When you were a child you probably dreamed of spending plenty of time in nature learning about our planet. You probably always wanted to explore it and learn about the animals and plants out there waiting for you to discover them. If that was your dream and you still feel the same, you’re in luck because there are plenty of career paths that let you explore the great outdoors. Spending time in nature and making money along the way doesn’t have to be just a dream anymore. Rather, take a look at these careers and maybe you just find your future in some of them.
Anthropologist or Archeologist
These two professions focus on studying people, their origin, development and behavior. If you’re an anthropologist or an archeologist, you will get to examine cultures and physical characteristics of people from all around the world. Also, this involves sourcing archeological remains, and many of them usually end up in museums.
If you want this to be your career, you could get hired through research organizations and you will have the chance to analyze samples and conduct fieldwork. This means plenty of spending time in nature and outside, plus you will get the chance to travel the world. However, you will need a master’s degree or PhD, but you can get a job as an assistant or in fieldwork with a bachelor’s degree.
Commercial Diver
Do you love water? Well, if you become a commercial diver, you will spend plenty of time in it. Commercial divers use scuba equipment to inspect the ocean, conduct underwater experiments, photograph underwater structures and species and remove and install structures. Not only do you get to enjoy the water and explore it, but you get to help the species in water and meet new ones all the time. For this career, you need to be at least 18 years old and pass a diving physical to qualify. Also, you need a high school diploma or an equivalent level of education.
Campsite Warden
For those of you who love spending time in the woods and who love camping, then being a campsite warden could be a dream career. As a campsite warden, your primary responsibility is to make sure that the campers are safe and sound and to enhance their camping experience. Also, you get to meet and greet the campers and make them feel welcome. Not to mention how safety is important, so your job is to make sure nobody gets hurt or lost by providing them with essential information.
If you decide to become a campsite warden, usually the camps that hire will provide the necessary education, training and equipment. However, it doesn’t hurt to have your own camping equipment which you can research at Gear We Are blog and find what suits your needs.
Landscape Architect
As a landscape architect, you can spend days and days developing green spaces, both for residential and commercial needs. You are basically playing with nature and plants, making our cities a better and greener space, while you get to spend time outside. There are even projects focusing on entire parks and highways, which is a lot of open space for you to design.
In order to develop this career, you have to have a license, but licensing requirements will vary from state to state. Most often, you will be required to have a degree in landscape architecture, as well as some working experience. But it all pays off!
Geographer
As a geographer, you get to spend time in the great outdoors and study our planet. You will be focused on how land, inhabitants and other features are distributed across our world and examine the political and cultural structure and how they affect geographic features of certain regions.
While doing this job, you will be gathering data through maps, satellite images, censuses, field observations, photographs, and so on. You may even have to modify maps or other geographic data. However, you will need a bachelor’s degree for entry-level and federal government positions, but for some more advanced ones, you will need a master’s degree.
Agriculture Worker
If you like nature and working with it, then agriculture is a job for you. As an agriculture worker you will maintain farms, take care of animals and grow crops. As you apply you get the necessary training, but if you want to take care of animals it is required to have a high school diploma.
Environmental Engineer
When choosing environmental engineering as your career, you will be combining biology, chemistry and soil science with engineering principals. This is all combined in order to create solutions to some environmental problems. These problems range from improving recycling and disposal of waste to controlling air and water pollution. However, there are some engineers that focus on more global issues, such as environmental sustainability and climate change.
Additionally, environmental engineers might even be called to inspect industrial and municipal facilities and programs in order to make sure that they are according to environmental regulations. Plus, they sometimes advise corporations and agencies about cleaning up contaminated sites. In order to become an environmental engineer you will need a bachelor’s degree in environmental engineering, or even civil, chemical or general engineering.
As you can see, there is no need to close yourself into a stuffed office if you like nature and our environment. There are professions that are a dream come true for nature lovers, and if you’re one, consider some of these.
Bio: Ian Lewis is a father, writer, and a marketing expert. His favourite quote: There are three ways to ultimate success: The first way is to be kind. The second way is to be kind. The third way is to be kind. You can find him on Twitter.