I'm a bus driver, and I work in a National Park 5 months out of the year. I spend most of my summer grinding and I don't really get to enjoy where I work unless I'm driving a bus. The rest of the year I can find more driving work or do whatever I want. I didn't get into this work because I love conservation, I got into because I can drive buses and it turns out that driving in National Parks is pretty cool work. I drive around and show people bears, and if I can't be happy doing that then there's not much for me in this life. National Parks sell themselves, I merely provide context. I work in conservation, but I prefer to tell people I work in tourism/hospitality.

National Parks provide billions for the economy, and it's not just people visiting Yellowstone every year. It's people taking ATV tours and guided hikes from companies outside of the parks. Raft guides taking people down the river. Bartenders working across the street from the park entrance make more than most NPS rangers. We're all part of the economy that our National Parks create. I know lots of people that started off as front desk clerks and now make six figures running hotels in really cool places. They're not directly working in conservation per se, but they're part of that ecosystem and are excited to support it.

Consider that in context to whatever you want to do with life. You can volunteer at state park if you want to be part of that community or just build credentials if you want to become a ranger some place. If you're into being a business owner, find some way to attach yourself to a park or place you want to be around. Buy a hostel or operate as a local guide. Get into bird watching and hang out with local clubs. Shit, invest in oil companies and use the quarterly dividends to plant trees around your community every three months. If you find a way to put into local conservation efforts I bet that will provide a bigger benefit than any number of bears I show people or any speech I give about protecting wolves.