Xanterra/National Park Staffing - just curious

[kevin993]

Just curious if anybody has any knowledge about the staffing process for the National Parks. We've visited a bunch and have had different experiences in the Xanterra facilities. Lots of the staff come from outside the US - especially eastern Europe. Any idea how Xanterra recruits these people? How do they assign them to tasks? How do they assign to locations? How do they check them for English competency? Are there other things they screen for? Do they come for a fixed amount of time like a few months or a year? Are the programs connected with schools back home? Are there programs for them once they end up in a national park or are they just on their own to entertain themselves?

Lots of questions - figured the collective wisdom of the Pelican community might know.

Thanks,
Kevin

[Rick Lee]

I have noticed this too, but only recall seeing them at Zion Nat. Park. Don't recall them at Bryce, Death Valley, Shenandoah or Grand Canyon. Those are the only parks I've been to in the last few years.

FWIW, when I went on a cruise a few years ago, I hated every minute of it except talking with all the eastern European staff. I've done a lot of travelling there and enjoyed talking with them all about where they live and went to school. Very rewarding.

[VaSteve]

Originally Posted by kevin993

Just curious if anybody has any knowledge about the staffing process for the National Parks. We've visited a bunch and have had different experiences in the Xanterra facilities. Lots of the staff come from outside the US - especially eastern Europe. Any idea how Xanterra recruits these people? How do they assign them to tasks? How do they assign to locations? How do they check them for English competency? Are there other things they screen for? Do they come for a fixed amount of time like a few months or a year? Are the programs connected with schools back home? Are there programs for them once they end up in a national park or are they just on their own to entertain themselves?

Lots of questions - figured the collective wisdom of the Pelican community might know.

Thanks,
Kevin

Here's their site. I suspect that they won a competitively bid contract. I don't know how they are able to use non-US citizens. Maybe because it's not knowledge or natational security work.

http://www.xanterra.com/

What specific question are you trying to answer. I suspect a deeper question. .

[kevin993]

Actually, no deeper agenda - just inquisitive. We've been to Yellowstone, Grand Teton and Crater Lake this year (and others in the past). It seemed to us that the workers at Xanterra workers in the more popular parks were more professional and had better English. Crater Lake, our most recent destination, seemed like it had workers that weren't on the same par with the staff at the other more popular parks. We've gotten a kick out of interacting with the workers and were talking about our Crater Lake experience on the way home and how it differed from other park visits. We were wondering if Xanterra tried to steer better candidates to more popular parks and, if so, how they did it. The more we thought about it, the more questions we came up with. Thanks for the website - will have to see if there is anything there.

[VaSteve]

Originally Posted by kevin993

We were wondering if Xanterra tried to steer better candidates to more popular parks and, if so, how they did it.

If that were my business, I would as well.

[89911]

I have noticed this also when out to many of the W N American attractions. I have heard that many of this workers are hired for fixed wages through group deals out of many E European countries (Russian Mafia?). They get paid very little (room, board, ) and are quickly sent back when the busy season ends. Through the volume of the workers, the company that brings them over makes good money. Of course, this could al be here say. On a side note, while I was in Lake Tahoe, some of the E European workers where absolutely stunning (anyone remember Paulina Porizinkova?)

[RWebb]

Xanterra is a private copr. that won a bid to provide services at a public park owned by us, and administered by NPS

as a contractor, they don't have to hire US citizens unless the contract specifies it -- you can ask for a copy of the contract

you can ask the NPS - look for a contact Email on the web site

the nice thing about the govt. -- you can file a FOIA if there are documents on some issue you really want to know about

Then there is the next question - should jobs at US Nat'l Parks be open to US citizens only? or maybe we should even promote foreigner to get to know us (and like us)?

[Rick Lee]

I don't know if they list awarded contracts, but this is where to search for fed. RFQ's.

https://www.fbo.gov/index?cck=1&au=&ck=

[911boost]

I worked for the NPS during the summers at Wolf Trap, in Northern VA during college.

I had to go through a normal application / interview process that you would expect for a roughly $11 an hour job. I also got a GS rating, and was considered a seasonal employee. They did have some full time ones there, and for a while I thought about going into that line of work.

Bill

[VaSteve]

Originally Posted by BSiple

I worked for the NPS during the summers at Wolf Trap, in Northern VA during college.

I had to go through a normal application / interview process that you would expect for a roughly $11 an hour job. I also got a GS rating, and was considered a seasonal employee. They did have some full time ones there, and for a while I thought about going into that line of work.

Bill

You're from here?

I tried getting a job at Great Falls Park once....the application was huge. Funny thing is I was mountain biking on the closed trails and the rangers said I should apply.

[911boost]

I am Steve. I grew up in (well from 6th grade on) in Shouse Village, the neighborhood you drive through to get to Wolf Trap from Route 7.

McLean High School graduate here. My folks still live near Beulah and Route 7.

I too, have gotten in trouble in Great Falls Park, smile.

Bill

[Jims5543]

When we stayed a night at the Grand Canyon I was impressed to see that the housekeeping staff had to do stretches each morning before beginning.

Very smart of whoever manages them.

[scottmandue]

I don't know if this has anything to do with this...

But when I traveled Utah/Colorado/Arizona in the fall it seemed like two thirds of the tourist were European.

Made me wonder if they appreciate our great south west more than we do.

[RWebb]

sure they do - they realize there is no place like it in Europe or North Asia.

few American realize that.