Looking for a summer gig? The Indiana Department of Natural Resources has a few openings. Here is the agency’s announcement:

Indiana state park properties and inns are hiring approximately 1,300 workers for the summer season. Positions available include gate attendants, laborers, naturalist aides, security, housekeeping, dishwashers, cooks, guest services, and camp store attendants. Most positions will be seasonal, but some are full or part-time year-round positions. To apply for a position at one of the properties, see WorkforIndiana.IN.gov. To apply for a position at one of the seven Indiana state park inns, see indianainnsjobs.com. See stateparks.IN.gov to see which property or inn is closest to you.

Several years ago when I was plying my editorial trade for the Courier-Journal I received a phone call from the then commissioner for the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources http://www.fw.ky.gov. The agency was considering a $5 fee for its senior sporting license, which at that time was free. The commissioner was curious as to my thoughts on how the senior sporting crowd might react to a proposed fee.

Before I could say that the senior sporting crowd would likely be enraged at being required to pay for a heretofore age-based entitlement, the commissioner explained that the nominal fee was needed not to pump up the fish and wildlife coffers (the budget was then flush) but to allow the state and wildlife agency to rake in additional federal matching dollars. Matching funds are based only on the number of license sold, thus the needed fee to add the senior license. No state agency wants to leave federal money on the table.

I offered that there would be some grumblings, of course, but if the reasonings behind the fee were properly and thoroughly explained it would be readily accepted. Sportsmen always step up. I’ve forgotten the details but fish and wildlife mounted an effective PR blitz and the fee (now $12) was installed without rioting or really much complaint.

I bought one last week. A reminder that you’re older than you think you are.

My thanks to producers Alex and Kandis for including me in this report, which originally aired Thursday morning.

www.goodmorningamerica.com/amp/travel/story/experts-weigh-safe-travel-summer-bookings-surge-76240344