National Park Vacations might not Happen in 2017

[bka0721]

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

[Reddog1]

I appreciate bka0721 pointing out the possible impact on vacation plans due to current events. dewey02 has also been very informative.

Unfortunitely, the thread is starting to go sideways, and I have decided to close it. If there are any updates, please start another thread.

Wayne
Moderator

[dewey02]

It is attitudes like Brian's and Dave Pete's in the previous two posts that make visiting our National Parks and meeting Rangers like Brian such a pleasant experience. And make my visiting of this forum both an educational and enjoyable experience.

[Dave_Pete]

bka0721 wrote:

I am more than dismayed with your comment here. Possibly we could look more tolerant towards others in this nation of immigrants. True, many of the national companies (Xanterra, Delaware North and others) spend much time hiring from outside the country.b

Much the same as we've enjoyed enriching experiences at EPCOT Center in Disney World at various "Disney Countries" being served by temporary International workers, (usually students on "world experience tours" before continuing their studies during off times, either in the States, or in their home countries, and then taking their world enriching experiences into their life-long careers, usually in industries which serve humanity in one form or another), or when we saw the new Disney World "Animal Kingdom" and witnessed the wonderful African students, or other young people recruited to work the positions including "beautiful accents" and "exciting dance exhibits", we have also...

Been served at one of our all-time favorites, "Old Faithful Inn" restaurant by workers (young and old, student or retiree) from ALL over our country and the world! There have been many other similar fine life experiences we've had, from many other National Parks (which are indeed our favorites for travel and visits), and it is my great hope that this freeze might be resolved soon so that others might be able to continue to gain what we've gained.

There was no greater eye-opener for us, than a more or less "forced (follow the money) move" to a highly populated area (Northern Virginia, just outside of DC) and then later to an opposite of many sorts (Fairbanks, Alaska). The eye-opener was life changing, and while we make Wyoming our home, we will forever be changed by our "forced life experiences", getting out of our narrow paradigm. And I thank fate for that.

Thanks Brian, for making people aware that plans need back-ups and for your obvious valuable experience on the subject!

[Rubiranch]

I live in a state park - they're awesome 🙂

[GoinThisAway]

I'm happy to hear this issue is working out in a favorable way. I'm planning to visit a number of National Parks this year.

[scout4trout]

"When out west year before last, Yellowstone concessions were covered up with oriental employees. Many could barely speak English."
That really surprises me since we spend about a month and a half in Yellowtone each season (since we live in the area) and have many friends who work in the park, and we see some Asians, mainly Chinese (not referred today as "Orientals"), but there are many Eastern Europeans and mostly Americans from all over. We eat a lot at Fishing Bridge and Canyon and have never had an Asian server. I will, however, admit that there is a very large number of Chinese visitors to the park, and the town of West Yellowstone is being jokingly referred to as "Little China" by the locals since the Chinese seem to prefer to stay there -- four good Chinese retaurants and a couple of hotels being developed by the Chinese. Visiting Yellowstone is heavily promoted in China.

[dewey02]

X2 on everything bka0721 just wrote above.

And we visited Yellowstone the same year as Joe417 and didn't have any trouble understanding any of the concessioner's employees. For anyone who works in the hospitality/tourism industry, it is very common to employ workers that are here on temporary work visas. Those industries struggle to find in-country workers, especially in remote areas with limited housing opportunities. This is not unique to the National Parks at all.

[bka0721]

DownTheAvenue wrote:

bka0721 wrote:
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.

Pure speculation on your part without the first shred of anything to support your claim.

What you do not realize is that much of the labor pool of recreational activities at National Parks are done by seasonal employees, college interns, and volunteers. The hiring ban was on permanent, full time employees which are paid from different line item on the budget.

I am sorry some feel I have no experience or standing on this subject. We as a forum often are unaware of a poster’s background and that is often the reason why we stay in specific “sand boxes” where our experiences are more known and more often than not, appreciated.

What I will offer, if anyone comes to the National Park I am working in, where I began working in 1977, stop in and say; “Hi!!” Maybe there will be time to go for a hike and or visit a bit. I am easy to find as I am the only Old Ranger with a full white beard.

Update: Tuesday Afternoon we received an update, that had earlier been stated to be processed by April 22nd, that the OPM (Office of Personnel Management) clarifies that seasonal hiring will proceed forward, after a brief delay. The announcement can be found at this; OPM Clicky

Again, the reason for this post was no more than to alert vacation planners for the coming summer of a potential issue they might encounter. I would offer if you had knowledge that there would be road construction through an important route and or closure, wouldn’t you like to be aware of this information? That’s all this was intended to do. Nothing political and one thing I have learned is the disconnect that many have in what our National Parks are and how they are managed.

Joe417 wrote:
Since many of the N parks are run by private companies, will it make much difference. I do realize that the parks still have government employees there.

Would it be possible for you to share which N parks are run by private companies? To my knowledge there are no National Parks that are run by private companies. Many parks have rich history from facilities being built by Interstate Railroads to provide lodging, restaurants and concessions for visitors. In recent years the larger parks are outsourcing management of campgrounds. Also, when I began as an Interpretive Ranger (we were called naturalists back then) in 1977, we didn’t have Volunteers. Now, volunteers are a ratio of 20 to 1 for the Uniform Rangers. We couldn’t open our National Parks without VIPs, (Volunteers in the Park). I believe you are confused with the small details of the inner workings of the Parks and that is a message the NPS could do a better job of making more clear.

Joe417 wrote:
When out west year before last, Yellowstone concessions were covered up with oriental employees. Many could barely speak English. From what I could gather, they weren't using near as many camp-workers as I had seen in previous years. So if it does affect the private companies it would put a huge dent in temporary US work visas.

I am more than dismayed with your comment here. Possibly we could look more tolerant towards others in this nation of immigrants. True, many of the national companies (Xanterra, Delaware North and others) spend much time hiring from outside the country. But I would encourage the observer and or person disgruntled to ask themselves, do you encourage your young people to work? To work menial jobs that pay little but return lifelong experiences? You will find that these corporations struggled for years to find dependable help with “in country” staffing. But problems exist not just with low pay, but the fact that many of our younger generation have not learned to work, arrive on time when scheduled and by golly, work during their shift.

Again, take the time to talk to some of these individuals and learn about their reasons for being here in the parks and what their experiences have been. It might be enlightening to you and your own life.

b

[dewey02]

neschultz wrote:
Clarification on National Park Service Hiring from OMB includes this exemption "Appointment of seasonal employees and short-term temporary employees necessary to meet traditionally recurring seasonal workloads, provided that the agency informs its OMB Resource Management Office in writing in advance of its hiring plans.".

Thank you...this is good news It is always good when we have posters here who actually cite factual info and then link to it as well. As was previously said by B. and myself, the agencies are working on this and will be providing info up the line.

"It is not yet clear which employees the freeze applies to. The Ex. Order was broad and agencies are working out the details and to whom it applies. Agencies are working on their rationale for justifying seasonal hires and will be feeding that information up the channels."

And then a few days after the Executive Order was issued, OMB provides some clarification to agencies. So this will eventually be worked out. However, it may cause a some delay in the hiring process, because the exception is not absolute. Agencies have to provide rationale, someone at the Washington office level has to read and approve it, and then permission has to come back down. But as we said, it will be worked out. It has been done before.

But it is good news that OMB has now issued guidance on how to proceed. Those of us familiar with how government operates (or in some cases doesn't operate) know that laws and executive orders don't have all the details included in them. Those have to be worked out. Almost all laws passed end up being codified in regulations. And those regulations also get more operational detail in agency manuals and handbooks. Yes, I know it sounds bureaucratic and it is. Maybe some things may change now, but maybe not.

[neschultz]

Clarification on National Park Service Hiring from OMB includes this exemption "Appointment of seasonal employees and short-term temporary employees necessary to meet traditionally recurring seasonal workloads, provided that the agency informs its OMB Resource Management Office in writing in advance of its hiring plans.".

[Joe417]

Since many of the N parks concession are run by private companies, will it make much difference. Since they have a lease on the park operations, are they controlled by the government.

I do realize that the parks still have government employees there.

When out west year before last, Yellowstone concessions were covered up with oriental employees. Many could barely speak English. From what I could gather, they weren't using near as many camp-workers as I had seen in previous years. So if it does affect the private companies it would put a huge dent in temporary US work visas.

The wife and I were traveling during one of the "congressional fiascoes" a few years ago, not sure which one. I can remember only 2 places we visited being closed and they weren't large attraction sites. They posted a closed sign on the gate, and though disappointed, we traveled on and enjoyed ourselves at the next stop.

[work2much]

We just left Death Valley (heading for Grand Canyon for winter camping) after visiting the park for a few days. Yesterday we did a 4 hour hike with a couple of Nature Rangers, one seasonal and one full time. Both were concerned about the hiring freeze. Most National parks couldn't function without seasonal hirings. It's true that the concessions are farmed out but park services employe many government people that are vital for the parks to function.

We are taking off to Alaska in late May for the summer. Our visit includes national parks. Hopefully none of the national parks anywhere in the US will be affected. Our parks are our national treasures and truly one of the things that make America truly spectacular for us and visitors from all over the world.

[joeshmoe]

hugemoth wrote:
.

Just don't cross into Canada unless you're sure the US will let you back in.

Ah, I see what you did there. ha ha

[GordonThree]

jimh425 wrote:

USMCDOC wrote:
Instead of Fed parks.. take the time to visit State parks instead!

I wish there was a National Park equivalent in a State Park. Do you have a few in mind?

Dead Horse point SP, Kodachrome Basin SP, Ludington SP, Wilderness SP just to name some favorites.