What is Texas Parks and Wildlife
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) is a state agency that oversees all state parks, historical areas, public hunting lands, and more. Their mission is "to manage and conserve the natural and cultural resources of Texas and to provide hunting, fishing, and outdoor recreation opportunities for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations."
DescriptionTPWD strives to enhance opportunities that are reflective of an organization that is inclusive, fosters an open and supportive environment and draws from a variety of perspectives and experiences to further the mission and better serve the diverse population of Texas and our visitors. The State Parks Division is looking to engage a variety of students to fill intern opportunities throughout the state that embraces and encourages diversity and provides a multi-faceted learning and working environment. Under the direction of the Superintendent, this internship is an opportunity designed for students to obtain relevant work experience to be competitive for future positions in park operations. Duties include, but are not limited to, natural and cultural resource management; facility, grounds and equipment maintenance management; interpretation and education programming and management; customer service, fee collection, revenue control and fiscal accountability; marketing and promotional programming; park patrols to include visitor contact and law enforcement observation. Performs special projects/assignments and attends selected training programs to enhance the overall working knowledge and skills related to operational and management activities. |
RequirementsThe requirements to be an intern with TPWD are current enrollment at an accredited university or having graduated in the last six months. You must have at least 18 hours completed at the time you apply for the job. You must have at least a 2.5 GPA or pass on a pass/fail system. Although on paper a drivers license is not a absolute requirement, it does say you must have one if driving is required and it usually is. You must also be able to work under the conditions TPWD outlines on the application. For this internship they were -Required to work 10 to 40 hours per week with hours other than 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and days off other than Saturdays, Sundays and holidays/schedule to be determined by supervisor. -Required to work in a public park. -Required to perform work outdoors, occasionally in adverse weather conditions.-Required to perform manual labor including, lifting supplies and materials up to 25 lbs. -May be required to operate a State vehicle. -May be required to travel 5% with possible overnight stays. -Must conform to TPWD dress and grooming standards, work rules and safety procedures. -Non-smoking environment in State buildings and vehicles. |
BenefitsInternships with TPWD pay between $12.00 and $13.50 hourly. This internship was listed as temporary full time so I worked full 40 hour work weeks, but there are listings that operate at fewer than 40 hours a week as well. A Summer intern is usually given 4 days of sick leave, but there are special circumstances such as working with during covid-19 that allow more paid sick leave days if you are exposed to the virus. TPWD is usually very good about being able to provide some form of housing for interns. This year I was housed in a trailer by the maintenance yard, but housing accommodations can range from lake houses to cabins that are normally for visitors. It depends largely on where you are sent and what options they currently have open. Internships for the state parks are a great opportunity to build a lot of connections that you don't get many other places. I had the opportunity to meet employees across many different levels and doing many different jobs. Getting to spend time asking them questions, learning from them, and just getting to know them is a great networking opportunity. Working at a park means that once you are off of work, you have access to all of the opportunities that the visitors are paying to have. This Summer I spent quite a bit of time kayaking after work and exploring some of the hiking trails in the park. |
My internship overviewOver the course of the Summer I developed skills in many different areas relevant to a career with TPWD. I got certified to use various tools such as lawn mowers and saws for helping out with maintenance. I got certified to handle money and work in the front office helping visitors buy passes to get in the park. Very early on I told my supervisor that I was interested in law enforcement and got quite a bit of experience in that field. I did multiple ride-alongs and got to see how multiple types of contacts are handled and learn about state park rules and regulations. This Summer was a great chance to develop skills in multiple areas of work that are related to parks and recreation. Not only did I get to build hard skills such as competency with various tools and knowledge of park rules and regulations, but I also had the chance to practice aspects of leadership, creativity, and resourcefulness just to name a few soft skills you can expect to grow interning with TPWD.
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work in the fieldMost weeks I would start before the work week actually started by sitting down and making a tentative plan with my supervisor. At the beginning of the Summer we made a checklist of areas that I wanted to gain experience in. We used this as a guide so we could stay on track with producing the best experience. On days that I did not have a predetermined assignment I would usually report to the maintenance staff as there is always more to learn and ways to help in the field. The jobs I would do with maintenance varied greatly. I did everything from the regular tasks like mowing and cleaning bathrooms, and I did things that were more unique and amazing learning opportunities such as safety inspections and assisting in fixing sewer problems. Several weekends I was allowed to come in to work late and stay into the night to ride with the park police and see how they operate. The ability to modify my schedule as needed so that these opportunities were possible allowed me to gain the absolute most that I could. Other days I was given assignments to assist the other intern in collecting pictures to use for virtual interpretation and outreach. This meant that some days I got to spend my morning working by going out on a kayak and taking pictures of wildlife from the water and it was a great way to start work. The experiences I gained working in the field this Summer were diverse and amazing. The staff here at every level consistently went out of their way to help me truly learn and grow in ways that they by no means had to. Being able to work and learn is such a great environment enabled me to learn very effectively and was an experience on a level that I am very lucky to have been a part of.
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work in the officeWhen I wasn't working on any of the many things I helped the maintenance team with I was able to spend some time working in the front office. It was a great chance to brush up on customer service skills and be the first interaction most visitors have with the park. In the office I answered phones, worked the check in station, helped set up and maintain the park store, and learn about the administrative and financial practices of the park. Many of the jobs I had the opportunity to do here will be incredibly valuable to have on my resume, such as now having experience with handling money in accordance with TPWD regulations. The front office was also a place I frequently went for opportunities to sit in on several virtual seminars that were a great opportunity to see how a group of parks is run from a regional managers perspective. Working in the office was a great way to quickly start to learn lots of the rules, pricing, and even just answers to common questions. It was a great way to develop interpersonal skills and learn just how much goes in to something as seemingly simple as checking someone into a cabin. The time I spent working in the front was a great opportunity to learn a little more about what park management looks like as it plays out every day. Whenever a visitor had a problem they called the front, and being there in person with the superintendents as these problems are addressed and solved was a great way to learn about the different styles of management they employ on a daily basis.
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