Kyle Ackerman is a Park Guide at Arches National Park in Southeastern Utah.  But his path to this career was as winding as any nature trail.  Kyle graduated from college with a degree in liberal studies and an emphasis in new media communications, or "journalism" as he tells everyone.  But he also loved photography and public speaking.  After a few years working in marketing, Kyle started as a seasonal worker at a national park and decided that was the career path for him.  With experience working in Flagstaff, AZ; Sitka, Alaska; and Death Valley, Kyle eventually made his way to Zion National Park and now Arches.  In this episode, we talk about how to apply for a job with the NPS, what a typical day is like, some of the challenges park guides face and one of Kyle's fondest memories working at Arches.  We also talk about how to visit the national parks with sustainability in mind and have the best experience possible.  Kyle's career advice for working in the NPS is valuable, as is his advice to anyone searching for their life's work. If you love the National Parks like I do, listen to this episode! Links: USAJOBS - The Federal Government's official employment site Home | AmeriCorps Arches National Park (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov) The Student Conservation Association (thesca.org)