Videos

By Roadtrip Nation

Cody Tingey

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01:15
Cody Tingey Highlight
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03:28
Interview
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01:43
My Educational Path
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00:47
Keep Learning To Keep Moving Forward
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00:50
Education Can Open Doors
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01:06
Day In The Life Of A State Park Manager

Milestones

My road in life has been direct.
I grew up in Utah doing a lot of outdoor activities, including hiking, hunting, fishing, skiing, and horseback riding.
After graduating high school, I considered majoring in biology because of my love for the outdoors.
I headed down the natural resources path and especially liked botany—I always assumed I would end up in an outdoor career.
I started with the Nevada Division of State Parks as an emergency hire and dropped out of college with three semesters left.
I worked for the State Parks for a few years but eventually wasn’t able to move up any further without a degree, so I made the decision to go back to school to finish my degree.
Southern Utah University didn’t have an outdoor recreation program at the time, so they took my experience and custom-built a program for me based around natural resources and agriculture.
I ended up graduating with a Bachelor of Science in agriculture with an emphasis in natural resources.
I continued to work my way up the ladder within the Nevada State Parks and currently work as the eastern region manager—I manage all of the parks along the eastern side of Nevada.
Keep following my journey

Education

High School
Bachelor
Agriculture, General
Southern Utah University
Certification/License
Category 1 Peace Officer
Nevada Peace Officers Standards Training
Certification/License
State Parks Leadership School, National Association of State Park Directors & North Carolina State University

Career

Eastern Region Manager, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources

I organize and manage the overall operation and maintenance of State Parks in the Eastern Region.

Career Roadmap

Roadmap
My work combines:
My work combines:
Environment & Nature
Non-Profit Organizations
Teaching / Mentoring

Day to Day

In Nevada State Parks, we have many different responsibilities and most days are never the same. In day to day operations, we manage campgrounds, provide visitor services to provide the special "Park Experience" our visitors are looking for, we manage visitor centers, build and maintain trails, maintain facilities, provide safety and security for our visitors, maintain and develop landscapes, protect cultural and natural resources, and interpret all aspects of park resources.

Skills & Qualities Beyond School

You should have a love for the outdoors and people to succeed here!

Advice for Getting Started

Here's the first step for everyone

Find someone in the field and see if you can go visit them and pick their brain. The insight from someone who already works in the field every day is very valuable.

Recommended Education

My career is not related to what I studied. I'd recommend this path instead:

certification
Certification/License
Nevada Peace Officers Standards Training

Hurdles

The Noise I Shed

From Peers:

"It will be too difficult to go back and finish your degree."

Challenges I Overcame

Adult Learner
Relocation

Interviewed By

All In

All In

Innovative careers in Nevada’s historic industries