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BC Parks is on the look out for student rangers

First look: Agency is accepting applications up until Feb. 24
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Do you happen to know a student who likes spending time outdoors and is looking for a decently paid summer job that will look good on a resume?

If so, you may want to suggest they apply to the province's student ranger program, which is accepting applications until Feb. 24.

"Honestly, I think it's the best possible way a student can spend the summer," said Stephanie Pawluk, a Squamish resident who took part in the program last year. "You're gaining valuable government work experience, you get to be outside for the entire summer, and you get to explore some of B.C.'s beautiful parks that you might otherwise not have time to go see."

Pawluk served as a team lead out of BC Parks' Alice Lake office and said she gained a lot of experience, from promoting a good backcountry ethic with BC Parks visitors, to building a fence at Callaghan Lake Provincial Park.

Now in its second year, the student ranger program is open to people from the age of 18 to 30 who have been full-time students in the past academic year and intend on returning to full-time studies in the fall.

This year's program will provide 48 young adults training and employment opportunities in B.C.'s parks and protected areas and has a 30 per cent Indigenous hiring target.

For the 2019 season, 12 crews of four student rangers will work in regions throughout the province, including Prince George, Fort St. John, Terrace, Bella Coola, Williams Lake, Manning Park, Cranbrook, Kamloops, Victoria (Goldstream Provincial Park), Black Creek (Miracle Beach Provincial Park), North Vancouver (Mount Seymour Provincial Park) and Sechelt (Porpoise Bay Provincial Park).

The program runs from May until August, with crew members making between $17.03 and $18.32 and crew leads making between $22.58 and $25.47.

To learn more click here and pick up next Thursday's paper to learn more about the program and Pawluk's experience with it.