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Conservation Area student jobs

Attention students! Do you love working outdoors? Do you have an excellent customer service focus? We have great summer jobs in Grand River Conservation Areas!

All required training is provided. Many of our student employees return each summer and work with us for several years. Apply today and work with a great team in a beautiful setting while learning a range of valuable job skills.

Conservation area locations

Before starting the online application process, learn where the conservation areas are located:

Apply online for summer jobs

There are currently no student jobs available.

Job Number of
Locations Offering
this Job
CA Location(s) Application Deadline

How to apply

The online application form can be found by selecting a job above. Don't forget to attach your resume at the end!

Job season

For most jobs, the season starts in May and ends on Labour Day. There may be additional shifts available in the fall, as well.

Interview dates

Most interviews take place in February each year, but interviews may take place at other times as well, if needed. If you're selected for an interview, you will be contacted by email and/or phone, so please ensure your contact information is current and that you check your email and voicemail regularly.

Grand River Conservation Areas welcome over one million visitors each year. There are many opportunities for our visitors to connect with the outdoors, such as camping, swimming, fishing, hiking and picnicking. A few of our conservation areas have special features, such as tubing through the Elora Gorge, the glacial rock formations at Rockwood and large swimming pools at Brant and Byng Island.

Conservation area locations
Conservation area webpage Address - Opens Google map
Belwood Lake 8282 Wellington County Road 18, Fergus
Brant 119 Jennings Road, Brantford
Byng Island 4969 Haldimand Road 20, Dunnville
Conestogo Lake 6580 Wellington County Road. 11, Wallenstein
Elora Gorge  7400 Wellington County Road 21, Elora
Elora Quarry

319 Wellington County Road 18, Elora

Guelph Lake

7743 Conservation Road, Guelph

Laurel Creek 625 Westmount Road North, Waterloo
Luther Marsh

034588 Sideroad 21-22, Grand Valley 

Pinehurst Lake 468 Pinehurst Road, north of Paris
Rockwood 161 Fall Street South, Rockwood
Shade's Mills 450 Avenue Road, Cambridge

Map

View the locations of the conservation areas on the map below. Use the address links in the chart above to access a live Google map.

Location of conservation areas map

Which conservation areas are near me? Where are they located?

You can use the map and location links in the section called "Locations / About Grand River Conservation Areas" to learn which conservation area(s) are located near you. We have 12 conservation areas located throughout the Grand River watershed, from Grand Valley in the north, all the way south to Dunnville, including in several of the area's major towns and cities.

Security guards in training

Can I apply for more than one job?

You may apply for more than one job and at more than one conservation area, but please don't apply to areas where you cannot drive to or have transportation to and from. To apply, click the link for the job that  interests you in the "Available jobs and online application form" section. 

When does the season start and end?

For most jobs, the season starts in May and ends on Labour Day. There may be additional shifts available in the fall, as well. Please note there are opportunities for high school students to work on weekends in May and June, until they are available to work full time in July and August.

Do I need to be a student in order to be hired?

Yes. You must be currently enrolled full time in high school, college or university. For many positions, a G2 driver's licence is required. If you don't have one, you are welcome to apply to the concession and gate attendant positions, as each conservation area has different requirements.

Most positions start in May, but there are opportunities for high school students to work on weekends until they are available to work full time in July and August.

How old do I have to be to apply?

All ages are welcome to apply, but please note some positions do require a driver's licence or specialized training, such as lifeguarding. Check each job posting for specific details.

If you are a high school student, there are opportunities to work on weekends in May and June until you're available to work full time in July and August.

What kind of job training will I receive?

All students receive health and safety training, as well as any skills training needed for the specific job. For example, how to operate our point-of-sale system, customer service training and/or cleaning protocols. It is our goal to ensure you have the skills you need to succeed in your new job and do it safely!

In the case of lifeguard and security guard certification/licensing, please note these are required prior to being hired. (If you are in the process of being certified/licensed, and will be before you begin working with us, this may also be accepted.)

Who do I contact if I have questions about a job or my application?

Please send an email to careers@grandriver.ca with any questions.

What happens after I submit my application?

Your application and resume will be sent to the appropriate hiring manager(s). If you're selected for an interview, you will be contacted by email and/or phone, so please ensure the contact information you provide is up to date and that you check your email and voicemail regularly.

Your application and resume will be sent to the appropriate hiring Student on riding lawnmower manager(s). 

  • If you're selected for an interview, you will be contacted by email and/or phone.
  • It is a good idea to print out the job posting - it will disappear from our website once the job posting has closed.

We think summer jobs in our conservation areas are fantastic, but don't take our word for it!

Quotes from former summer staff: Two security guards standing beside GRCA truck

  • One of the best employers I ever worked for. I highly recommend working for Grand River parks.
  • [The security] job gave me valuable experience working with people that helped me as a Police Constable.
  • I work in Maintenance, and I absolutely love how all of our little 'department' comes together to finish big tasks and help each other.

  • For the short period I have been here it's been an awesome experience and I would recommend other students to work for the GRCA.
  • I loved getting to be outdoors all summer long and connecting with members of the public.
  • I love the people I work with, they are so supportive and amazing! It is a really welcoming, great place to work!
  • I have worked for GRCA as a summer student for a few years and I have loved the experience. I hope to have a career with GRCA in the future.
  • Everyone is so friendly and it's very enjoyable getting to work with one another. Also I really appreciate being able to do a variety of tasks and get some experience doing different things.
  • Really do enjoy working the job. I love my supervisor, I have made amazing friends through working here, and I have really built my confidence in enforcement. Thank you for the opportunity to work for GRCA!

 


Personal information in relation to the recruitment process is collected under the authority outlined in the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act and used solely to determine eligibility for employment with the Grand River Conservation Authority.


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