National Park Apprenticeship

  New Zealand

• Wellington: 
Wellington

Term: Throughout the year 

Description: Have you ever dreamed of becoming a Park Ranger' We have an internship position that will surely prepare you for such a career choice. On the windswept coast of the South Island, New Zealand's newest backcountry trek is taking shape. For the first time in the country's history, the government has allowed a private concessionaire to create a recreational track in Fjordlands National Park. The trek passes through some of the greatest scenery on the South Island. The hike begins at sea level, continuing eight miles along the rocky coastline, accessible only during high tide, and rises to glacier-carved valleys. The concessionaire is using a helicopter to fly in building materials to construct dormitory-style housing for visitors hiking the four-day trek.

The position features work between the backcountry and the office. In the outback, interns will live in private quarters adjacent to the main bunkhouse on mile thirteen of the trek. You will help trampers orient themselves to the area and make sure they obey the Park rules. A pre-trip reading packet will help educate you on the Park's and New Zealand's natural history. This information will then be shared with visitors through a variety of means--many of the methods being left to the intern to design. Additional duties in the backcountry include trail maintenance, upkeep on the facilities, feral animal eradication, and native bird counts.

Highlights: see above

Qualifications: good health, adventurous spirit

Experience Required: no

Participants Travel to New Zealand Independently

Application Process Involves:

• Online Application plus Application Assessment
• Phone Interview
• Resume

Institute for Cultural Ecology's Mission Statement: The Institute for Cultural Ecology was founded on the conviction that visits to exotic destinations imply a commitment to cultural sensitivity and environmental stewardship. Our programs match the interests, academic goals, and passions of the participant to select host organizations and researchers. Once you connect with a place and its people, they become a part of you. Forever.

Year Founded: 1999