Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area - Big South Fork to hire Centennial Seasonals (U.S. National Park Service)

Date: February 26, 2008
Contact: Steven Seven, 423.56939778

On August 25, 2006 – the 90th anniversary of the National Park Service – Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne launched the National Park Centennial Initiative to prepare national parks for another century of conservation, preservation and enjoyment.

As a part of the Centennial Initiative, Secretary of Interior Dirk Kempthorne and National Park Service Director Mary Bomar recently unveiled a report entitled, “The Future of America’s National Parks.” In this report Kempthorne wrote, “Parks teach and inspire. Parks are America the beautiful…the cultural…the historical.” He explained the 100th anniversary should be a time to celebrate accomplishments achieved through goals with boldness and vision. The National Park Service will:

lead America in preserving and restoring treasured resources;
demonstrate environmental leadership;
offer superior recreational experiences;
foster exceptional learning opportunities that connect people to parks;
and be managed with excellence.

Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area (NRRA) Superintendent Reed Detring is pleased to announce that the Centennial Initiative will have a positive impact on the Big South Fork area due to an increase in the park’s budget of almost $250,000. These funds will be used to hire additional seasonal staff in order to provide enhanced service to park visitors as well as increased protection of the area’s natural and cultural resources.

Through the Centennial Initiative funding, Big South Fork NRRA will fill over 20 seasonal positions this summer. These seasonal employees will participate in trails maintenance and other maintenance activities, will work at the park’s visitor centers and interpretive sites such as Blue Heron, and will serve as generalist rangers involved in everything from trail patrols to staffing the park’s campgrounds. In addition to those positions filled through the Centennial Initiative, the park will also be hiring 4 – 5 lifeguards to work between Memorial Day and Labor Day at the Bandy Creek pool.

For more information about working at Big South Fork NRRA this summer you may write the Superintendent at Big South Fork NRRA, 4564 Leatherwood Road, Oneida, TN 37841 or contact the park by calling (423) 569-9778.