Park Ranger

Overview and Key Facts

What Do They Do?

A park ranger could...

Overview Listen to this section

Park rangers are the law enforcement officials of our state and national parks. They protect and preserve parklands, keeping park resources safe from people who might try to damage them, deliberately or through neglect, and keeping people safe from dangers within the park. To achieve this goal, park rangers work in a wide variety of positions, including education and interpretation for park visitors, emergency dispatch, firefighting, maintenance, law enforcement, search and rescue, and administration. There is a large global shortage of park rangers in developing countries.

Do You Have the Skills and Characteristics of a Park Ranger?

1. Speaking: ? Talking to others to convey information effectively.
2. Active Listening: ? Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
3. Reading Comprehension: ? Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
4. Social Perceptiveness: ? Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
5. Writing: ? Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

6. Critical Thinking: ? Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
7. Service Orientation: ? Actively looking for ways to help people.
8. Judgment and Decision Making: ? Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
9. Learning Strategies: ? Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
10. Instructing: ? Teaching others how to do something.

Core Tasks

Think about if you'd like the typical tasks a Park Ranger might do:

• Provide visitor services, such as explaining regulations, answering visitor requests, needs and complaints, and providing information about the park and surrounding areas.
• Assist with operations of general facilities, such as visitor centers.
• Confer with park staff to determine subjects and schedules for park programs.
• Conduct field trips to point out scientific, historic, and natural features of parks, forests, historic sites, or other attractions.
• Plan and organize public events at the park.
• Prepare and present illustrated lectures and interpretive talks about park features.
• Plan, organize and direct activities of seasonal staff members.
• Perform emergency duties to protect human life, government property, and natural features of park.
• Train staff on park programs.
• Develop environmental educational programs and curricula for schools.
• Construct historical, scientific, and nature visitor-center displays.
• Research stories regarding the area's natural history or environment.
• Prepare brochures and write newspaper articles.
• Compile and maintain official park photographic and information files.
• Take photographs and motion pictures for use in lectures and publications and to develop displays.
• Plan and develop audio-visual devices for public programs.
• Perform routine maintenance on park structures.