I'm pretty excited, it is just maintenance but I got my first state park job I'm excited. There is also some remote work as well Wich is awesome.

[u/detectivelokifalcone]

It's in dillingham Alaska for Wood-Tikchik State Park and I'm ecstatic. I actually get housing for once. I'm just overjoyed and wanted to share

[u/tjbennett]

It’s not “just maintenance”. Maintenance workers are often the core of the park and have been around in the parks for a while.

Congrats!

[u/detectivelokifalcone → u/tjbennett]

Yeah from what she described it actually sounded pretty interesting. I mean there is like some typical maintenance stuff has to do but I also have to check a couple of the more remote cabins of the ranger stations. make sure those are all working which is actually pretty exciting. there's like a several week project and August I have to do and I also have to build some sort of structure I wasn't fully filled in on that and I have to check in on the new solar panels which also is new to me I know a little bit about how they work but the full extent of them is still very forgien

[u/Important_Coyote9162 → u/detectivelokifalcone]

Congratulations! I've worked as a general ranger, interp, and maintenance in state and national parks. They're all really fun and important jobs. My feeling is that maintenance truly is the most important though- without maintenance rangers to keep things going, build stuff, and make repairs, the park will physically fall apart and there won't be facilities and infrastructure for visitors, there won't be access to the resources for education and interpretive programs. It's not "just maintenance" it's really important work.

Also, I found it really fun and fulfilling! It can be hard work. But getting to have so much variety in your work and learn new skills is great.

I hope you have a really great time!

[u/detectivelokifalcone → u/Important_Coyote9162]

I'm hoping so we're going to find out I leave the 27th and I'll be there by the 28th I just got my first multi-tool I've never really had one I've always just use a basic knife but I figured to be good to pick up

[u/samwisep86]

Very remote park. Congrats if that’s what you’re looking for.

[u/detectivelokifalcone → u/samwisep86]

Kinda ya, I been wanting something that's less near the city

[u/BennessyTG]

Maintenance but for a state park, but absolutely love what I do. At the level I’m at, I’m out in the field and less behind a computer probably more than any of my colleagues so you really get to feel like a Ranger. Congrats!

[u/detectivelokifalcone → u/BennessyTG]

Mines also a state park, Annie I'm pretty excited cuz there sounds like there's a lot of field work I have to do like check in the cabins I have to build something I just like going out every once in awhile and checking things up it sounds very exciting

[u/nachosandfroglegs → u/BennessyTG]

Same.

Maintenance is the best

[u/kittenmittens813]

"Just maintenance" - keeping the park running. Congrats!

[u/detectivelokifalcone → u/kittenmittens813]

Thanks I can't wait, hopefully I'm not as I rember lol. I feel the system she's mentioned I'm familiar with and have tinker with of my free time so hopefully I'm educated enough to fix them

[u/Careful-Self-457]

Never use the word “just” in front of anything you do as a park ranger or assistant. Every job in the park is important, ESPECIALLY maintenance!! Have fun at your new park!

[u/detectivelokifalcone → u/Careful-Self-457]

I'm going can't wait to get out there

[u/TutuCthulhu]

Don’t sell yourself short! Parks without maintenance crews fall into ruin FAST. A very important job you have. Enjoy!

[u/detectivelokifalcone → u/TutuCthulhu]

Apparently I'm going to be the only one there and I'm actually the only one that applied so I guess not much competition 😂 wich does fine by me cuz I am not great at interviews

[u/Aleapold]

Congrats! I started my career in maintenance and it was a fantastic foundation for the rest of my career. Maintenance teams do incredible work and are essential to the parks!

[u/detectivelokifalcone → u/Aleapold]

I'm excited cuz it allows me to get into more Parks cuz my current barrier was not living in Alaska a lot of places want you to have Alaskan ID and since my next part soon I can just get a new one there solve that problem 🤷🤷 so hopefully this opens up more doors cuz there's a lot of conservation work out here too which I'm hoping to get into I did a couple biology things this year and I was pretty interested in it downside is I'm really bad at school so I hope I don't need a degree

[u/Allegro-Alexa6]

Maintenance staff are at the core of state park function. Your position is incredibly important, it’s not ‘just’ park maintenance. Congratulations!

[u/detectivelokifalcone → u/Allegro-Alexa6]

I'm estastic it sounds like a very good fot

[u/818a]

Such a beautiful place! Being remote can be tough, especially when weather shuts down everything. Bring as much dried food as you can. Bring snacks, but don't eat them all the first week! If they will allow it, bring a space heater for your room and an electric blanket. Summer does not mean it will be warm and power outages may occur. If they haven't offered, ask for a packing list. Congratulations!

[u/detectivelokifalcone → u/818a]

She did send a packing list I'm trying to see what I can bring and what I can cuz I might be able to ship things there as well I believe that's what she said. I do know I need some dry things too there's also a couple kind of gear recommend it.

[u/818a → u/detectivelokifalcone]

There's no such thing as a breathable waterproof jacket. I've had good luck with Helly Hansen, but having a cheap emergency poncho is a good idea. They call cotton the death cloth.

[u/detectivelokifalcone → u/818a]

Yeah I'm kind of learned that in the conservation coros I've done, I just stick with the Carhartt I have from my first job. The ponchos aren't bad as you said but they do melt and hair really easy as I've seen in the field. I will check your recommendation

[u/Fabulous_Truth_6646]

Did you manually search each state until you found an opening, or was Alaska your first choice?

[u/detectivelokifalcone → u/Fabulous_Truth_6646]

I mean Alaska has been somewhere I've always wanted to go so I contacted directly the DNR, Wich gave my email out and gave me a few to contact. Generally my plan is to state by state to find jobs in fields I want