“We cannot glimpse the essential life of a caged animal, only the shadow of its former beauty.” —Julia Allen Field
Denying your true nature is like staring through metal bars at the bulging red butt of a baboon and telling yourself and everyone within earshot that what you see is a rare exotic fruit—filled with sweet nectar—that must be protected. It sure sounds good, but you can smell that something isn’t right with your logic.
Humans are an odd bunch. We claim to value freedom, yet we go to great lengths to tolerate structures—physical, legal, interpersonal, economic—that confine us. Then, we justify it all by reminding ourselves that this is the price we must pay to live in a civilized society.
I won’t dispute the fact that many of our structures are indeed necessary. (This isn’t meant as any kind of anarchist rant.) But there is one aspect of industrialized society that I do find especially bothersome: the way we work.
Something is wrong when large amounts of working people feel and act like caged animals. You don’t need a survey or scientific study to know this. All you have to do is sit and observe the inside of an average corporate office for a day.
There is a certain segment of the indoor working class that appears to always be on the verge of insanity. It consists of people behaving like creatures you might spot behind the glass at a zoo.
They look agitated. They look bored and restless. Their yawning, moping, pacing, and peculiar fidgeting are the stir-crazy actions of an animal that yearns to be set free.
Such people would probably jump at the chance to work outside, to break away from the walls that surround them.
They don’t understand the arbitrary philosophies responsible for “professional” dress codes. They value changes in scenery, wide-open spaces, fresh air, and sunshine. The most die-hard among them would even take wind, rain, and sleet over the stale, controlled environment of an office.
Are they just spoiled? Perhaps. Do they need to suck it up and be thankful that they have a job that earns them a living? Maybe. But, as someone who actually tends to prefer the indoors, I’m not so sure.
I like being outside on a nice day, but I’m probably one of the most indoor-loving people you could ever find. I deeply enjoy the security and comfort afforded by walls, a roof, and heating and air conditioning. I don’t like having to think about protecting myself from extreme temperatures, UV exposure, allergens, or biting insects.
Still, even I have moments—and full days—when I experience severe agitation and want to escape my cubicle to go run naked through a forest, no matter the weather.
As humans, we all have primal urges that don’t align with our urban environments. (We have not yet evolved to robot status, despite the fantasies of technology-worshipping utopians.) Some people just need more time outdoors to feel truly alive. They shouldn’t be denied that.
Thankfully, a great many occupations offer the chance to work outside, away from monotonous indoor environments.
There are, of course, obvious choices like being a guide or instructor for some kind of adventure tourism activity such as hiking, camping, horseback riding, kayaking, skiing, or whitewater rafting. Park services, agriculture, and construction are also sectors with well-known outdoor career opportunities.
But there are also quite a few options that might not be so obvious. Some require a significant amount of post-secondary education, while others can be pursued with relatively little formal training. What they each have in common, though, is that they can lead to a fulfilling career in the outdoors.
You need not resign yourself to the life of a caged animal. There is reason to hope for better. Here are 10 less-obvious career fields for people who can’t imagine being stuck indoors for eight or more hours a day on a consistent basis:
1. Land surveying
This is one of the world’s oldest professions, dating back to ancient Egypt. (Don’t worry, though; this old profession is a lot better respected than the oldest.) Civilization wouldn’t be possible without it. Land surveyors use special equipment to stake out property boundaries and take precise measurements of an area’s topography. They are the people you see outside with hard hats and big, funny tripods.
As a land surveyor, you could enjoy a career in the outdoors while playing a critical role in the design, engineering, and construction process of important projects like roads, buildings, subdivisions, pipelines, and airports. You could help ensure that accurate maps get created and that everything is properly aligned and built in the right places.
2. Environmental engineering
Human development can be hard on the environment and public health. That’s why we need professionals to help preserve and manage our natural resources. This is a field with many different career possibilities. Environmental engineers generally specialize in a specific area such as assessing the environmental impacts of proposed land projects, securing safe water supplies, ensuring proper waste disposal and recycling, or managing air quality.
A great deal of outdoor field work is often necessary in order to investigate sources of pollution, collect samples and data, and monitor the health of an area. Environmental technicians perform many of the necessary field tests used for investigating, analyzing, and monitoring air, water, and soil. That means you could get your hands dirty—while enjoying the outdoors—for a very important cause.
3. Electrical power
North America’s electrical infrastructure is aging and in constant need of repair. Combine this fact with looming mass retirements in the electric utility industry, and you’ve got yourself a terrific opportunity for a career that keeps you outside. Electrical linemen construct and maintain the power lines that distribute electricity to homes, businesses, and other structures. Utilities are currently scrambling to recruit and train the next generation of workers to replace retiring linemen.
At the same time, the desire for green energy is also growing. Power utilities and individual homeowners are increasingly turning to clean energy sources like wind and solar to supplement or replace their existing systems. In the right location, you could establish a good career as a solar energy installer or wind turbine technician.
4. Landscape architecture
It’s easy to overlook this profession. We often recognize the fact that buildings must be designed while taking for granted the exterior spaces we all enjoy. Landscape architects are responsible for making public outdoor areas inviting, sustainable, and conducive to positive social interactions. They use their knowledge of many different disciplines to design the exterior landscapes of schools, homes, and businesses. They design public parks. And some even create the plans used in the reclamation of landfills and other degraded outdoor areas.
5. Earth sciences
Scientists might not have the most glamorous careers, but they do have some of the most rewarding. And those that specialize in the earth sciences—fields like geology, oceanography, and hydrology—often get to spend large portions of their time outdoors in fascinating locations. They study the earth’s natural processes so that we can have a better understanding of how to protect our environment and improve our lives. Their research often leads to new technologies, new sources of energy, and other important contributions.
6. Horticulture
Plants are crucial to human survival and enjoyment. Without people who know how to cultivate them, I suspect we’d all be cannibals (or, at least, much worse off). Horticulturalists conduct research that leads to improved crop yields and plants of better quality that are able to resist pests and other environmental stresses. They often specialize in a particular area like floral crops, landscaping plants, or fruits and vegetables. Arborists cultivate and manage the health of trees.
One good way to get started in this field is to train as a horticultural technician. Knowing how to properly cultivate and care for plants is a skill that is increasingly in demand. And, of course, you get to work outside.
7. Archaeology
Digging up the past doesn’t always involve tears and a box of tissues. Sometimes it involves physical artifacts. (Shocking, I know!) Archaeologists often get to travel the world and work in fascinating outdoor environments. They carefully excavate land and conduct surveys to determine what kinds of discoveries might be made.
But it isn’t always about academic research. The federal government and private companies also employ archaeologists to conduct investigations on proposed construction sites. (If there’s one thing I’ve learned from watching scary movies, it’s that you want to be careful about building anything on top of ancient burial grounds.)
8. Professional Diving
Land is great, but some people think water is so much better. If you’re a human fish, you’ll be glad to know that you can actually make a living by getting wet.
Commercial divers typically provide underwater maintenance and construction support for structures like offshore oil platforms, hydroelectric dams, bridges, and other civil engineering projects.
Other options in this field include scientific diving, underwater filming, police diving, and diving instruction. If you have a particular penchant for really nasty jobs, you can also specialize in HAZMAT diving, but that would mean immersing yourself in places like sewers and contaminated waterways. (All the power to you if that’s what you choose, but ick, ick, ick!)
9. Wildlife and Marine Biology
Non-human animals are often so much easier to love. They deserve our protection. They have a lot they can teach us. Wildlife biologists and marine biologists are on the front lines in the effort to preserve and learn from our neighbors in the wild.
They are frequently out conducting field research, in direct contact with all manner of different species. They are even called upon to help rescue animals from disasters like oil spills. And their work often leads to improvements in our own health and well-being. As a wildlife or marine biologist, you could help demonstrate just how connected human, animal, and marine life really is.
10. Golf Course Management
Love the greens but can’t sink enough birdies to make the pro tour? You still have a chance to make your living on the links. As a golf professional, you could have easy access to a course while also ensuring that other people get to enjoy fun and efficient rounds of the beloved outdoor game.
Career opportunities include occupations like golf course manager, golf instructor, and golf course superintendent (the person in charge of maintaining the greens and fairways). Before you get too excited, though, make sure you understand what you’ll be getting into. Not everyone has what it takes to succeed in the golf industry.
Bust free
Before you go mad and start mooning coworkers or fellow students with your own exotic fruits, take a deep breath. Then remind yourself of all the good outdoor career opportunities that exist.
You don’t have to resent civilization for eight or more hours a day. If you don’t want the monotony of working indoors, then do something about it. Studies have shown that being outside can boost a person’s self-esteem and reduce the risk of developing a mental illness.
Self-imposed cages aren’t good for anyone.
