Summer Wilderness Rescue Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

You will serve as a Recreation Assistant (Winter Outdoor Activities) (Seasonal) Recreation Assistant (Winter Outdoor Activities)
Likely Entry On Duty: December 2026.
Open to the first 100 applicants or until 08/19/2026 whichever comes first.

This is a temporary position expected to last not to exceed 1039.

Pay will vary based on grade level and/or duty location for which you're selected. First time hires to the Federal government normally start at the step 1 rate.

Qualifications:

All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-08/19/2026-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement.

To receive credit for experience, your resume MUST state either "full-time" (or "40 hours a week") or "part-time" with the number of hours worked per week to ensure proper crediting of specialized experience. Failure to adequately provide information needed to determine number of hours worked in each position may result in that time not being credited when evaluating qualifying experience. For periods of time that reflect military service, the DD-214 or Statement of Service is sufficient to meet the full and/or part-time hours requirement as the service dates will be reflected.

This position requires a special qualification that has been determined to be essential to perform the duties and will be used as a screen out element. If you do not provide evidence that you possess the following selective factor(s), you will be rated not qualified.

• Wilderness First Responder (WFR) certification

To qualify for this position at the GS-05 grade level, you must possess at least one of the following minimum qualifications by close of the announcement:
EXPERIENCE: At least one full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-04 grade level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). Examples of qualifying specialized experience include: Group leader, counselor, or similar work in public and private recreation programs for adults or children such as summer camps, local playgrounds, YWCA and YMCA clubs, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, urban community centers, or resort recreational activities. Teacher's aide in elementary school recreation or physical education program, with emphasis on development of general recreational skills and abilities. Aide or assistant assignments in recreation while on active military service. Aide or assistant in the organization and administration of recreation activities, such as preparing activities calendars, maintaining attendance records, and providing information concerning schedules and activities. Summer aide in a State or national park, with duties related to the recreational activities of visitors to campsites, trails, picnic areas, nature and raft centers, and boating and fishing areas (e.g., demonstrating camping techniques and park safety, conducting nature tours, and overseeing farm animal areas provided for children). Sales or stock clerk in a recreation supplies and equipment shop. Aide or assistant in the issuance of authorized property, and in the maintenance of inventory control and accountability for such property in a recreation facility. Aide or assistant in a hotel or resort recreation service, with duties such as setting up areas for games, tournaments, and other organized group recreational activities. You must include hours per week worked.
-OR-
EDUCATION: Successful completion of at least a 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree with major study or at least 24 semester hours in courses related to recreation or physical education. You must include transcripts.-OR-Successful completion of a combination of education and experience as described above. For example, I have 6 months of the specialized experience described above (50% of the experience requirement), and 3 years of college study from an accredited institution (50% of the qualifying education). NOTE: Two full academic years of study, or 60 semester hours, beyond the second year is equivalent to l year of specialized experience. You must include transcripts and a resume which indicates hours/week worked.
To qualify for this position at the GS-06 grade level, you must possess at least one of the following minimum qualifications by close of the announcement:
EXPERIENCE: At least one full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-05 grade level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). This experience includes activities such as: knowledge of and experience in monitoring winter recreational activities, providing education, and applying search and rescue techniques while in the field; knowledge of and skill in applying established educational practices, procedures, and methods sufficient to assist in the delivery of Leave No Trace educational programming to the public; use personal computers with office applications to provide field reports and data collection; makes decisions on appropriate actions to take to better protect the resource and park visitors (e.g., which trail to patrol, what questions to ask visitors, how to locate a missing visitor). You must include hours per week worked.
-OR-
EDUCATION: Successful completion of at least one year of graduate education with major study directly related to recreation or physical education. You must include transcripts.-OR-Successful completion of a combination of education and experience as described above. For example, I have 6 months of the specialized experience (50% of the experience requirement), and 9 semester hours of directly related graduate education (50% of the qualifying education). You must include transcripts and a resume with hours/week worked.
To qualify for this position at the GS-07 grade level, you must possess at least one of the following minimum qualifications by close of the announcement:
EXPERIENCE: At least one full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-06 grade level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). This experience includes activities such as: receive complex assignments that involve problem-solving and independent decision making; solve operational problems and provide educated input to the work planning process to benefit the success of the program; serves as the unit lead and resident expert for operational functions on-site and in the field; operates independently in remote settings maintaining recreational equipment and government structures; travels independently and safely in variable winter conditions using a variety of different equipment and winter travel techniques; ability to assess terrain for avalanche danger and make appropriate decisions based on assessment. You must include hours per week worked.
-OR-
EDUCATION: Successful completion of at least one year of graduate education with major study directly related to recreation or physical education. You must include transcripts.-OR-Successful completion of a combination of education and experience as described above. For example, I have 6 months of the specialized experience (50% of the experience requirement), and 9 semester hours of directly related graduate education (50% of the qualifying education). You must include transcripts and a resume with hours/week worked.

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.Education:

You must submit a copy of your transcript(s) to support claimed education if substituting education for experience. Transcripts must include your name, school name, grades, credit hours earned, major(s), grade point average or class ranking, and date the degree was conferred, if applicable. A typed list of courses, grades, semester/quarter hours, GPA, etc. will not be accepted. Non-submission may result in being rated not qualified for the position. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable, but if you are selected for this position and you used your education to qualify, you must provide official transcripts before you begin work.

Foreign Education: To receive credit for education completed outside the United States, you must show proof that the education has been submitted to a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign educational credentials and such education has been deemed at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education programs. Recognition of Foreign Qualifications | U.S. Department of Education. https://www.ed.gov/about/initiatives/international-affairs/recognition-of-foreign-qualification

Employment Type: OTHER