Current Position: Park Ranger 3
How long have you been with Arizona State Parks and in what capacity?
I started 17 years ago full time as a Ranger Assistant. I was hired by Duane Hinshaw at Fort Verde State Historic Park. Today, I am an Assistant Manager at McFarland State Historic Park.
How did you become involved in working as a Park Ranger?
Some of it was luck and some of it was my passion for history. When the job opening appeared in the paper at one of my favorite sites, I applied. I remember thinking this job is for me, I love that
place.
Describe a typical day at your job.
(If there is no such thing as a typical day, then please tell us about your primary responsibilities and duties.)
When you work at a small site as I do, your duties include everything and being part of a team is important. Most days start off with cleaning the facilities, since you want the place to look good. Then there is the visitor contact station, (which is the unofficial office of tourism) where we collect fees, sell books and give out lots of information on everything throughout the state. When I’m not waiting on visitors, I handle park correspondence, work on ledgers or on a report. And on special days you get to do an interpretive program or research.
How many hours a week do you work in this position?
I’m full time -- a 40-hour week.
What aspects of your job do you enjoy the most?
My job gives me a variety of different duties and that’s important. Keeps the job from getting boring. I would say that my three favorite tasks are bookkeeping, interpretive programs and research or assisting someone in research. Talking history is not a task -- it is a pleasure -- and it’s so much more enjoyable than cleaning windows, which is my least favorite task.
What do you find to be the greatest challenges of your job?
For years during my childhood I had a speech disorder. After years of speech therapy I overcame the stuttering, but was very shy and sensitive in public. Going to work at Arizona State Parks, doing interpretive programs at a site that was historically male orientated, was just what I needed. When I first started doing programs, I found them very challenging. With encouragement from my boss and volunteers, I discovered I was pretty good at doing interpretive programs and I enjoyed doing them.
Another big challenge: I had to give a program to a group of Japanese tourist who did not speak English. However, their tour guide could speak limited English. With the guide's help, I dressed them in historic clothing and posed them several different locations around the park and took their picture. They loved it, and everyone including myself had fun.
What kind of training/schooling is required in your position?
Not sure, but every bit of education or training helps. No matter where you work, you get exposure to all kinds of different jobs. I can tell you that on several occasions I wish I had a better knowledge of plumbing or electrical skills.
Is there any kind of training or general experience that you wish you had before taking your job?
More computer training, and the supervisor classes are very important for someone new to management.
What are a few of the projects that you've been working on recently that have been the most interesting?
The state is getting ready to replace and freshen up exhibits here at McFarland State Historic Park. I have had the pleasure of doing some research on some of those exhibits. Putting together a new program on happenings around the area. For example: POW at Florence Camp.
If someone were interested in working as a Park Ranger at a state park, what advice could you give them?
- Attitude is everything!
- Value those you work with.
- Expect to do a lot with very little.
- Be willing to get in there and get dirty if that’s what it takes to get the job done.
- And expect to do everything. You might be weed-eating and ten minutes later doing an interview.
Please share any further thoughts you may have about working in the state park system:
The job is not always fun or glamorous, but can be very rewarding. Arizona State Park employees are hard workers and very multi-talented. And I am proud to be one.
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