Current Position: California State Park Ranger / Peace Officer
How long have you been with California State Parks and in what capacity?
32 years total:
- I began as a Visitor Services Park aid in the summer of 1975.
- I served as (non–badged) State Park Ranger (intermittent) beginning in the summer of 1981.
- I completed a BA in parks management & Administration at CSU Chico in May of 1982 and my POST police training at Ventura County Criminal Justice Training Center in January of 1982.
- I became a California State Park Ranger/ Peace Officer in March of 1982.
How did you become interested in working as a Park Ranger?
When I was three years old I am told by my parents that I was enamored with a ranger riding horseback at Banff National Park in Alberta, Canada. Ever since that pinnacle Monet I have never wavered from my original dream. I still love my job to this very day and attempt to share that passion with other recruits.
I began my career back in 1975 applying for Visitor Services Park Aid position at McGrath State Beach in Ventura County, CA. I still work in that district to this very day.
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.)
Law enforcement officer, medical response, counselor, social services, resource ecologist, naturalist, natural history/human history interpreter, report writing, public relations, public assistant, mediator, supervisor of various and specific programs, accountant, personnel manager.
How many hours a week do you work in this position?
40-80 hours per week.
What aspects of your job do you enjoy the most?
Interacting with and assisting the visitors and local community with larger goal of making California State Parks a regular part to people’s lives, making the parks a safer haven for the visitors/local community, sharing the natural/ human history of the parks with the visitors. Promoting and living the traditional image of the generalist ranger.
What do you find to be the greatest challenges of your job?
Working with others that don’t have the same level of passion, dedication or motivation. Working night shifts and Sundays on a consistent basis.
What kind of training/schooling is required in your position?
You will need a minimum of 60 general education college units in order to take the entrance exam.
You will then take a written, oral, physical and psychological exam before a selection is made for hiring. At that point you will then attend a full P.O.S.T (peace officer certified academy) to receive your required state law enforcement training. In addition, you will attend other classes at our Asilomar Training Center in Pacific Grove, CA for classes focusing on other aspects of the ranger career.
Is there any kind of training or general experience that you wish you had before taking your job?
No, I think I followed the best educational path that I could have. My personal love of US, California and local history combined with a degree from CSU Chico in Park and Recreation Administration has assisted me tremendously in my field. You receive the necessary police training and other skills training upon being accepted for the position.
What are a few of the projects that you've been working on recently that have been the most interesting?
Promoting California State Parks and its mission statement, California State Park Ranger recruitment, seasonal employee coordinator, attempt promotion to a Supervising Ranger position.
If someone were interested in working in your position, what advice could you give them?
- Attempt to garner your BA/BS degree in a parks service related field (field biology, history, public relations, business, administration, park and recreation management).
- Attempt seasonal employment with State Parks as a seasonal Visitor Services Park Aid.
- Take as many exams as you can with as many park agencies to gain practice Emergency Management Training (EMT).
- Complete volunteer work with California State Parks.
- Go to our "jobs" section of California State parks web site.
- Go on a ride-along with a ranger.
Please share any further thoughts you may have about working in the state park system:
I love my job. There is never a day that has gone by that I haven’t wanted to go to work. I am sincerely blessed.
You’ll never be a millionaire but you will have a deep satisfaction that what you do every day is making a huge difference. As I’ve always said, "As California State Park Rangers, we protect the people, preserve the resources and provide the finest recreation for Californians -- and the world!"
**Editor's note: Though Scott didn't mention it himself, he was selected to be Ranger of the year by ReserveAmerica, the nation's largest reservation service for parks.
<< See other California interviews -- Search by state -- Search by job title>>