Earlier this year, I returned to where I had my start in the National Park Service: New York City’s historic Fort Wadsworth. In 2024, I fell in love with the fort as a seasonal museum technician. Now, two years later, I came back as a seasonal interpretation park ranger, to tell its story!
Disclaimer: Any opinions expressed are solely my own and do not represent the National Park Service. The purpose of this post is to document my life as a seasonal employee in the service and to educate others.
Realizing the joys of interpretation
When I began my journey as a seasonal employee in the National Park Service, I did so as a museum technician. My first season was at Fort Wadsworth, Gateway National Recreation Area, in New York City, in the summer of 2024. That experience gave me my first taste of life in the Park Service. I became hooked. Not only could I work with history, but I could also explore the United States at the same time.
From New York, I went on to work two more museum tech seasons in 2025, at Camp Nelson National Monument in Kentucky, followed by Fort Larned National Historic Site in Kansas — totally different environments.
While in Kentucky, however, I came to a realization that would shape my career trajectory. The primary duties of a museum tech are to maintain museum collections, like environmental monitoring, integrated pest management (IPM), and various reporting. Although absolutely necessary, I felt that this work was just too solitary and not for me. At Camp Nelson, I did get the chance to design, curate, and install a small museum exhibit; however, while working closely with staff in other divisions. It was an awesome opportunity that I will forever be grateful for — thanks to a supportive supervisor! Through this experience, I realized that I wanted to tell stories and interact with the public. What better way to do this than to become an interpreter. I slowly made this switch at my next seasonal position.
Deciding to go back to my old park
I only really became an interpreter in April of this year. That’s when I started a 6-month position as an interpretation Park Ranger. My new workplace? None other than my old park at Fort Wadsworth, Gateway National Recreation Area, in New York City. Now, I could dedicate myself solely to interpretation and at the GS-7 level to boot, which meant better pay than my previous positions. The pay, however, was not the only deciding factor in me taking the job. It was merely a cherry on top. More important reasons influenced my decision.
Wanting to tell the story of Fort Wadsworth
The history of Fort Wadsworth was already familiar with me. Although I did not know all the fine details, I knew enough of the basics and could quickly pick up the rest. One particular story I was longing to tell was that of German prisoners of war at the fort in World War II, something I learned in 2024. I went so far as to conduct historical research on the topic at the National Archives at College Park, Maryland, after I left NYC.
Celebrating America’s 250th Anniversary
Besides having the chance to do interpretation at a park that I was already familiar with, I would also play a part in America’s 250th Anniversary celebrations! New York City would host Sail4th 250 — an international review of more than 40 tall ships from over 20 countries. A host of other military ships, American and foreign, were also slated to participate. I would be in a prime location at Fort Wadsworth, from where I could observe these vessels sailing through the narrows! One of the tall ships I really wanted to see was Poland’s Dar MÅ‚odzieży.
Seasonal housing at Fort Wadsworth
Having seasonal housing available at the park was also major for me. When rent covers utilities, electricity, water, and gas, and I could end my rental agreement on short notice, it saves a ton of headaches. With furniture included, the deal is too good to pass up. My lodging? A 1920s former army officer’s bachelors’ quarters at Miller Field, right on the shore, just 15 minutes away from work.
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