps keep the park beautiful

Career goals

A dream would be to work in conservation to some degree. Whether that is with stewardship at State Parks or moving over to another agency, I'm not sure. I have been considering going back to school for this. No matter where I end up, I am super grateful for the avenues and connections working for State Parks has provided so far. I'm excited to continue where I am for at least a little while. You can't beat the view from the office.

Favorite visitor interaction

I ran across a group of people taking photos with their pet guinea pigs. I regret every day that I didn’t get in one of their pictures.

Animal interaction

This winter I had to bushwhack around a moose on Trail #110. I rounded a corner and she was there in front of me, so I backtracked a bit to give her some space and time to move off the trail. Instead, she laid down in the snow! Thankfully, we were close to a switchback, so I was able to go around her and pick the trail back up on the downhill side, but I had to make my way through alders and two feet of fresh snow as I did it.

A woman stands on a lawn near a beach holding a chainsaw. — As a park aide, Sonya Novak perfected chainsaw skills and more.

Sonya Novak, Program Specialist 2, Information Center Team, Customer Service

I was a stay-at-home mom for eight years. In 2016 I took a four-month park aide position at Dash Point.

Enjoying the work

I took the job to cover household needs when my partner needed emergency back surgery, but we both noticed how much I enjoyed working at the park. So, when I was offered an extension, around the time he was returning to work, I stayed on. 

That first winter I worked on a reconfiguration project in the Saltwater campground and then accepted the eight-month park aide position for the 2017 season. In June of that year, I was offered the permanent position of senior park aide, which I held for the next five years.

Career path

After six years in the field, I was given the opportunity to become part of the Information Center Team as a Customer Service Specialist. Most recently, I’ve moved up to become a Program Specialist on the Information Center team.

A highlight of my career with Parks has been watching park aides I interviewed, hired and then trained and led during their seasons, grow in their Parks careers. Several went on to be rangers and maintenance mechanics and are still moving up.

Favorite visitor interaction

I noticed a mischievous child of nine or 10 camping at Dash Point, wandering alone, breaking branches off trees, throwing rocks at rabbits, etc. I offered him a Junior Ranger activity book, colored pencils and to sit with him if he wanted. While we worked through the book together, I learned that he was the oldest child, and his parents were spending much of their time with his younger siblings. That interaction, less than 10 minutes, changed his experience entirely. Watching him observe nature from then on, instead of hurting it, was wonderful and heart-warming.

Animal interaction

An orphaned young skunk showed up next to the beach restroom at Dash Point.  It was scared and hiding near some brush. I was able to catch and keep it safe until the skunk rescue (yes, that’s a thing) got there, all without getting sprayed. But I’m hardly the skunk whisperer. The rescue group told me it can take up to two weeks for a young skunk’s glands to refill once it uses all its spray. Luckily for me, that little one had probably used all it had before it was rescued.

A moose lays in the snow. — The moose that blocked Camryn's path at Mount Spokane. By Camryn Harbert, taken with a powerful zoom lens. (Don't ever approach a moose.)

We're still hiring!

We are still recruiting park aides for 2026, particularly at Pearrygin Lake near Winthrop and the South Coast! If you or someone you know someone would be a good fit, apply today!