Recreation Technician

Friends of Acadia • Bar Harbor, ME

13d • $19 - $19

About The Position

Friends of Acadia (FOA) is accepting applications for the seasonal Recreation Technician program for the 2026 season. Two “Rec Techs” will assist Acadia National Park (ANP) staff to better understand visitor use management and recreation-related impacts on the landscape. The Recreation Technicians are funded by Friends of Acadia, work closely with Acadia National Park’s Social Scientist, and are managed by Friends of Acadia’s Recreation Technician Manager. FOA is committed to providing an inclusive, accessible, and welcoming environment for visitors, volunteers, and staff from diverse backgrounds and lived experiences.

Requirements

• Ability to use basic computer software like word processing, database, and spreadsheets
• Excellent communication and people skills
• Demonstrated experience in data collection and record-keeping in field and office environments.
• Experience conducting research in the field or in laboratory environments.
• Must be capable of sitting for long stretches, attending to routine tasks in an open-environment setting, carrying research equipment, hiking, walking, standing, and bending over daily.
• Must be capable of sitting in an open office environment, working with computers for long periods.
• S. Citizenship required.
• Must pass a federal background check.
• Valid Driver’s license and reliable transportation to/from work
• Employees are expected to learn to communicate via park radios and be flexible to adapt to quickly changing work demands and schedules.
• Applicants must be available for the entire season.
• Applicants must be willing attend Acadia National Park Leave No Trace training, including one camping night.

Nice To Haves

• Intermediate Microsoft Excel or Statistical Package software (SPSS or R).
• Applicant is capable of lifting and carrying a backpack of up to 50 pounds, hiking up to 10 miles per day on step and uneven terrain with elevation of up to 1,500 feet, and/or biking 15 miles.

Responsibilities

• Installs and maintains electronic counters (road, carriage roads, and trails). Downloads and processes counter data; conducts quality control validations.
• Conducts stationary counts of visitors for long periods of time (1–6 hours).
• Administers survey instruments and conducts face-to-face visitor questionnaires for research projects; observes visitor behavior without interacting with visitors.
• Works on a specific research project based on park needs.
• Collects, processes, organizes, analyzes, and enters raw data and sometimes trail camera photographs in Microsoft Excel spreadsheets (20%).
• Writes an end-of-season evaluation of work experience with FOA and ANP.
• Gives informal presentations about projects to ANP and FOA staff, donors, and the public.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Employees earn one hour of paid leave for every 40 hours they work and may be eligible for retirement plan participation.
• Uniform shirts, rain jacket, fleece, hat, safety-toe boots, puffy jacket, first aid kits, gloves, backpacks, and other personal protective equipment are provided.
• FOA will reimburse up to $180 for the purchase of pants or shorts that meet uniform standards.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed