This is your life. Go live it.
Imagine if you were given a chance to embark on experiences that enhanced your life and the lives of others, changed the way you interact with the world around you, and connected you with the amazing places where you want to live. You don’t have to imagine anymore. Welcome to CoolWorks. We left the gate open – come on in and chase your dreams.
Featured Jobs / Employers
Inspiration & Encouragement
The Trail at your Feet
You’re here because you breathe better at elevation. You believe that sandwiches taste progressively better the farther you get from the trailhead. You sleep best with your head in the open air and the sound of a backcountry stream singing you to sleep. You discover both solace and adventure in the Great Outdoors. You crave adventure, growth, and new experiences. Since 1995, CoolWorks has been the go-to source for Jobs In Great Places®. In many cases the opportunities you’ll find on our site come with room and board to make it easy for you to seize the day and go for it. Our Journals profile the exciting stories from fellow CoolWorkers to inspire you to take that next step. The Job Seeker’s Guide is a collection of the best advice we can offer you, from resources on how to best advocate for yourself, in-depth answers to some of the most commonly asked questions we hear, and topics it might not have occurred to you to consider when pondering this lifestyle. Whether you are still discovering your passion, need a seasonal career, or just feel the call to change paths, we’ve got everything you need to help you find your next great adventure.
Sharing the journey
Sarah
January 30, 2023
I always tell people who ask me about seasonal work absolutely do it. Doesn’t matter what age, or where you’re from. If you have a love of nature, adventure, travel, and meeting the most awesome pe...
Ryan
September 09, 2021
My love for hiking began the summer before high school. I left the inner city of Chicago to go on a two week expedition in Colorado with Outward Bound. We went backpacking, rafting and climbing. Th...
Ashleigh
July 05, 2021
My journey into seasonal life began in the summer of 2019. I was approaching my senior year of college as a Creative Writing major at the University of Iowa, and after just spending the previous su...
Bethany
November 24, 2020
I fell for Yosemite hard. The winter sparkles in the Sierra Nevada. The summer smells of Bay Laurel, duff and smoke. Happiness can be fleeting and contentment can be elusive, but I found more of ea...
Kind words from our fans
“Yellowstone National Park – I worked there the summer of 1970 and 1971 and had the time of my life. I also met my future husband there – as we worked separate areas of the park (he worked Mammoth and I worked Canyon Village) … it is a small world when you all work in the Park. It was a different world then, no computers and limited pay phone access, etc., yet it was a wonderful time and I will always cherish it – the park, the people, the adventures, the wildlife, and the great experience. I do recommend it for anyone interested in summer work – a great adventure for sure. Go for it!”
“My parents are still wondering when I’ll get a ‘real job’. No matter how tough some days can be, I just remind myself why I am here. I encounter hundreds of tourists a day, and most of them have spent their entire lives working in order to afford a trip to a National Park. My seasonal jobs have allowed me to spend entire summers enjoying the trails, the views and the adventures. I may not have a ton of money in my pockets, but I have a mind full of memories and hundreds of miles on my hiking shoes. I’ve met lots of people that tell me they wish they would have done what I’m doing when they were my age.”
