What does a park interpretive specialist do?
A park interpretive specialist's role involves the interpretation and preparation of information for park exhibitions and tours. This role is responsible for conducting educational tours to explain the interrelationship between animals and plants in the park, environmental conservation education efforts, and acting as a guide on trails. Park interpretive specialists also prepare photos and videos for visitor education, pick out artifacts and specimens for exhibits, and liaise with other staff on schedules and themes for programs.
Park interpretive specialist responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real park interpretive specialist resumes:
- Present activities to teachers and lead portion of guide canoe trip.
- Manage and staff park entrance station facilitating camping reservations and assisting day use visitors.
- Participate in canoe, bike, train, and school group programs.
- Process computerize campsite reservations, register overnight campers by computer or self-registration systems and prepare relate reports with ORMS system.
- Provide animal husbandry and interpret wildlife, including alligators, snakes, opossums, turtles, birds, and fish.
- Coordinate logistics relate to renting out kayaks, guiding and planning trips, answering phones, booking trips and repairing kayaks.
- Direct and train volunteer docents to ensure tours run promptly and are historically accurate.
- Design and run terrain park construction as well as supervising terrain park crew of 12employees.
- Demonstrate continuous leadership for employees by providing on-the-job training while building good working relationships with management and customers.
Park interpretive specialist skills and personality traits
We calculated that 18% of Park Interpretive Specialists are proficient in Interpretive Programs, Cultural History, and Natural Resources. They’re also known for soft skills such as Analytical skills, Management skills, and Physical stamina.
We break down the percentage of Park Interpretive Specialists that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Interpretive Programs, 18%
Conducted detailed research for development of future interpretive programs and materials using both internet and printed materials.
- Cultural History, 18%
Present interpretive commentary on the cultural history, natural history and general ecology of the Pacific Northwest.
- Natural Resources, 13%
Acted as liaison between the city and public concerning ordinances and the City's parks and natural resources.
- Visitor Services, 12%
Provided visitor services by explaining regulations; answered visitor requests.
- DCR, 10%
Oversee that the DCR's mission and regulations are fulfilled throughout the district.
- Public Speaking, 5%
Teach younger students about environment, public speaking experience, coordinate programs, some grounds work within natural area.
"interpretive programs," "cultural history," and "natural resources" are among the most common skills that park interpretive specialists use at work. You can find even more park interpretive specialist responsibilities below, including:
Analytical skills. To carry out their duties, the most important skill for a park interpretive specialist to have is analytical skills. Their role and responsibilities require that "conservation scientists and foresters must be able to evaluate results from field tests and experiments to determine potential impacts on soil, forest lands, and the spread of fires." Park interpretive specialists often use analytical skills in their day-to-day job, as shown by this real resume: "performed basic trail maintenance, data entry, and developed customer service skills. "
Management skills. Another essential skill to perform park interpretive specialist duties is management skills. Park interpretive specialists responsibilities require that "conservation scientists and foresters must be able to lead the forest and conservation workers and technicians they supervise." Park interpretive specialists also use management skills in their role according to a real resume snippet: "major accomplishments gained an immense amount of professional experience in educational program development and natural resource management. "
Physical stamina. Another skill that relates to the job responsibilities of park interpretive specialists is physical stamina. This skill is critical to many everyday park interpretive specialist duties, as "conservation scientists and foresters may walk long distances in challenging terrain, such as steep or wooded areas, and may work in all kinds of weather conditions." This example from a resume shows how this skill is used: "maintain a high level of physical fitness and mental preparedness. "
The three companies that hire the most park interpretive specialists are:
- Vail Resorts2 park interpretive specialists jobs
- SMG Holdings2 park interpretive specialists jobs
- Apple1 park interpretive specialists jobs
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Compare different park interpretive specialists
Park interpretive specialist vs. National park ranger
Naturalists are people who educate the public on environmental-related matters. The core responsibilities of this position are preserving, restoring, maintaining, and protecting natural habitat. Other duties performed by a naturalist are; guide work, conducting field studies of local and natural habitats, educating and providing the general public with recreational activities, assisting with administrative tasks that relate to parking admission, and leading and offering guidance during trips and nature walks for both adults and children.
There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, park interpretive specialist responsibilities require skills like "interpretive programs," "cultural history," "dcr," and "public speaking." Meanwhile a typical national park ranger has skills in areas such as "yellowstone," "visitor safety," "summer season," and "state regulations." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.
National park rangers tend to reach similar levels of education than park interpretive specialists. In fact, national park rangers are 2.9% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 1.0% more likely to have a Doctoral Degree.Park interpretive specialist vs. Naturalist
Park Managers are responsible for overseeing the operations of parks. Their duties include organizing work schedules and assignments, supervising park maintenance activities, conduct park inspections, and assess revenue channels. They are also responsible for administering park programs, facilitating park constructions, and helping staff training and recruitment initiatives. Park Managers also assist in resource protection services as well as educational outreach operations. They collaborate and foster good relations with the government, local communities, and non-profits in managing natural resources.
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that park interpretive specialist responsibilities requires skills like "dcr," "cultural resources," "flyers," and "program outlines." But a naturalist might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "outdoor education," "environmental science," "creek," and "natural sciences."
Naturalists earn similar levels of education than park interpretive specialists in general. They're 0.9% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 1.0% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Park interpretive specialist vs. Natural resource educator
There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a park interpretive specialist is likely to be skilled in "interpretive programs," "cultural history," "natural resources," and "visitor services," while a typical natural resource educator is skilled in "education programs," "environmental education," "water quality," and "natural resource issues."
Natural resource educators typically earn higher educational levels compared to park interpretive specialists. Specifically, they're 5.6% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 4.2% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Park interpretive specialist vs. Park manager
Types of park interpretive specialist
Updated January 8, 2025
