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State Park Jobs and Career Opportunities - Arizona
Interview with a Park Manager

From , About.com

Name: Christopher T. DeMille

Current Position: Park Manager I

How long have you been with Arizona State Parks and in what capacity?
Eight years as a ranger.

How did you become involved in working as a Park Ranger?
I was a historical re-enactor and there was a job opening at Fort Verde State Historic Park for such a person.

Describe a typical day at your job.
(If there is no such thing as a typical day, then please tell us about your primary responsibilities and duties.)
Overseeing the running of the park, historical research, planning new exhibits, and restoring the building.

How many hours a week do you work in this position?
Forty hours is typical.

What aspects of your job do you enjoy the most?
The history and research that goes into an old building.

What do you find to be the greatest challenges of your job?
Getting it to all come together.

What kind of training/schooling is required in your position?
The college of hard knocks.

What are a few of the projects that you've been working on recently that have been the most interesting?
Reading about the lawmen and outlaws in territorial Arizona.

If someone were interested in working as a Park Ranger at a state park, what advice could you give them?
Work hard, be a people person, love history.

Please share any further thoughts you may have about working in the state park system:
It’s the best job I’ve ever had!

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