Looking for a summer job? Start here!
Build your skills, make new friends and gain valuable work experience while working in some of Ontario’s most beautiful locations.
Ontario Parks protects ecologically important spaces throughout Ontario – from the shores of Lake Erie up to the boreal forests of Northern Ontario. It takes lots of people working together to preserve these spaces while welcoming visitors from Ontario and beyond. Every summer, Ontario Parks hires 1,600 students to help with this important work.
Apply today
What student summer jobs are available?
Student summer jobs at Ontario Parks include many different types of work. Here are some of the most common types of positions that provincial parks hire for:
Gate attendant
This role is responsible for welcoming and registering campers, providing all the information that visitors need to have a great visit.
Gate attendants manage cash flow and credit transactions, issue permits, provide retail services, and facilitate communication between departments.
Maintenance worker
Maintenance workers use a variety of tools to clean and maintain park facilities like campsites, public areas, and comfort stations.
Maintenance covers a lot of ground, managing recycling and garbage removal, removing hazards on trails, and even assisting with water testing for comfort stations and swimming areas!
Discovery ranger
Discovery rangers are Ontario Parks' storytellers!
Discovery rangers participate in a wide variety of activities, including delivering programs to help visitors connect with the natural and cultural resources found within the park.
Check out this blog to learn more about Discovery positions and which parks offer them!
Summer students fill many roles at Ontario Parks. Check out the full list of job types including administrative assistants, backcountry rangers, and park store clerks on the Ontario Parks blog.
Have questions about student jobs? Send a message to the Ontario Parks team!
Summer student stories
Follow the summer Quetico team’s adventures through northern Ontario
Read about the program Hunter created to reduce beach waste
Learn how Laurel’s summer job launched her career
Hiring timeline
January: Applications open
February-May: Hiring managers begin reviewing applications and interviewing applicants. Hiring is ongoing until all positions are filled. Apply early for your best chance to work at your preferred park!
May-June: Summer positions and training begin
Who should apply to work with Ontario Parks?
Students looking for exciting entry-level summer work!
Whether you are an experienced outdoor enthusiast or new to spending time in nature, Ontario Parks offers a friendly and inclusive environment with opportunities for all skill levels and abilities.
It takes many different skillsets to run a provincial park. See where your skills fit in!
What skills should an applicant have?
Ontario Parks student summer jobs are entry-level positions, meaning students applying for these jobs are not expected to have extensive work experience. But these are some of the skills that provincial parks are looking for when hiring summer staff:
Interpersonal skills
- Willingness to work as a member of a diverse team
- Strong communication skills
- Ability to collaborate and work on a team
Organizational skills
- Ability to follow instructions and ask for direction
- Detail oriented and the ability to record information accurately
- Time management and the ability to manage competing priorities
- Willingness to learn
Analytical skills
- Ability to problem solve
- Adaptable
- Strong problem solving skills
Trainings and certifications
- An Ontario Driver’s G2 License (asset)
- First Aid (asset)
We are committed to build a workforce that reflects the communities we serve and to promote a diverse, anti-racist, inclusive, accessible, merit-based, respectful and equitable workplace.
Ontario Parks welcomes all interested individuals to apply and encourage applications from people with disabilities, Indigenous, Black, and racialized individuals, as well as people from a diversity of ethnic and cultural origins, sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions.
Visit the OPS Anti-Racism Policy and the OPS Diversity and Inclusion Blueprint pages to learn more about the OPS commitment to advance racial equity, accessibility, diversity, and inclusion in the public service.
Everyone at Ontario Parks – no matter their role – shares a desire to protect our natural spaces. Your work here makes a real difference.
We want to work with you!
Who is eligible?
There are four eligibility requirements for student jobs with Ontario Parks:
Student Status: You must be enrolled in a secondary or post-secondary institution (currently or for the upcoming fall semester) OR you must have graduated within the past six months (for example, if you graduated in December 2024, you could apply for and start a summer student position up until June of 2025). Your school does not need to be located in Ontario to be eligible.
Age: You must be a minimum of 15 years of age. There is no maximum age limit.
Residency: You must be a resident of Ontario during the term of employment.
Work status - eligibility to work in Canada: You must be legally entitled to work in Canada. You are also required to have a valid Social Insurance Number (SIN) upon being hired. If you do not have a valid SIN and would like to obtain one, review the Government of Canada website (Opens in a new tab).
How do you apply?
Here are some of our top tips for how to apply for a summer position and how to make your application stand out.
- Decide where you want to work. Are you interested in parks that are close to home or are you looking for a summer adventure further away?
Check the Ontario Parks hiring map to see which parks are hiring in the region where you want to work. Remember, you can select up to 5 provincial parks when you apply, and up to 7 positions. Make sure that the position you are interested in is available at the parks you are interested in working at.
You can also check each park’s social media accounts (usually Facebook and Instagram). Many parks post about which positions they’re hiring each year or contact us and we can help. - Will you need staff housing?
If you are planning to work at a park far from home, you will likely want to stay in staff housing. The hiring map will show you which parks have housing available. Be sure to let hiring managers know in your cover letter that you’re interested in staff housing and/or tell them why you want to work at a park that’s not close to home. Learn all about staff housing on the Ontario Parks blog. - Choose the types of positions that are a good fit for your skills and interests. Which positions would support how you hope to learn and grow? Do you want to work mainly inside or outside?
It’s a good idea to apply for more than one position that you are interested in to expand the number of positions that you are considered for. - Prepare your resume and cover letter. Highlight your skills in your resume and use your cover letter to explain why you are applying for this position at this park. Showing that you’re familiar with or have done your research on the park(s) you’re applying to can help make your application stand out.
Not sure where to start? Check out the Careers Services centre or guidance department at your school for support writing your resume.
For a few more tips to make your resume the best it can be, check out these resources:
Have questions about the application process? We can help! Contact us through the website for more information.
How to apply online
Plan to submit your application when you have at least 30 minutes to go through the online application without being rushed.
Step 1: Update your cover letter and resume before you apply.
Step 2: Head to GoJobs website. This is the application website for all jobs in the Ontario Public Service.
Step 3: Select “Parks” from the “Job Category” dropdown and/or “Students” from the “Career level” dropdown.
You’ll find the summer jobs listed under the “Student Summer Jobs at Ontario Parks” posting.
Step 4: Read through the posting carefully and follow all directions.
Fill in all of the questions in the application. Don’t forget to upload your cover letter and resume (in a single attachment) at the end.
Take your time. Don’t forget to review your answers before you hit “Apply.”
