Student Summer Jobs at Ontario Parks

Ontario Parks is hiring students this summer! Spend your summer working outside and connecting with nature, all while doing meaningful work that contributes to protecting the environment and helping park visitors.

Find a community of nature-lovers and work in a friendly, welcoming, and inclusive environment. Learn skills, make new friends, advance your career, and get paid to do it! Apply now for the adventure of a lifetime.

Information to assist you with the application process is available on the Summer Employment Opportunities website (opens in a new tab). Within your application, you will have the opportunity to identify the skills, work preferences and qualifications you have that make you a suitable candidate for this position.

Provincial parks are located across the province; View the  Ontario Parks Hiring Map (opens in a new tab) to find the exact location of each provincial park and what roles they are hiring for. During the application, you can select up to five (5) parks that you wish to work at. Ensure you know the location of the parks you are applying to before submitting your application.

Some parks offer limited staff accommodations for summer staff, with minimal cost. View the list of Provincial Parks with Staff Housing (opens in a new tab). TO REQUEST STAFF HOUSING AT PARKS YOU APPLIED TO, PLEASE LIST THE SPECIFIC NAMES OF THE PROVINCIAL PARKS YOU NEED HOUSING FOR IN YOUR RESUME/COVER LETTER. If staff housing is not available, you will be responsible for your own housing arrangements.

If you do not require staff housing, it is your responsibility to ensure you are able to travel to the park(s) you apply to. Please list the specific names of the provincial parks you can travel to for work in your resume/cover letter.

Check out the Ontario Parks website (opens in a new tab) to learn more!

Notes:

• Relocation expenses and/or accommodations are not covered by ministries.
• The number of positions to be filled is approximate and subject to change.
• Please use your legal name when applying to the job ad.
• Summer placements are typically full-time (working 36.25hrs/week or 40 hrs/week). However some part-time placements MAY be available based on mutual agreement between the hiring manager and student, if operationally feasible. Please inquire at the interview stage.

About the job

Ontario Parks offers a wide range of student positions and opportunities! Below are the job types available. When completing the application form, be sure to indicate which job type(s) you are applying for.

• Gate Attendant – Welcomes visitors, issues park permits, and responds to customer inquiries. Gate Attendants welcome everyone into a provincial park.
• Maintenance Worker – Provides services to ensure parks are maintained, cleaned, and ready for guests.
• Park Store Clerk – Assists in maintaining park stores and gift boutiques. This position involves managing rentals, providing customer service, handling money, and performing clerical work.
• Administrative Assistant – Assists with clerical work and park administration. This position plays a key role in assisting with finances and scheduling.
• Discovery Ranger – Assists in delivering park educational programs to inform visitors about the natural and cultural resources found within the park. Only available at parks with a Discovery Program (opens in a new tab).

• Interior Ranger – Maintains backcountry hiking and portage trails, and remote campsites in parks that may only be able to be reached by boat, canoe, of on foot.
• Trail Maintenance – Ensures backcountry trails and campsites are accessible and safe for users by removing brush, upkeeping trail surfaces, and conducting inspections.

What you bring to the team

Mandatory requirements

You must meet all eligibility criteria by the first day of employment (contracts begin between May and July):

1. Student Status: You must be enrolled in a secondary or post-secondary institution (currently or for the fall semester) OR you must have graduated within the past six months (for example, if you graduated in December, you can apply for and start a summer student position up until June of the following year).
   
2. Age: You must be a minimum of 15 years of age. There is no maximum age limit.
   
3. Residency: You must be a resident of Ontario during the term of employment.
   
4. Work Status: You must be legally entitled to work in Canada and have a valid Canadian Social Insurance Number (SIN) for the full duration of your summer employment.
   
5. Application: Applications are only accepted online by clicking the "Apply Online" button. Your application should describe how you meet the knowledge and skill requirements outlined on this ad.

Communication and Interpersonal Skills

• You apply your verbal and written communication skills to communicate information related to programs, prepare a variety of documents, and respond to public and/or internal inquiries by phone, email, and in-person. Ability to delivery public presentations at the park level.
• You apply your initiative and interpersonal skills to work collaboratively within a team environment.

Technical Skills and Knowledge

• You apply basic safe operating practices when working with machinery and equipment.
  
• You have the ability to conduct maintenance of grounds, buildings, and equipment, and to use machinery, equipment, and tools (e.g. lawn mowers, weed trimmers).
  
• You apply your basic mathematical skills to accurately perform cash handling duties.
  
• You apply your experience using Microsoft Office applications, such as Word (word processing) and Excel (spreadsheets), as well as databases, email, and the internet to conduct research and prepare a variety of documents.
  
• You apply your experience with Geographic Information Systems (GIS) such as ESRI ArcGIS suite to conduct data and trend analysis (including spatial trend analysis), prepare simple maps, and track, compile, and evaluate information.

Analytical and Organizational Skills

• You follow instructions and seek clarification, as required.
  
• You pay close attention to detail and record information accurately.
  
• You plan, organize, and prioritize your work to meet competing deadlines.

Other Requirements

• Certain positions require you to have a valid Ontario G2 (or higher) Driver's Licence or equivalent.
• Certain positions require that you have, or be willing to acquire, a Pleasure Craft Operator Card as a condition of employment.
• Certain positions require that you have certification in Standard First Aid and CPR.
• Certain positions include the handling of money.
• You are willing and able to work shifts and weekends with an irregular schedule up to 36.25 hours per week.
• You are able to work in an outdoor environment with some physical activity involved, including lifting and carrying weighted items in accordance with the Employment Standards Act and Workplace Health and Safety regulations.
• You will require training on the Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS).
• You are capable of, and comfortable with, operating small machinery and equipment, and using lawn care tools.

Other student and recent graduate opportunities

Don't meet every qualification?

How we support diversity, inclusion and accessibility

• diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives
• accessibility
• Anti-Racism Policy

What we offer

Additional information:

Note:

• About security checks:
  A criminal or other federal offence record does not automatically disqualify you from the position. We consider each situation based on the position's responsibilities.
  If a check is needed and you've lived outside of Canada in the past 5 years for 6 or more months in a row, or if you are not a Canadian resident, you'll need to provide an out-of-country police clearance certificate from the country you lived in.
  Employment screening checks are only reviewed and evaluated by the Transition and Security Office, which also maintains them and keeps them strictly confidential.
• Some positions advertised on this job ad are represented by the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) and successful candidates will be required to pay monthly union dues, which are automatically deducted from your pay.
  
  Other positions advertised on this job ad may be excluded from the OPSEU Collective Agreement (i.e. not represented by OPSEU), depending on the business area within the Ministry in which the work is performed. You will be advised during the recruitment process by the hiring manager of the business area.
  
  You will receive a confirmation splash page verifying receipt of your application when it has been successfully received. You will only receive an email confirmation if you have entered your email address in the application. If you do not receive a confirmation splash page, it is likely that your application was not successfully received and it is recommended that you resubmit your application. If that still does not result in a confirmation, please contact SEO@ontario.ca during the posting period. We cannot provide assistance with submitting your application after the job ad deadline date.

Language requirements and assessment:
All external Ontario Public Service (OPS) job ads are posted in English and French. Check the "position(s) language" section at the top of each job ad for the language requirements. For all roles, candidates are assessed in English, the business language of the OPS. If the position is bilingual (English/French), you'll also need to pass a French-language proficiency test.

Exigences en matière de langue et évaluation:
Toutes les offres d'emploi externes de la fonction publique de l'Ontario (FPO) sont affichées en français et en anglais. Consultez la section « Langue du ou des postes » en haut de chaque offre d'emploi pour connaître les exigences linguistiques. Pour tous les postes, les candidats sont évalués en anglais, la langue d'affaires de la FPO. Si le poste est bilingue (anglais/français), vous devrez également passer un test de compétences linguistiques en français.