The Junior Ranger Program is a summer job opportunity for teens ages 14 to 17 years old with the City of Boulder’s Open Space and Mountain Parks (OSMP) department working on natural resource projects such as trail maintenance, forestry, and invasive plant management.
Session I: June 3 - June 27 (4 weeks) or
Session II: July 8 – August 8 (5 weeks)
Work Hours: Tuesday-Friday, 8 am - 3:30 pm, with 30 min. unpaid lunch (28 hours paid time per week)
Meet-up location: Wonderland Lake Trailhead, 4201 Broadway, Boulder CO 80301
Check back here in late February 2025 to apply for this year's Junior Ranger season! Anyone aged 14-17 with a positive attitude and good teamwork skills is encouraged to apply.
Please reach out to us at mailto:juniorrangers@bouldercolorado.gov if you have any questions about the program or would like to be notified by email when applications open this year.
We spend every day outside on trails in Boulder
Junior Ranger pay starts at $15.25 per hour
Junior Rangers build work skills like teamwork, leadership, patience, punctuality, and more
Our crews learn about topics like climate change, ecosystems, history of Boulder, and more every week
Each Junior Ranger works with 9 other team members and 2 leaders - developing close connections that keep us coming back to the program year after year
We work on projects that take care of the land and create opportunities for people in our community
2023 Junior Ranger Crew resurfacing the High Plains Trail
Work on Hiking Trails. On Junior Ranger Trail Crews, we work outside to build and maintain trails, manage vegetation, and more! Each crew has 10 Junior Rangers and 2 Crew Leaders.
As a part of this crew, you'll:
There are 100 spots available on the Trail crews this year.
Learn to be a Park Ranger. On our Youth Ranger crew, you’ll work alongside law enforcement Ranger Naturalists from OSMP and explore a variety of career paths in conservation.Youth Rangers learn skills like bird banding, CPR and First Aid, and build positive connections with law enforcement. There are 12 spots available on the Youth Ranger crew this year.
After you've submitted your application, you will be emailed a follow up questionnaire to select your crew and session preferences.
While past experience isn't necessary, there are a few things we look for in candidates:
Junior Rangers serve for one of two sessions during the summer. They make a commitment to work all days of their assigned session. Junior Rangers must get any absences preapproved. Please plan your summer accordingly.
Session I: June 3 - June 27 (4 weeks) or
Session II: July 8 – August 8 (5 weeks)
Work Hours: Tuesday-Friday, 8 am - 3:30 pm, with 30 min. unpaid lunch (28 hours paid time per week)
Meet-up location: Wonderland Lake Trailhead, 4201 Broadway, Boulder CO 80301
Session II: July 8 - August 1 (4 weeks)
Work Hours: Tuesday - Friday, 8 am - 3:30 pm, with 30 min. unpaid lunch (28 hours paid time per week)
Meet-up location: Wonderland Lake Trailhead, 4201 Broadway, Boulder CO 80301
Junior Rangers are paid an hourly wage. The 2025 wage scale is:
First Year $15.25
Second Year $15.50
Third Year $16.00
Fourth Year $16.75
Check out our specialized crew types for 2025:
The Weather & Climate – Data Science crew primarily works on trail projects, with a special focus on research projects related to the climate in Boulder. In Session 1, they will collect data, learn about the process of research, and teach other crews about their project. In Session 2, the crew will continue the project and during the 5th week of work, the crew will complete a “data science sprint” with OSMP experts to analyze data, organize their findings, and present their conclusions.
If you're interested in exploring this crew type, select it when you complete the questionnaire that is sent to you after you complete your application.
2023 Junior Rangers setting rocks and log steps on Crown Rock Trail
Applications will open in late February, 2025 and CLOSE March 31, 2025.
Here are some important reminders for your application:
All communication regarding your application, employment, pay and taxes will be sent to you via this email. Please make sure to use a personal email, and not your school or parent's email to apply.
Please reach out to staff if you have ANY questions about the job or the application. Email mailto:juniorrangers@bouldercolorado.gov .
Once you Submit your application and arrive at the "confirmation page", check your email every day for information on next steps:
Tips:
Once you've scheduled your interview, take some time to practice! You can use the interview questions below to prepare.
If you want to add to the answers you gave in your interview, you can submit written answers to the interview questions by email to mailto:juniorrangers@bouldercolorado.gov.
Congrats! You made it through your first government job application process!
Now the REAL fun begins... get more information about what you'll need to know for your first day.
The application for Junior Ranger youth positions typically opens mid-February and closes on March 31. No exceptions.
Applications for Crew Lead and Program Coordinator positions typically open in late December and close when positions are filled.
No, we do not have a residency requirement. Anyone and everyone, regardless of where they live, is welcome to apply.
No, a personal email is required so that we can communicate directly with the applicant during the hiring process. Please create a new one if you do not have one.
Before emailing us to see if we received your application, please check your Junk and Spam folders for a confirmation email. Additionally, you can add “juniorrangers@bouldercolorado.gov” and "bouldercolorado@myworkday.com" to your contacts to ensure you get any communication from us about your application.
Eligibility for benefits is determined on a case by case basis and will be established when a job offer is made. Questions about benefits should be directed to Human Resources (303-441-3388).
Each year the program seeks crew leaders (age 19+) to build functional teams, complete trail maintenance and other natural resource projects, and support youth stewardship and job skills development. Crew Leads come from a variety of backgrounds in leadership, education, and conservation. They supervise Trail Crews, integrate learning opportunities into their project timelines, facilitate environmental education lessons, support program and department goals, and receive career and leadership development themselves as they work beside project sponsors and attend organized talks and trainings from OSMP department staff.
In 2024, crews will consist of 2 Crew Leads and 10 Junior Rangers. There are 13 full-time seasonal Crew Lead (age 19+) positions available.
Position runs May 13 - August 15, 2024
Unpaid holiday break: July 2 - July 5
Applications for Crew Lead positions are closed. Check back next year.
Senior Program Coordinators work as part of a leadership team that oversees field and project management, program operations, leadership, administrative and logistical support.
There are three full-time temporary Sr Program Coordinator positions available, each with a different focus. All positions provide support and leadership in all aspects of running the Junior Ranger program and associated events.
The 9-month Coordinator works side-by-side with the Youth Service Learning Program Manager to hire, train, and supervise staff. They are responsible for team and staff safety, field and project management, curriculum implementation, skills development, public communications, and administrative and logistical support of the entire program. They are expected to lead, support, build relationships, and coordinate with six OSMP workgroups as well as several other City Departments. Another key responsibility is sharing and teaching safety to all workers on Junior Ranger program worksites, under minimal supervision. This position requires the ability to work hiking on and off trail for up to 7 hours in the field during all weather conditions, as well as also managing office and computer tasks, sometimes requiring a full 10 hour day in the office.
This is a 40 hr/wk (with opportunity for overtime), approximately 9-10 month role that can reapply & return annually (late Jan – early Nov).
Unpaid holiday break: July 3 - July 6
The 4-month Coordinator will primarily focus on team safety, visiting crews in the field, supporting technical trail work projects, substituting as a Crew Lead when someone is absent, and providing education to crews. They will oversee field and project management, skills development, and program operations; as well as provide public communications, administrative and logistical support to Program Manager. They will also manage media & photos, schedule work projects with project sponsors, and coordinate formal educational opportunities with the Education & Outreach team. Occasional weekend work may be asked of them.
This is a 40 hr/wk (with occasional overtime), approximately 4-month role that can reapply & return annually (mid April – late August).
Unpaid holiday break: July 3 - July 6
Applications for Senior Coordinator positions are closed. Check back next year.
The Bilingual Sr Coordinator role is for someone who is organized, team-oriented, passionate about teaching young people, proactive with communication, and fluent in English and Spanish. In this position, you will learn valuable career skills such as leadership, communication, self-confidence, teaching others, hands-on skills to care for our public lands including trail maintenance, and how to manage a large summer program like the Junior Rangers.
This is a 40 hr/wk (with occasional opportunity for overtime), approximately 6-month role with an opportunity to return annually/reapply (approximately late February/early March – early September). Occasional weekend work may be asked of you (if you are available).
Unpaid holiday break: July 3 - July 6
Applications for the Bilingual Senior Coordinator position is closed. Check back next year.
