How to Become a Park Ranger in Vermont

Vermont features 52 incredible state parks within its small borders.

Within these 52 locations, park rangers ensure the hundreds of thousands of annual visitors have a safe and memorable time.

For so many parks, the Department of Forests, Parks, and Recreation has only 36 full-time employees with 250 seasonal workers.

The department always needs help during the warm summer months, snowy winters, crisp fall when the leaves change, and cool springs.

If you’re interested in becoming a park ranger in Vermont, keep reading to learn more about the process!

Requirements to Become a Park Ranger in Vermont

The process of becoming a park ranger in Vermont is rather straightforward, but does require a college degree and additional training.

The steps are as follows:

Step One: Earn a Degree

Most new park rangers have a college degree in relevant fields like park management, forestry, biology, criminal justice, law enforcement, business administration, or anthropology.

It’s important for applicants to have a foundation related to park service, and the education proves the candidate can demonstrate other skills like a strong work ethic, multitasking capabilities, and prioritizing issues and managing them in a logical order.

Step Two: Complete an Application

The multi-page application must be filled out and can be mailed or submitted online.

Before applying, it’s important to check the state parks website to see what current job postings are available.

All applicants are screened and must be CPR and First Aid Certified, at least 18 years old, and have a high school diploma.

Although a bachelor’s degree is not required, it’s highly preferred with park operation or maintenance experience or technical maintenance skills.

Additionally, candidates must partake in an in-depth background investigation proving that they are U.S. citizens and have or have the ability to acquire a driver’s license.

Candidates must also pass a drug test and a medical evaluation, including a psychological component.

Hiring begins in November and December to start in January.

Step Three: Complete the Training

Once the application is approved, new park rangers must complete state park-specific training.

Each season, new and returning rangers will spend several days learning the latest rules and procedures.

Safety is heavily emphasized throughout the program, and rangers must expect to add skills to their portfolio via training classes through local agencies like the Department of Forests, Parks, and Recreation, and the Red Cross.

Additional classes include:

• Emergency medical technician certification.
• Ice rescue.
• Lifeguard training.
• Survival.
• Wilderness first aid.

Park Ranger Duties in Vermont

Vermont park rangers have a wide number of responsibilities, including:

• Assisting with state land wildlife, resources, and management.
• Developing and facilitating wildlife and park safety programs.
• Ensuring visitors have the skills and supplies to hike, camp, hunt, and fish.
• Hiring and training volunteer staff.
• Patrolling the forest.
• Remaining updated on safety and health regulations.
• Working in remote park locations year-round.

State Parks in Vermont

Of the 52 state parks in Vermont, these two are the most popular:

Elmore State Park

Located in Elmore, VT, Elmore State Park is an over 700-acre park focused entirely on nature.

Within the grounds are 45 camp sites, the Historic Elmore Beach House, miles of hiking trails on Elmore Mountain and throughout the forest, and boat rentals on the 219-acre Lake Elmore.

The park also hosts various music festivals that serve as fundraisers for the park and community, and Friday Night Game Night, where the staff hosts educational outdoor games.

Grand Isle State Park

Situated on the picturesque Lake Champlain, which shares a border with New York and Canada, Grand Isle State Park is an easily visited park in the state.

Visitors flock to this massive park year-round to partake in hiking, camping, fishing, ice fishing, skiing, and ranger-led activities.

The park boasts an impressive 100 campsites and the “Ironwood Trail,” a beautiful hiking trail through nature.

Other park activities include the Great Ice in Grand Isle Celebration, which recounts folklore while rangers lead skiers, tobogganers, and snowshoers across the frozen lake.

Another ranger-led activity is the First Day Hikes, which occur on the first day of the New Year.

1 University of Vermont

While Vermont doesn’t have a specific park ranger training program, the University of Vermont has a Parks, Recreation, and Tourism degree program that delivers an excellent foundation for becoming a park ranger.

The program is a marriage of natural sciences, humanities, and social sciences to management and planning, all of which are needed to be successful in the park ranger field.

The curriculum boasts an integrative approach, combining practical skills with theoretical knowledge.

The faculty and staff have strong connections to the parks and recreation industry, making networking a key aspect of the program.

Contact Information

• Address: Burlington, VT 05405, United States
• Phone: +1 802-656-3131
• Website: Visit School Website

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Schools Summary Table

	Rank	School
	#1	University of Vermont

Park Ranger Salary in Vermont

The median income for a Vermont park ranger is $44,600, with pay ranging from $37,500 to $50,300.

Find Park Ranger Career Guides by State

About Chelsea Wilson Chelsea Wilson is the Community Relations Manager for Washington University School of Law’s distance learning LLM degree program, which provides foreign trained attorneys with the opportunity to earn a Master of Laws degree from a top-tier American university from anywhere in the world.