Park Interpretive Specialist (Seasonal)
California State Personnel Board Specification
Definition
Under direction, to gather, present, and explain information concerning the State park interpretive program including natural and human history; to encourage good conservation practices; and to do other related work.
Job Characteristics
Persons in this class are employed primarily during the summer season and typically work at one or more of the units of the State Park System.
Typical Tasks
Obtains data and prepares information for exhibits on natural, social, or cultural history; plans, organizes, and conducts educational walks, tours, or campfire programs; leads group singing; gives talks to groups; explains and interprets in an interesting manner the inter-relations of plants, animals, and man to their environments, the geological, social, and cultural history of areas; promotes conservation education by explaining the relation of natural resources to the economy and physical and mental well-being of man; maintains exhibits and self guided interpretive trails; operates audiovisual equipment and assists in preparing photographs, color slides, motion pictures and other illustrative materials; collects, prepares, and identifies specimens and his torical objects and artifacts; compiles check lists and catalogs natural history specimens and historic objects and artifacts; studies natural and human history, and historical features, sites or structures in order to contribute to general scientific, historic and park information; repairs material for scientific, historic or popular publications; explains rules and regulations to visitors for the purpose of protecting and preserving natural, historic and cultural features, sites or strutures in State park districts.
Minimum Qualifications
Education: Equivalent to graduation from college (1) with major work in natural sciences or human history, or (2) with major work in education with specialization in natural science or human history. Full-time paid work performing duties similar to those listed under "TYPICAL TASKS" above may be substituted for a maximum of two years of the required education on the basis of one season (three months) of experience being equal to one year of education.
Knowledge and Abilities
Knowledge of: Natural or human history of California; governmental other organizations concerned with conservation of natural and historic values; forest protective methods.
Ability to: Plan, organize, and conduct interpretive walks, tours, and campfire programs; plan and maintain exhibits and self guided interpretive trails; apply scientific knowledge, methods, and techniques in obtaining, arranging and interpreting data, and in collecting, identifying and cataloging specimens and historic objects and artifacts; organize scientific material for presentation and address an audience effectively; prepare written material for reports and publication; analyze situations accurately and adopt an effective course of action.
Special Personal Characteristics
Demonstrated interest in outdoor life and natural history and human history; tact; good address; neat personal appearance; pleasing personality; keenness of observation.
