When was the last time you thanked a national park ranger?
It's commonplace, and good manners, of course, to thank someone when they help us in time of need. Yet sometimes we take things and actions for granted and go on our way. Rangers in the National Park System do big things, such as saving lives during search-and-rescue missions, and little things, such as offering directions, answering questions, and lending a helping hand when you most need it. They show up for interpretive programs, work late to provide insightful campfire programs, and spend days and at times weeks in the backcountry on patrol or conducting research.
Do you recall ever thanking them?
On July 29 four years ago a young ranger in Rocky Mountain National Park died in a fall while on a backcountry patrol. That he lost his life demonstrated just how dangerous life can be as a park ranger. His loss resonated with folks in Colorado, at the Rocky Mountain National Park Forums, specifically. To honor Ranger Christensen, and all other rangers in Rocky Mountain National Park, they decided to mark every July 29 as "Thank a Ranger Day."
It's a pretty simple idea, but one that would be great to be spread across the entire park system. So if you're in a park on the 29th of this month, take a minute to thank a ranger. They'll no doubt appreciate it.
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Comments
I met one NPS interpretive ranger who was retired from a corporate job. He was discussing paper with a fellow ranger (something about their copier) and mentioned that he used to be in the wood products industry. Without a retirement nestegg, I don't think he would have likely become an NPS ranger.
A lot of the seasonal rangers are schoolteachers.
I'll throw in a word for Yosemite interpretive ranger Shelton Johnson. I've encountered him on ranger walks, asking for directions at the visitor center, and even a snowshoe walk. His work with the Buffalo Soldiers project is inspiring.
The one thing I would note is that many park rangers spend a lot of their time with paperwork. I recall one Grand Canyon ranger warning our group that if anyone got hurt, he'd be filing a lot of reports when he'd rather be driving to Williams for his weekly pie at a favorite restaurant. Another one told me that after a guided hike, he'd be on a conference call with the regional office.
Now there are some controversial rangers, including some with law enforcement responsibilities. Look up the name "Roger Mayo". His case was rather interesting. Eventually he was forced into reassignment as part of a legal settlement that required that he relocate.
I agree with you. Carl was very special. You might wish to visit www.name4carl.org for additional thoughts and memories.
Owen Hoffman
Oak Ridge, TN 37830
John Lison
I am a National Park Service volunteer. I am a fulltime time summer volunteer, working 21 weeks, 4 days a week, mid April thru Mid September. I've done this for three summers since retiring at age 62. I'm currently at my third NPS unit. Sometime we are called Rangers;sometimes not. The visitors all call us Ranger whether NPS officially calls us that one or not
Personally I get thanked all of the time. Visitors often put their hands out to shake mine. More and more , they notice my Master Ranger Corps volunteer patch as well as my name tag and call me by name. Mostly I work the VC and go out of my way to make the Jr Ranger awards as memorable as possible for the kids. Not only do the kids love it but parents are often blown away with the seemingly extra attention paid to their kids. Few volunteers I've known require much recognition--we do this for the "grins" , both the visitors and our own.
The Rangers I've worked with who feel underappreciated are usually those who bring the barest minimum to their jobs because that's all it is to them -a job. Those who do this work "For the Love of the Game" usually feel appreciated by NPS' visitors. 99% of the visitors I've run into are appreciative and wonderful to be able to help. Admittedly , there is the 1% but that's life.
NPS has official Comment forms at every unit. You'd do more to recognize a good experience with an NPS person by seeking out that form & actually spending the time to fill it in and submit it.
I thank my fellow Rangers everyday and am thanked by many visitors. Currently an Interpretive Park Ranger at Grand Canyon North Rim. People are so happy to be here and it's a pleasure to help them connect to this amazing place. Many people envy us our jobs, as maybe they should. And most Rangers I've worked with are passionate about what they do, it's certainly not for the money even if it's a career job. When a visitor thanks me I respond with thanking them for giving me the best job in the world working for them.
Craig W--
Was it Ken Patrick at Pt. Reyes?
Rick Smith