Baxter State Park, in collaboration with Friends of Baxter State Park, is launching a Student Ranger job shadow program. This BSP Student Ranger Program is a week-long volunteer job shadowing experience, open to all Maine high school seniors, class of 2026, and recent graduates of the class of 2025. While preference is given to applicants from the Katahdin Region, students from outside the region are strongly encouraged to apply.

This immersive program offers a behind-the-scenes look at what it’s really like to be a ranger at Baxter State Park, living the Park’s wilderness-first philosophy. Students work side by side with rangers and take part in a wide variety of daily tasks—opening camps, doing groundswork, building lean-tos, painting picnic tables, assisting with campground operations, patrolling with law enforcement rangers, helping with office and public relations work, participating in mountain patrol, and yes, cleaning outhouses. If rangers do it, you do it too! Student Rangers will develop a deeper understanding of Leave No Trace and the importance of stewardship and team work in a wilderness setting.

Ideal applicants will have a strong interest in pursuing a career in the outdoors and be physically capable of meeting the demands of the job, including heavy lifting, hiking and standing for extended periods of time.

Application deadline is March 29, 2026.