Seasonal Student Trainee Park Guide

Full Job Description

The Internship Program provides students enrolled in a variety of educational environments (high schools, colleges, trade schools and other qualifying educational institutions) with paid opportunities to work in agencies and explore Federal careers while still in school.

This position is established to provide a meaningful employment opportunity in the Park Guide occupation. This is a Temporary appointment not-to-exceed 1039 hours.

All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-01/26/2026-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement. Credit will be given for all appropriate qualifying experience.

To receive credit for experience, your resume MUST clearly indicate the nature of the duties and responsibilities for each position, starting and ending dates of employment (month/year), and the resume must reflect full and/or part-time or total number of hours worked (i.e., work 40+ hours a week, rather than indicating full-time).

If part-time, the hours must be annotated to be able to pro-rate the amount qualified specialized experience.

To be eligible for this pathway position you must: 1) Be enrolled in a degree seeking program or a 1-year certificate program 2) Be enrolled on one half (1/2) time basis 3) Have a minimum 2.0 grade average 4) Attending an accredited educational institution 5) Provide transcripts with your name, school name, credit hours, course level, major(s), and grade-point average or class ranking.

6) Be enrolled for the next semester/quarter following the period of this vacancy.

To qualify for this position at the GS-03 grade level, you must possess at least one of the following minimum qualifications: EXPERIENCE: At least six (6) months of general experience, which is (1) Any type of work that demonstrates the ability to perform the work of the position, or (2) experience that provided a familiarity with the subject matter or processes of the broad subject area of the occupation.

Examples of general experience include, but are not limited to, working in a retail establishment, greeting visitors, providing information, giving directions, or other work which required dealing with people on a recurring basis; and that indicates the ability to acquire the knowledge and skills needed to perform the duties of this position.

You must include hours per week worked.-OR- EDUCATION: Successful completion of at least one (1) year of education above high school (30 semester hours or 45 quarter hours) that included at least six (6) semester hours in courses such as American history, science, and/or public speaking.

You must include transcripts.-OR- Successful completion of a combination of education and experience as described above.

For example, three (3) months of general experience (50% of the experience requirements for this position and grade level) combined with one-half year of education as outlined above (50% of the education required to qualify).

The total must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. You must include hours per week and transcripts.

To qualify for this position at the GS-04 grade level, you must possess at least one of the following minimum qualifications: EXPERIENCE: At least six (6) months of General Experience and six (6) months of Specialized Experience equivalent to at least the GS-03 level.

General Experience is (1) Any type of work that demonstrates the ability to perform the work of the position, or (2) experience that provided a familiarity with the subject matter or processes of the broad subject area of the occupation.

Specialized Experience is experience that involved oral presentation of historical, scientific, or program information to groups; or developing and/or revising technical, historical, or scientific information for oral presentation to groups.

Examples of specialized experience could include, but are not limited to Park Guide or tour leader; docent; museum or observatory guide; teaching assistant; or other similar work.

(Excess specialized experience can be substituted for general experience; but excess general experience cannot be substituted for required specialized experience).

You must include hours per week worked.-OR- EDUCATION: Successful completion of at least two (2) years of education above high school (60 semester hours or 90 quarter hours) that included at least twelve (12) semester hours in courses such as American history, science, and/or public speaking.

You must include transcripts.-OR- Successful completion of a combination of education and experience as described above.

For example, six (6) months of general or specialized experience (50% of the experience requirements for this position and grade level) combined with one (1) year of education as outlined above (50% of the education required to qualify), which included at least six (6) semester hours of related courses such as American history, science, public speaking, parks & recreation, education or communications (50% of the directly-related courses required).

You must include hours per week and transcripts.

To qualify for this position at the GS-05 grade level, you must possess at least one of the following minimum qualifications: EXPERIENCE: Must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least a GS-04.

Specialized Experience is experience that involved oral presentation of historical, scientific, or program information to groups; or developing and/or revising technical, historical, or scientific information for oral presentation to groups.

Examples of specialized experience include, but are not limited to, Park Guide or tour leader; naturalist; environmental educator or teacher; or other similar work.

Must include hours worked per week on resume.-OR- EDUCATION: Successfully have a four-year course of study above high school leading to a bachelor's degree with courses related to American history, science and/or public speaking.

If you are qualifying based on education and you do not submit specific course work information as described previously, your application will be rated not qualified for consideration.

(A copy of your official transcripts will be required before entrance on duty, if selected.)-OR- Successful completion of a combination of education and experience as described above.

Only education in excess of the first 60 semester hours of a course of study leading to a bachelor's degree is creditable toward meeting the specialized experience requirements.

Two full academic years of study, or 60 semester hours, beyond the second year is equivalent to one year of specialized experience.

Specialized experience (50% of the experience requirements for this position and grade level) combined with one year of education as outlined above (50% of the education required to qualify), which included at least 6 semester hours of related courses such as American history, science, or public speaking (50% of the directly related courses required).

You must include hours per week and transcripts.

Volunteer Experience: Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social).

Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment.

You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Major Duties:

Some of the duties you will perform include but are not limited to, Presents limited and repetitive pre-established talks including introductions to films, map talks, and static exhibit interpretation.

Provides information on a variety of subjects and interprets park values for visitors with varying interests and backgrounds.

Provides visitors with information on park related activities, services and park themes.

Provides a wide range of services to visitors, including assistance with lost articles, car trouble, and first aid; and provides information about weather conditions, highway routes, park and concessioner facilities, and prices.

In additional to the duties listed above, at the GS-04 and GS-05 level, duties will increase in complexity.

At the GS-04, you will guide parties of small size (up to 20 people) and at the GS-05, you will guide larger groups (up to 50 people).

Both grade levels you will ensure that the groups can easily be accommodated within the physical limitations of the area or facility being explained and lead the party on trips of two or more hours in duration.

Additionally, you will manage to keep the group together, prevent crowding or damage to historic sites, and take appropriate actions in emergencies.

Intern NTE: Temporary seasonal appointment not-to-exceed 1039 hours. Entry on duty date is anticipated to be in May of 2026.

Positions to be filled in the following areas: 6 Positions at Ozark National Scenic Riverways - Eminence, MO with 2 positions at GS-03 and 4 positions at GS-04.

2 Positions at Ozark National Scenic Riverways - Van Buren, MO with 1 position at GS-03 and 1 position at GS-04. 2 Positions at First Ladies National Historic Site - Canton, OH at the GS-04.

1 Position at James A. Garfield National Historic Site - Mentor, OH at the GS-04.

8 Positions at Cuyahoga Valley National Park - Peninsula, OH with 4 positions at the GS-04 and 4 positions at GS-05 2 Position at Pipestone National Monument - Pipestone, MN with 1 position at the GS-04 and 1 position at GS-05 1 Position at Wilson's Creek National Battlefield - Republic, MO at the GS-04.

6 Positions at Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument - Wilberforce, OH with 3 positions at GS-04 and 3 positions at GS-05 5 Positions at Pullman National Historical Park - Chicago, IL with 5 positions at the GS-05 1 Position at Missouri National Recreational River at Yankton, SD at the GS-04.