Cooking or waiting tables in a national park is a rite of passage for college kids out west, some of whom cycle among parks until their midtwenties. The views are amazing, and there鈥檚 a jubilant camaraderie that comes from working in some of the country鈥檚 most beautiful places. 鈥淵ou have an adventure every day,鈥 says climber and photographer Jimmy Chin, who bagged peaks during college while working as a cashier and waiter in Glacier National Park. 鈥淚 think of it as the summer of freedom.鈥
Prereqs: Reliability. These jobs can run from Memorial Day to Labor Day, and college kids often promise to stay to the end but leave early. A good reference will help.
How to Break In: Skip park-affiliated resorts, which can be impersonal. Instead, look for independent hotels or restaurants that offer flexible scheduling and employee housing in or near the park. 鈥淲e have a lot of employees whose older brothers or aunts or uncles worked here,鈥 says Amy Van Dam, owner of Glacier National Park鈥檚 Park Cafe. lists dozens of national-park positions and offers information on specific jobs from current and former employees.
Pay: $8 to $13 per hour, plus tips. Some outfits, including Dornan鈥檚, a restaurant and lodge in Wyoming鈥檚 Grand Teton National Park, offer bonuses to employees who stick around until the end of the season.
Romance Potential: 鈥淭here鈥檚 endless hook-up drama,鈥 says Anne Creswell, a nine-season vet of Dornan鈥檚, which houses as many as 65 employees every summer, including quite a few European students.
R茅sum茅 Skills: Service with a smile.