Next Generation Ranger Corps

A large group of past and present NextGen rangers attend the first Next Generation Ranger mingling/networking event.

The Friends of Saguaro National Park (FOSNP) and Saguaro National Park joined together in early 2015 to establish a Next Generation Ranger Corps (Next Gen) program -- designed to enable young people interested in a career with the NPS to discover the agency and its different operational divisions, by providing college students an experiential, engaging, and supportive learning and working opportunity at Saguaro National Park.

The FOSNP NextGen internship program seeks to expand Saguaro National Park's outreach to underrepresented young people of southern Arizona; strengthen the Park's connection to local schools; provide targeted training, mentoring, and work experiences for qualified participants; achieve greater levels of engagement with underserved communities; provide competitive hourly wages to participants; achieve Park resource protection objectives; and create an ethic of conservation and resource stewardship. Applicants must be 30 years old or younger, or 35 or younger if a veteran.

 

Available Opportunities

 

Filled Positions

Do any of these positions look interesting? Keep an eye on this page for future opportunities!

 

NPS Photo

Facilities Management Assistant Intern Position Closed

Applications due January 31st, 2025. Interested applicants should email their resume to [e-mail]

We are looking to fill one position with our maintenance team. This NextGen will work in the Rincon Mountain District (east) of the park. The selected individual will get a hands-on overview of all areas of modern Facilities Management & Maintenance in the National Park Service.

Start date: March, 2025
Pay: $19.30/hour, 40 hours/week

Description of Duties:

The selected NextGen interns will gain knowledge and experience in trade skills such as plumbing, electrical, carpentry, asset inventory and management, performing and documenting condition assessments on roads, buildings, and trails. Interns will also assist with contract surveillance, asset management, labor tracking database and software. They will also be given opportunities for additional cross-training and professional training opportunities in all areas of park management.

 

NPS Photo

Trails Intern Position Closed

Applications will remain open until the position is filled. Interested applicants should email their resume and any inquiries to Saguaro's Trail Supervisor at [e-mail]

Start date: November 18th, 2024
End date: April 17th 2025

Pay: $22.36/hr (WG-05 equivalent); 40 hrs/week

Description:
Saguaro National Park's Trails program is looking to hire a Next Generation Ranger intern to join our winter seasonal trail crew! This position requires strenuous effort in moving heavy materials to and around the jobsite. Candidates must be able to hike steep trails while transporting heavy tools and personal gear over difficult terrain. The work this position will perform takes place primarily outside in all weather conditions. Backcountry travel/ camping for up to 8-days at a time may be required. Depending on the project, job tasks may include:

• Assisting with rehabilitating and maintaining trail-related structures such as log cribbing, steps, water bars, culverts, stone retaining walls and other tread structures
• Tread improvement, outsloping, berm busting, and rock removal
• Brushing back overgrown vegetation and cleaning drains
• Using a variety of hand tools such as shovels, picks, rock bars, and various digging tools
• Using a variety of power tools such as drills, saws, and power wheelbarrows

 

Next Generation ranger checking out a library book

NPS

Natural Resource Librarian/Archivist Position Closed

Applications due August 23, 2024. Email cover letter and resume or send an inquiry to [e-mail]
Start Date: September 10, 2024. 6-month position, full-time.

Salary: $19.30-21.52 per hour
Schedule: 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday (with some flexibility!)
Duty Station: East district, Saguaro National Park, 3693 South Old Spanish Trail.

Primary Duties:
Help current and future biologists track long-term ecological changes at the park by:

• Making historic “legacy” scientific data on saguaro cacti, wildlife, and other natural resources available for use by other scientists
• Organizing paper and digital files from studies in Saguaro National Park
• Writing brief summaries of research results
• Potential for data analysis
• Posting data and reports to NPS Data Store website to make them accessible to scientists, educators, and the public

Critical Skills, Experience, and Education:
The ideal candidate will have:

• Strong, proven organizational skills
• Interest in science and nature
• Comfort with basic computer applications
• Ability to be a good team player
• 19-30 years old (or 35 for veterans)

Benefits:

• Diverse work experience in natural resource management
• Professional development and training opportunities (e.g. Wilderness First Aid, computer skills)
• Cross-training in other national parks skills such as education
• Public Lands Corps hiring authority eligible once 640 hour minimum has been met

 

NextGen Ranger helps manage invasive species in the park such as Buffelgrass.

NPS Photo

Natural Resources NextGen - Invasive Species Specialist - Position Closed

Start date: July 1st, 2024
End date: October 31st, 2024

Pay: $17.54/hour, Full-time at 40 hours per week.

Accepting applicants until May 31st (or when position is filled).

Description:
We are seeking candidates who love to work outside, under the desert sun! The interns would be part of our crew that protects saguaros by treating buffelgrass and other invasive plants with herbicides using backpack sprayers. You would work 4 10-hour days from July 1 through October 31. No previous specific skills needed, but should have an interest in plants, be a good team player, and have outdoor experience of working in the desert heat. During breaks from buffelgrass you will have a chance to work on plant monitoring and other resource projects.

To apply or request more information, send your resume or questions to us at [e-mail]

 

Next Generation Ranger Raeshaun walking away while working at the Tucson Festival of Books.

NPS

Indigenous Interpretation Next Generation Ranger Position Closed

Saguaro National Park is seeking Indigenous adults with a passion for learning and teaching about the rich ecosystems and cultural history of the Sonoran Desert.

Dates: Starting spring/summer 2024 with flexible term of service.
Salary: $17.54 - 19.55 per hour
Schedule: 40 hours/week, with some flexibility. May be required to work weekends and holidays.
Benefits: Park housing may be provided. Will receive Public Land Corps preferential hiring authority after service.
Duty Station: Red Hills Visitor Center, Tucson Mountain District (west), Saguaro National Park

For more information and to apply, please email resume and cover letter to: Spencer Burke at [e-mail]

Applications open until filled.

Primary Duties:

• Next Generation Ranger interns will work as part of Saguaro National Park’s interpretation, education, and outreach team at the Red Hills Visitor Center, providing orientation and information to park visitors.
• Work closely with park staff and Tribal community members to expand cultural interpretation, help run the park‘s cultural demonstration program, and participate in exhibit design and collaboration meetings.
• Research, develop, and present guided interpretive programs and hikes
• Assist with park social media, website, brochures, and exhibits
• Rove park trails

Requirements:

• Interest in National Park Service interpretation and working with Indigenous audiences.
• 18-35 years old
• Enrolled member of one of Saguaro’s associated tribes
• Must complete federal background check and have a valid driver’s license.
• O’odham, Yoeme, or other indigenous language skills preferred.

 

NextGen Ranger assists with SAGU's Tortoise Monitoring program.

NPS Photo

Natural Resources NextGen - Desert Tortoise Monitoring Position Closed

Start date: July 1st, 2024
End date: October 31st, 2024

Pay: $17.54/hour, Full-time at 40 hours per week.

Accepting applicants until May 31st (or when position is filled).

Description:

We are seeking a passionate and dedicated individual to join our team as a Desert Tortoise Tech at Saguaro National Park. You will play a crucial role in studying and conserving the iconic desert tortoise (Gopherus morafkai) within the park’s unique Sonoran Desert ecosystem. Responsibilities include:

• Conduct fieldwork focused on desert tortoise research, including population surveys, habitat assessments, and monitoring.
• Collaborate with biologists, ecologists, and other researchers to collect data on tortoise behavior, distribution, and health.
• Track tortoise movements, nesting sites, and burrows.
• Hike off-trail in the desert environment while carrying equipment (up to 20 lbs) on a regular basis.
• Endure extreme conditions during the summer season, including high temperatures and arid environments.

Qualifications:

• Experience in field research, especially with reptiles or desert ecosystems.
• Physical fitness and ability to hike in rugged terrain.
• Strong observational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Passion for conservation and a desire to contribute to the protection of desert wildlife.
• Familiarity with tortoise behavior and ecology is a plus.

To apply or request more information, please submit resume, cover letter, and references to: e-mail us Please include “Desert Tortoise Technician” in the subject line.

 

Trail crew working to make the trails a better experience for everyone.

NPS Photo

Crew Leader of Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) - POSITION IS FILLED

Start date: mid May 2024
End date: August 2024

Pay: $21.25 per hour, 40 hours per week
Accepting applications from January until the first week of March, and final selections will be made within the last weeks of March and the first week of April.

Description:
Saguaro National Park is looking for two Next Generation Rangers (18-30 years old) to work with the Trails Youth Conservation Corps summer program. The YCC is an 8-week, co-ed youth employment program hosted in June and July. Program participants range from 16 to 18 years old, and there will be a total of 10 crew members. The YCC program focuses on conservation work, environmental education and outdoor recreation.

A commitment of 640 hours is mandatory. Work weeks require camping Monday-Friday. When working in the backcountry, you will have ten consecutive 8-hour days. Due to remote, rugged conditions and environmental expectations, you will need to be capable of carrying around 40lbs of supplies and sustenance in your pack. Three weeks of training will be provided upon hiring.

Primary Duties:

• Trail maintenance such as clearing drains, brushing, and reworking trail tread

• Working with Resource Management and Maintenance teams

• Camping throughout the week, including in the backcountry

• Providing logistical and safety support for day-to-day operations

• Facilitating daily environmental education lessons to the crew

Critical Skills, Experience and Education:

• Past experience in trails / conservation work

• Camping and backpacking experience

• Management skills

• Ability to work well in a team environment

• Ability to be communicative, adaptable / flexible

• Experience educating and mentoring the youth, specifically with knowledge of the Sonoran Desert landscape

If interested in this position and have a resume to send, or if you have any inquiries, please contact Nik Bines

 

Digital Interpretation - POSITION IS FILLED

Applications due August 19, 2022, email resume or inquiry to Perri Spreiser

Start Date: August 29, 2022
End Date: August 25, 2023

Salary: $16.13+ per hour
Schedule: 8:45 a.m. to 5:15 p.m., 40 hours per week. The days of the week worked are flexible and we can accommodate schedule variations as they arise.
Duty Station: Saguaro National Park East - Rincon Mountain Visitor Center

Primary Duties:

• Lead park efforts to establish an enriching digital presence for Saguaro National Park to include:
  • The park website (nps.gov/sagu)
  • NPS Mobile App
  • Social media
• Perform digital asset management on extensive collection of images, audio, and video files
• Produce interpretive digital products that support operational needs in interpretation, outreach, and education
• Join interpretive teammates in shared activities such as visitor center operations, outreach events, and public programming

Critical Skills, Experience, and Education:

• Have completed at least two years of a college degree seeking program
• Ability to safely drive a wide range of vehicles; a valid driver’s license is required
• Ability to manage own tasks and duties independently
• Must complete federal background check process
• Must be 18-30 years old
• Spanish, O’odham, or Yoeme language skills a plus

 

Work with Sunny the Saguaro at special events and community festivals.

Community Outreach Intern - POSITION IS FILLED

Work Dates: ongoing
pay: $16.13 / hr, 20+ hours per week

The Community Engagment and Outreach Intern will work to strengthen the Park's connection to the Tucson community through our associations with federal, tribal, state, and local agencies, non-profit organizations, schools and other stakeholders.

Description of Duties:
Duties include assisting in implementing strategic communication plans, including the use of social media, attending community festivals, planning family program events in the park and special events, caretaking of Sunny the Saguaro, and supporting internal communication for park staff and volunteers.

Spanish language, both written and verbal, is preferred.

 

Next Generation Ranger Lizbeth goes through a junior ranger booklet with a group of visitors.

NPS/JCamp

Interpretation Next Generation Ranger - POSITION IS FILLED

Dates: Summer 2024 - Summer 2025 (with possibility of extension for a 2nd year)
Salary: $17.54 - 19.55 per hour
Schedule: 40 hours/week, with some flexibility. May be required to work weekends and holidays.
Duty Station: Tucson Mountain District (west), Saguaro National Park

Saguaro National Park is seeking an enthusiastic person who loves learning and teaching about the wonders of the Sonoran Desert. This paid one-year internship is designed for young people (18-30) from the Tucson area. This position will provide hands-on experience in National Park Service interpretation, opportunities to work with other park operations, and Public Land Corps hiring eligibility.

Primary Duties:

• Work as part of Saguaro National Park’s interpretation, education, and outreach team
• Provide information to park visitors
• Research, develop, and present guided walks and talks
• Assist with park social media, website, brochures, and exhibits
• Rove park trails

Requirements:

• Candidates must be between the ages of 18-30 Familiarity with the Sonoran Desert ecosystem, Saguaro National Park, and Tucson attractions
• Interest in Public Lands and Nationals Park Service careers
• Completed at least college-degree seeking program
• Valid driver’s license
• Must complete federal background check process
• Spanish, O’odham, and Yaqui/Yoeme language skill preferred

 

NextGen Ranger Intern pointing out aquatic organisms with small group of children

Environmental Education and Youth Programs - POSITION IS FILLED

Applications due August 9, 2024. Email resume or send an inquiry to [e-mail]

Start Date: September 10, 2024

Salary: $19.30-21.52 per hour
Schedule: 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday (with some flexibility!)
Duty Station: Both districts of Saguaro National Park

Primary Duties:

• Prepare and facilitate curriculum-based programs in the park, in classroom, and virtually to all audiences
• Design and create original interpretive activities, props, visual aids, games, and promotional materials. May include digital graphic design work as well as crafting 3-dimensional objects.
• Prepare and facilitate non-curriculum-based events and activities such as camps, Cactus Ranger outtings, family-friendly interpretive programs, evening programs, offsite outreach events
• Assist in strengthening the park’s relationship with local communities and developing a mutually beneficial relationship
• Join interpretive teammates in shared activities such as visitor center operations, outreach events, and public programming

Critical Skills, Experience, and Education:

• Demonstrated ability working with youth of all ages
• Experience in and/or willingness to hike on/off trail in rugged terrain in a variety of weather conditions
• Ability to provide friendly customer service and public communication
• Have completed at least two years of a college degree seeking program; preferably in education, communication, sciences, recreation or related fields
• Ability to safely drive a wide range of vehicles; a valid driver’s license is required
• Ability to manage own tasks and duties independently
• Must complete federal background check process
• Must be 18-30 years old
• Spanish language skills a plus
• O’odham or Yoeme language skills a plus

Benefits:

• Diverse work experience in interpretation
• Professional development and training opportunities (e.g. Wilderness First Aid, curriculum-development, professional conferences, etc.)
• Cross-training with all park divisions including resource management, trails, law enforcement, etc.
• Public Lands Corps hiring authority eligible once 640 hour minimum has been met