Recreation Technician

Recreation Technician – Friends of Acadia

Location: Acadia National Park, Bar Harbor, Maine (Hybrid)

Reporting To: Recreation Technician Manager

Job Status: Seasonal, non‑exempt, 40 hours a week

Employment Period: May 20 – November 9, 2026 (≈25 weeks)

Compensation: $18.83/hour, paid every two weeks

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 FOA, work closely with ANP’s Social Scientist, and are managed by FOA’s Recreation Technician Manager.

FOA is committed to an inclusive, accessible, and welcoming environment for visitors, volunteers, and staff from diverse backgrounds and lived experiences.

• Fieldwork (70%)
  • Monitoring & data collection (50%)
  • 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 (1–6 hrs).
  • Research & visitor surveys (20%)
  • Administers survey instruments, 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.
• Office Work (30%)
  • Collects, processes, organizes, analyzes, and enters raw data and trail camera photographs in Microsoft Excel spreadsheets (20%).
• Communication & Reporting (10%)
  • 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.
• Additional duties:
  Performs other duties as assigned.

• Ability to use basic computer software (word processing, database, 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.
• 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.
• Capable of sitting in an open office environment, working with computers for long periods.
• U.S. Citizenship required.
• Must pass a federal background check.
• Valid driver’s license and reliable transportation to/from work.
• Employees expected to learn to communicate via park radios; flexible to adapt to quickly changing work demands and schedules.
• Available for the entire season.
• Willing to attend Acadia National Park Leave No Trace training, including one camping night.

• Intermediate Microsoft Excel or statistical package software (SPSS or R).
• Capable of lifting/carrying a backpack up to 50 lb, hiking up to 10 mi per day on uneven terrain with elevation up to 1,500 ft, and/or biking 15 mi.

Recreation Technicians must maintain appearances consistent with Acadia National Park’s uniform and grooming standards. 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.

Hours: 40 hours/week, including some holidays and weekends. Daily schedule may vary; most weeks, days off will be two consecutive days per week.

Housing: Not provided. Applicants expected to find own housing; FOA supports your search by providing leads and sources.

Employee benefits:

Employees earn one hour of paid leave for every 40 hours worked and may be eligible for retirement plan participation. Unpaid days off can be requested with the Recreation Technician Manager with at least 2‑weeks notice; not all requests are guaranteed.

Workload is approximately 70% field‑based and 30% computer‑based. Fieldwork may involve moderate risks or discomfort. Outdoor conditions varied; may include inclement weather and temperatures >90 °F or