Theodore Roosevelt Nature & History Association
Theodore Roosevelt Nature & History Association
Currently recruiting for the season from May 6th, 2024 to November 2nd, 2024.
Providing support, services, and educational merchandise to enhance visitor experience and enjoyment through historical, scientific, and educational activities in Theodore Roosevelt National Park and Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site.
We have 3 bookstores in Theodore Roosevelt National Park in remote western North Dakota.
- Location
- North Dakota
- Season
- Spring, Summer, and Fall
- Staff size
- 3 Year Round & 6 Summer Seasonal
- Housing
- Whether included in the compensation package or provided at a cost, housing is provided for staff.
- Housing details
- Shared housing may be available free of charge
- Family housing available
- No
- Single occupancy housing available
- No
- Pet friendly
- No
- Meals
- None
- Cell phone service
- Yes, most carriers
- Internet access
- Good
About Theodore Roosevelt Nature & History Association
TRNHA is committed to working with the National Park Service to provide visitors with an unforgettable experience. Our staff works alongside Park Rangers answering questions and providing amazing interpretive merchandise for you to take with you as a memory of your trip to North Dakota! Our National Park stores are situated in the beautiful badlands of Theodore Roosevelt National Park. We have a very small staff but consider the park staff to be our coworkers and work alongside them daily. TRNHA employees assist the park by running park stores, interpreting the park, and helping in any way possible.
TRNHA assists in the publishing of free trail guides, informational brochures, and the Junior Ranger program. In addition to free publications, TRNHA also helps educate the public by funding and hosting special events in the sites we serve.
Funds are provided by TRNHA to support scientific and oral research. Recent funding has included a mountain lion study and elk management efforts.
TRNHA's Mission: Providing support, services, and educational merchandise to enhance visitor experience and enjoyment through historical, scientific, and educational activities in Theodore Roosevelt National Park and Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site
The Employee Experience
"My first impression of Western North Dakota was quite a shock! I remember passing the exit for the Painted Canyon visitor center on my way to Medora. Suddenly, I looked out to my right and saw an amazing site - the Painted Canyon. Completely shocked, I quickly (and safely) pulled over to view this amazing site. It was a shock to see a deep canyon after hundreds of miles of endless prairie grassland.
Entering Medora was another beautiful sight, sunshine, western buildings and signs, horses on the bluffs, and people everywhere on the streets. Summer brought many people from all over the country, myself included, to see what Medora and Theodore Roosevelt National Park had to offer. I could not wait to start working with Theodore Roosevelt Nature and History Association (TRNHA) in this beautiful park.
From day one, I began learning a lot of information that would be useful to assist visitors and travelers with planning their time in North Dakota. I learned things like how to travel and navigate through the park, which hikes were the best, where the nearest towns were, how to identify plants and snakes, where to camp, where the nearest gas stations was, and so much more. As the summer comes to an end, I truly feel like an expert of this area of the country!
One of my favorite parts of being out here has been visiting the park. I enjoyed viewing the prairie dogs roaming about (even in the snow!) and watching the bison herd graze. I explored most of the hiking trails in the South Unit and North Unit. My favorite by far was the Big Plateau Loop, which requires wading the Little Missouri River and hiking up across the plateau. Guaranteed to see some Bison up there!"
You won't regret a summer in North Dakota - Teresa from PA - summer 2019.
Ideal Candidate
TRNHA strives to find employees who are hardworking and open-minded. In order to be successful at this job, you must be willing to embrace the unique western experience Medora offers and to explore the beauty that is Theodore Roosevelt National Park. We find that our happiest employees are the ones that experience the culture of small-town living and embrace the everyday task of talking to park visitors.
If you are someone who is outgoing, friendly, and do not mind repetitive tasks TRNHA might be a great choice for you!
If you have dreamt of working in a National Park this is a wonderful opportunity to support our non-profit while learning more about being a Park Ranger and how to fulfill your dream in the future.
If you are interested in having a summer adventure before returning to school or starting a new career TRNHA might be the place for you!
Room and Board
TRNHA seasonal staff is often offered Free National Park shared housing. Employees will typically live in a house where they will have one roommate and up to 4 other housemates. You will have a shared bath, laundry, kitchen, and living space.
Year round staff are responsible for their own housing.
Staff is encouraged to explore housing options in North Dakota areas of Medora, Dickinson, Belfield, and Beach. All employees will need reliable transportation as no grocery stores are located in Medora requiring about a thirty-minute drive to the nearest grocery location.
Employee Perks
TRNHA staff are allowed free access to Theodore Roosevelt National Park and are offered discounts in our park stores.
Getting Here and Getting Around
Medora and our office location is very remote with no access to public transportation. We highly recommend that all our employees have cars as you will need to travel up to 8 miles to one of our work locations and there are no grocery stores located in Medora. There are a few bike trails in the area and biking around town is always encouraged.
For Fun
TRNHA employees are sure to enjoy the beauty of the North Dakota Badlands. Employees will work and play in Theodore Roosevelt National Park where they can enjoy hiking, wildlife viewing, star gazing, and more! And when you don't feel like taking in the great outdoors spend time exploring Medora by attending the nightly musical, golfing the Bully Pulpit, playing at the new Point to Point Park, swimming in the city pool, or taking in all that North Dakota's number one tourist location has to offer.
Current Job Openings
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Welcome visitors to Theodore Roosevelt National Park.
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Consistently provide excellent customer service, while sharing helpful information regarding products, park and area information.
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Act as an ambassador of TRNHA and the NPS to ensure park visitors have meaningful and memorable experiences.
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Assist with day-to-day retail sales operations, using a computerized cash register to complete transactions, accepting cash and credit cards.
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Assist with unpacking, moving, storing, stocking, bar-code labeling and price checking of merchandise as needed.
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Keep sales area clean, organized and stocked with appropriate merchandise and signage.
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Assist with special events, as requested by management.
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Promote TRNHA’s mission through the sales of yearly memberships.
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High School diploma or equivalent
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Strong computer skills and willingness to learn new software
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Above average math skills and the ability to operate electronic devices such as a computerized cash registers, computers, calculators, etc.
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Ability to stand of extended periods od time and lift boxes of product up to 40 lbs.
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Possess the need and ability to provide superior customer service at all times.
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Ability to work in a team environment with minimal supervision
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A positive solution driven attitude with a high level of empathy and compassion. Employee must possess excellent interpersonal communication skills.
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Work a minimum of 10 consecutive weeks between May 15 and August 31.
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Must be available to work weekends
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Must possess a valid drivers license and reliable transportation.
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If housing is requested employee must be at least 18 years old.
Sales and Information Guide
Position: Sales and Information Guide
Location: Theodore Roosevelt National Park, Medora, North Dakota
Reports to: Executive Director/Director of Retail and Education
Status: Full Time Seasonal
Salary: $15/hr. to $16/hr. (pay based on experience)
Benefits: Simple IRA, Paid Holidays, Free Shared Housing (may be available)
Mission Statement
Providing support, services, and educational merchandise to enhance visitor experience and enjoyment through historical, scientific, and educational activities in Theodore Roosevelt National Park and Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site.
Job Summary
The Sales and Information Guide will perform a variety of duties related to day-to-day operations of our retail stores and the National Park information desk.
The following duties are normal for this position. The omission of a specific statements of the duties does not exclude them from the classification if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment for this classification. Other duties may be required and assigned.
Basic Qualifications
Requirements of Seasonal Employments
Due to the busy nature of Theodore Roosevelt National Park in the summer our season runs April 15th to October 31st. While our ideal candidate is available this entire time, we understand it is not possible for students to be available the entire season.
Therefore, we have put the following requirements on all seasonal employees:
How to Apply
Interested individuals can learn more and complete an application via the link below.
Contact Info
- Tracy Sexton
- tracy_sexton@trnha.org
- (701) 623-4884
- www.trnha.org























