National Park Vacations might not Happen in 2017
Some have taken note that there is a Government Hiring freeze and not be aware in how it might directly affect you in your travel and recreation plans for the coming summer. Currently there is a freeze until the 22nd of April, but the days and weeks up until that date is the period summer seasonals are hired by your National Parks, Forest Service, BLM and Corps of Engineer vacation locations. This will be where you want to camp, fish, backpack or water ski.
Sure, you can say April is soon enough but the process of hiring, background investigations, fingerprinting and training take up to 60 days after the job is tendered to the person for hire. All postings for summer positions are now being delayed. This will result in no staff to manage Volunteer In the Park volunteers that man campgrounds and visitor centers, provide staffing for wildlife brigades. Then you have the Rangers that patrol the backcountry, provide rescues for fallen climbers or boats overturned due to weather events, to the rangers that provide the nightly amphitheater programs. Then you have the rangers that fulfil the roles at the entrance stations and permit offices, as well as performing the inspections for invasive species inspections to protect our waterways.
So, be prepared for a challenging summer season as you make your reservations for your well-earned vacations. If you are planning for an early summer vacation, this will be the most probable disruption, if things move smoothly and the Government Job Freeze is lifted quickly. The downside to this? Campgrounds that are normally open will be gated and closed. Services will be reduced or eliminated and some parks and monuments might be closed for the summer season.
b
Sure, you can say April is soon enough but the process of hiring, background investigations, fingerprinting and training take up to 60 days after the job is tendered to the person for hire. All postings for summer positions are now being delayed. This will result in no staff to manage Volunteer In the Park volunteers that man campgrounds and visitor centers, provide staffing for wildlife brigades. Then you have the Rangers that patrol the backcountry, provide rescues for fallen climbers or boats overturned due to weather events, to the rangers that provide the nightly amphitheater programs. Then you have the rangers that fulfil the roles at the entrance stations and permit offices, as well as performing the inspections for invasive species inspections to protect our waterways.
So, be prepared for a challenging summer season as you make your reservations for your well-earned vacations. If you are planning for an early summer vacation, this will be the most probable disruption, if things move smoothly and the Government Job Freeze is lifted quickly. The downside to this? Campgrounds that are normally open will be gated and closed. Services will be reduced or eliminated and some parks and monuments might be closed for the summer season.
b
