Do you love the outdoors? Do you love learning? Do you want to share your love for these things with other people? Well, being a park ranger just might be the job for you.
Park Rangers have many different jobs, but hundreds will argue that they have the BEST job in the world. Here are some who are excited to share why they think their job is the greatest anyone could have:
Park Rangers are responsible for helping people find their way around the parks they are responsible for. Many work in Visitor Centers and have to answer questions from guest, which requires customer service skills:
Other park rangers spend the majority of their time in nature or preparing educational experiences for their guests. Meet Susanna. She works at the Redwood National Park and is well-educated about the history of her park and the science related to her park's environmental concerns. She hopes that children will visit national and state parks to be inspired by the parks and their many wonders.
Interested in a job with a view? Here are just a few sights you might see in your day-to-day work as a park ranger here in the United States. Some parks focus on natural features, while others honor historical sites with significance to our nation's history. These parks can be found all over the country, so no matter where you are interested in living, what animals or plants you are interested in learning about, or time period of history you enjoy most, there is always a place for a park ranger.
Park rangers must be willing to work outdoors, as most of their jobs require them to get out in the wildlife, either to study nature or support park guests. They earn around $30,000 each year, depending on where they live, their years of experience, and what their job requires them to do. There can be lots of competition for jobs as park rangers, so those interested should work to do research in areas they are interested in, consider attending college, and working as interns in parks. Read more about the work of park rangers at Career Kids.
Want to start exploring the parks now? Check out our virtual field trip of National Parks. Using this resource, you can explore any part of the country or plan a family visit to the parks, right from your own homes!
Interested in visiting the parks yourself?
Keep a passport of your visit to the national parks! Mr. Strong and I have a NPS passport and it is one of our favorite things to do as we visit new places.
Junior Ranger Edition Passport