Job events happening January 26 and February 2
The East Bay is home to one of the most beautiful and diverse parks districts in the nation. With 73 parks throughout Alameda and Contra Costa counties, the East Bay Regional Parks District (EBRPD) is also the largest parks district in the U.S. It represents a huge number of opportunities to enjoy outdoor activities, which attract 25 million visits per year.
The parks district also represents a wealth of opportunities for employment and skills development in many roles. EBRPD currently employs 762 people as park rangers, naturalists, police and fire personnel, lifeguards, planners, biologists, and administrative support personnel. It’s an organization known for advancing its employees into higher positions - many of the current management staff started working for the district as student workers or lifeguards. Starting as a student worker is a good strategy, especially if you like being outdoors, working with children, aquatics, or public safety.
EBRPD is hosting two job fairs to make youth and students aged 15 to 24 aware of the range of opportunities available to work in the parks. The fairs are scheduled in Oakley on Saturday, January 26, 2019, and in Union City on Saturday, February 2, 2019. Both events offer attendees an opportunity to learn about the specific Park District jobs available and interact with current employees to get insight into what it’s like to work for the Park District. The East Bay Regional Park District is the largest employer of youth in the East Bay, hiring over 400 Bay Area youth each year to work in the District's 73 regional parks and ten visitor centers.
“The Park District’s Annual Youth Job Fairs are an important way for the District to engage with local youth looking for jobs,” said East Bay Regional Park District Ward 5 Director Ayn Wieskamp. “The Park District works very hard to ensure youth in the district are aware of the jobs the District has to offer.”
Each summer, the district hires nearly 200 lifeguards for its 11 swim facilities. Recreational leaders do a lot of outdoor activities such as supporting day camps, overnight trips and afterschool programs. Interpretive student aides work directly with naturalists in training while public safety student aides are four-year positions for those interested in police or fire service. Gate attendants staff park kiosks, and student laborers assist rangers with light maintenance duties. Most of the jobs are summer jobs, but the park district hires young people all year round. Most positions are paid and include benefits.
Alexandro Hernandez, 18, lives near Big Break Regional Shoreline park in Oakley. He attended the 2017 youth job fair, and since has been a student laborer for the park district for the past two summer seasons.
“To attend the fair was awesome,” says Hernandez. “There were so many resources, many job booths -- they were showing all the jobs you can do and what the district is doing. There are so many jobs inside the park, and I wanted to learn more about them once I realized the variety.”
Hernandez completed an application to work as a student laborer and was called for an interview.
“I was 16 at the time and didn’t know anyone who did that kind of work,” he says. “I wanted to be the first person I knew to try something like that.”
Hernandez was hired as a student laborer at Big Break, cutting trees, cleaning, and doing general landscaping.
“I like the fact that it was an outdoor job, and being active- it was fun. It’s a really good job – there’s a lot of different things to do and I like working outside – it’s not like working in a retail store where you’re inside all of the time.”
In addition to gaining job skills, such as how to properly cut a tree, Hernandez says he gained confidence and learned how to better communicate with people, both his co-workers and park visitors.
“The Park District is interested in attracting qualified and energetic job candidates who care about parks, nature learning, and enjoy outdoor recreation,” said East Bay Regional Park District Chief Human Resources Officer Kip Walsh.
Created in 1934, the East Bay Regional Park District marks its 85th anniversary this year. Part of celebrating the anniversary should be a recognition of the huge community benefits represented by the job creation and job training, especially for youth.
2019 Youth Job Fair Details:
Saturday, January 26, 2019
Big Break Visitor Center
10 a.m. to noon
69 Big Break Road, Oakley, CA 94561
Saturday, February 2, 2019
Ruggieri Senior Center
10 a.m. to noon
33997 Alvarado-Niles Road, Union City, CA 94587
No registration is necessary to participate. Call 510-544-2154 for more information about the job fair. For information about district parks, programs and activities, visit www.ebparks.org.
The East Bay Regional Park District is a system of beautiful public parks and trails in Alameda and Contra Costa counties east of San Francisco Bay, established in 1934. The system comprises 121,000 acres in 73 parks including over1, 250 miles of trails for hiking, biking, horseback riding and nature learning.