6/13/2011
SOUTH CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Two W.Va. state parks are seeking summer employees to conduct nature interpretative activities.
Stonewall Resort in Lewis County and
Babcock State Park in Fayette County each have a summer naturalist position available.
“Naturalists share their love and understanding of the outdoors and natural history,” according to state parks programming services administrator Sissie Summers. “The job is more of a reward than perhaps the monetary side of employment as summer work. Our interpretative staff members come from all walks of life, educational levels, and backgrounds, but a mutual interest is outdoor education and sharing.”
Many of West Virginia’s state parks and forests offer planned activities throughout the summer months. Activities include night hikes, geology programs, meet a snake or turtle programs, “why we don’t feed bears,” area history, “why bats are important,” or activities as simple as “what’s that flower?”.
Summer positions generally pay minimum wage. Summers notes that many park superintendents began as summer naturalists at state parks. Individuals interested in summer employment as naturalists at Stonewall Resort should email
Samuel.A.England@wv.gov; for interest in the Babcock naturalist position, email
BabcockSP@wv.gov, for job description, wages, and employment parameters.
“Nature-based activities, hikes and crafts are important aspects of the state park experience,” Summers said. “Parks with summer naturalists plan and conduct a variety of family oriented activities that often introduce children and adults to outdoor experiences and nature observation.”
Parks and forests with a summer naturalists who attended the spring familiarization workshop at Blackwater Falls include: Travis Green and Ken Vance, Twin Falls State Park; Ken Zebo and Laura Carpenter, North Bend State Park; Nick Korolev, Lost River State Park; Paulita Cousin and Destiny Judy, Blackwater Falls State Park; Stephanie Bailey and Justine McCoy, Tygart Lake State Park; Peggy Hash, Bluestone State Park; Megan Flinn, Hawks Nest State Park; Dave Vance, Canaan Valley Resort: Kendra Bolen, Beech Fork State Park; Kelly Smith and Patrick Ditto, Cacapon Resort State Park; Jesse Mestrovic, Stonewall Resort; Biff Healy, Holly River State Park; Donni Finley, Cedar Creek State Park; Erin Cockerham, Pipestem Resort State Park; Julie McQuade, Watoga State Park; Sara Miller, Kanawha State Forest; and Emily Wallace, Greenbrier State Forest.
In addition to daily activities, parks also plan and offer special events throughout the year. A printed booklet is available listing events planned and submitted earlier in the year. New events are added as they are developed and those are posted to the individual park website as well as at
www.wvstateparks.com. For a printed events calendar call 304 558 2764.
Contact Information
Supt. Sam England, Stonewall Resort State Park
304-269-0524
samuel.a.england@wv.gov