Older Workers Sought To Work At RI State Parks And Beaches

WESTERLY, RI — With teen labor participation at an all-time low, the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management is actively seeking older residents and retired military personnel who might be looking for seasonal work at the state's parks and beaches.

"We encourage teens, college students, older Rhode Islanders, retired military personnel, and others interested in working with us this summer to apply for these seasonal positions," stated DEM Director Janet Coit. She called for a "full and enthusiastic team of seasonal workers" to create a safe and enjoyable experience for visitors.

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RIDEM is hiring for summertime positions such as lifeguards, park rangers, beach managers, facilities attendants, groundskeepers, laborers, and nature educators.

"With 50 percent fewer teens seeking jobs than 20 years ago, DEM is looking to recruit active older Rhode Islanders and retired military personnel who might want to work part-time work to make up for the lack of younger applicants," the agency said in a media release.

Rhode Island's public assets include eight saltwater beaches, 25 parks and nature preserves, 1,000 campsites, 400 miles of hiking and biking trails, and 200 fishing spots, attracting more than 9 million visitors per year. While the DEM has only 52 full-time employees managing its parks and reserves, every year it hires hundreds of seasonal workers.

Full-time and part-time lifeguard positions are available at saltwater beaches such as Misquamicut, Roger Wheeler and Scarborough, non-surf beaches such as Goddard, and freshwater beaches such as Burlingame Campground and Lincoln Woods State Park. Hourly rates for lifeguards range from $13.25 to $16.25. All lifeguard candidates must be certified and hold valid cards in first aid and CPR.

DEM also is seeking park rangers and attendants at facilities across the state. Park rangers give directions, help with crowd control, provide security checks, and are first responders in the event of emergency. Hourly rates range from $10.50 to $11.60. Applicants for facilities attendant and park ranger level I must be at least 16, and park rangers at levels II and III must be at least 18.

Interested parties should visit www.riparks.com/employment. Most positions are full-time and include weekend and holiday hours. Applications must be completed online. Paper applications will not be accepted. The State of Rhode Island is an equal opportunity/diversity employer.