The 2024 Student Ranger Program has been completed. Applications for the 2025 Student Ranger Program are scheduled to open in mid-November and close in mid-January, 2025. Exact online application dates have not been confirmed yet. Student Ranger opportunities can be found through the current B.C. government job postings webpage. For information on the hiring process, see the your job application page.
BC Parks within the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy has created the BC Parks Student Ranger Program to promote outdoor youth employment opportunities across the province. Students studying or interested in pursuing future studies or employment in a related field are encouraged to apply.
Twelve crews were recruited, hired and employed by BC Parks in 2024. For a list of locations, see Student Ranger Crews below. Additional locations are being considered for 2025.
The Student Ranger Program has been made possible by funding from the BC Parks Licence Plate Program. The Government of Canada will be providing additional funding support through Canada’s Youth Employment and Skills Strategy, as part of their partnership with Project Learning Tree Canada (PLT Canada). This initiative is made possible through BC Parks’ membership in the Canadian Parks Council.
Student Ranger Program objectives
- Provide short-term employment opportunities for students within BC Parks and the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy
- Offer student workers a diversity of experiences and training opportunities to develop their knowledge or skillsets
- Facilitate Indigenous student involvement in projects within BC Parks and Protected Areas on culturally significant sites and traditional territories of Indigenous communities across the province
- Provide student workers with an opportunity to foster their interest in caring for B.C.’s natural spaces
- Align crew projects with the BC Parks’ strategies and regional priorities to maintain and enhance natural, cultural, and recreational values
- Encourage individuals to consider BC Parks as a top choice for their future career development
BC Parks Student Ranger requirements
Requirements to be a Student Ranger Crew Lead
- Enrolled in full-time studies at an accredited secondary or post-secondary institution within the past six-months
- Demonstrated previous experience leading a group of two or more to complete a project or task during an academic, work, community, Nation or volunteer experience
Preference may be given to candidates who have experience leading projects or tasks in the outdoors or involve a component of safety planning.
- Between 18 – 30 years of age
- Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or person who has been granted refugee status in Canada
- Legally entitled to work according to the relevant provincial/territorial legislation and regulations
- Must possess and maintain a valid BC Class 5 Driver’s Licence, or equivalent [BC Class 7L/7N are not considered equivalent]. Must be able to provide a driver’s abstract upon request
- Successful completion of security screening requirements of the BC Public Service, which may include a criminal records check, or Criminal Records
- Review Act [CRRA] check, and/or enhanced security screening checks as required by the ministry
- Must participate and successfully pass the training requirements at the provincial training event (facilitated by BC Parks at the start of the employment term)
- 2024 Student Ranger Crew Leads and Crew Members are encouraged to apply for the 2025 Crew Lead positions
Requirements to be a Student Ranger Crew Member
- Enrolled in full-time studies at an accredited secondary or post-secondary institution within the past six months
- Demonstrated previous experience working in a group of two or more to complete a project or task during an academic, work, community, Nation or volunteer experience
Preference may be given to candidates who have experience completing projects or tasks in the outdoors or involve a component of safety planning.
- Between 18 and 30 years of age
- Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or person who has been granted refugee status in Canada
- Legally entitled to work according to the relevant provincial/territorial legislation and regulations
- Must possess and maintain a valid BC Class 5 Driver’s Licence, or equivalent [BC Class 7L/7N are not considered equivalent]. Must be able to provide a driver’s abstract upon request
- Must participate and successfully pass the training requirements at the program training event
- Successful completion of security screening requirements of the BC Public Service, which may include a criminal records check, and/or Criminal Records Review Act [CRRA] check, or enhanced security screening checks as required by the ministry
- Previous Student Ranger Crew Members are not eligible for current Crew Member positions
Desirable skills and experience for Crew Lead position
- Leading a diverse team to perform project work
- Experience and knowledge in the four program areas
- Conservation
- Recreation
- Indigenous relations
- Community outreach and education
- Experience hiking long distances
- Experience travelling or camping in remote environments and backcountry areas
- Knowledge of outdoor safety procedures and application
- Experience or knowledge of field equipment and tool use
- Experience listening to and applying the ideas of others from different backgrounds
- Willing and able to perform daily physical project work
- Conflict resolution and team management
- Time management and organizational skills
Desirable skills and experience for Crew Member position
- Willingness to work as a member of a diverse team
- Experience or knowledge in the four program areas
- Conservation
- Recreation
- Indigenous relations
- Community outreach and education
- Experience hiking long distances
- Experience travelling or camping in remote environments and backcountry areas
- Experience or knowledge of field equipment and tool use
- Willing and able to perform daily physical project work
Further information about Student Ranger job requirements and desirable skills and experience will be provided in the job postings for Crew Leads and Crew Members positions.
Student Ranger Crews
Each crew will be assigned to a Crew Contact (BC Parks staff member) who will directly supervise the crew. Crews will have the opportunity to work alongside their Crew Contact and other BC Parks staff on regional projects. Crews typically consist of one Crew Lead and three Crew Members. However, isolated areas may operate with crews consisting of two Crew Members.
Hourly Pay for Crew Lead and Crew Member positions will be as per the current BCGEU Collective Agreement and can be found on the salary look-up tool.
- Crew Leads are classified as Park Assistant 9
- Crew Members are classified as Youth Employment 1 or 2
Crew locations
Crews will be recruited, hired, and employed by BC Parks province-wide. Locations for crews during the 2024 season included:
- Black Creek (Miracle Beach Provincial Park)
- Fort St. John
- Kamloops
- Mount Robson
- Nelson
- Penticton
- Prince George
- Smithers
- Squamish
- Terrace
- Tofino
- Victoria
Further details about each location can be found in the Location Appendix included at the bottom of the job postings. The 2024 version is available in the additional resources section below.
BC Parks is currently finalizing needs for the upcoming season and considering crews at the following locations: Dease Lake, Mount Robson, Bella Coola, Port Renfrew, Fort Nelson.
Crew training and development
The BC Parks Student Ranger Program was designed with the intent to promote youth engagement with the land and to encourage their passion and interests.
The program aims to hire a minimum of 30% Indigenous youth each year. Creating opportunities for Indigenous youth is a high priority for the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy and BC Parks.
An objective of the Student Ranger Program is to provide youth with skills and knowledge they can apply towards future employment in related fields of work. Providing Student Rangers with basic training and learning experiences can help further their success of reaching future employment goals. Types of training opportunities that Student Rangers can expect to receive during the season include:
- Overview of park management with BC Parks
- Public outreach and education
- Cultural diversity training
- Field safety protocols and procedures
- Invasive plant identification and removal
- Trail building and maintenance
- BC Parks conservation, recreation and cultural projects
By having a crew lead for each crew, the lead will develop team-leadership, management, and organizational skills. Crew Members will have an opportunity to work under a crew leader and within a diverse team, to build on their ability to work with others in planning and executing projects.
Student Ranger projects
BC Parks staff develop crew projects in the four program areas of Conservation, Recreation, Indigenous Relations and Community Outreach. Given BC Parks priorities for specific projects during each season, it is not guaranteed that every crew will have exposure to projects in each program area. The table below includes the types of projects that Student Rangers may be involved in during their season.
| Program areas | Example projects |
|---|---|
| Recreation |
|
| Conservation |
|
| Public outreach |
|
| Indigenous relations |
|
Life as a seasonal Student Ranger
Being a Student Ranger is a great opportunity to work outside for the summer, learn new skills, meet new people and be engaged in rewarding work. The job can be physically challenging at times, but the result of a crew’s hard work can be extremely rewarding.
Student Ranger crews are assigned a point of assembly office location where they base themselves for the season. Depending on the crew and planned season work, crews may start every day at their point of assembly and then travel to the assigned worksite for the day. Other crews may find they are often travelling from their point of assembly office to stay overnight at the worksite for multiple nights at a time. Worksites within Parks and Protected Areas can be up to a full-days drive from the point of assembly office and therefore staying at the worksite overnight is necessary to complete work. Accommodation (tent or cabin), meal allowances, and camping gear will be provided to Student Rangers when camping overnight for work.
Crews schedules can also vary. Some crews may work week days, while others on week-ends. Shift lengths (work hours and number of days per week) can also differ between crews. More information on work schedules, hours of work and specific projects will be provided to applicants at the interview stage of this competition. Applicants for Student Ranger positions need to be aware of the nature of field work, in that schedules can change due unforeseen circumstances. Being flexible to a variable schedule is recommended for those applying to Student Ranger positions.
Additional resources
- Location Appendix from 2024 [PDF]
- BC Parks Licence Plate Program
- Project Learning Tree: Green Jobs in Green Spaces
- Canadian Parks Council
To find out more details on the BC Parks Student Ranger Program, contact the Program Coordinator at Parks.StudentRangers@gov.bc.ca.