Current Position: Park Ranger at Green River Lake State Park
How long have you been with Kentucky State Parks and in what capacity?
21 years with the Department of Parks, all at Green River Lake State Park.
How did you become interested in working as a Park Ranger?
While working a summer job as a ranger with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers I became interested in the Park Ranger position. After graduating from college, I applied and was accepted as a Park Ranger at Green River Lake State Park.
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.)
At the beginning of work shift I make a complete patrol of the park to check out what is going on or any unusual activity in the park. I check in with the park employees on duty, talk with campers and park visitors and check all activities of the park. Get lake/fishing reports and weather reports for to answer any questions of guests. Assist with check-ins or check-outs at campground. Enforce any parking violations or any park rules infractions. Check trail-head parking lots for activity. Escort employees with park monies. Make out end of shift reports (ranger daily, any incident reports or other reports).
How many hours a week do you work in this position?
Forty hours per week. Includes evenings, nights and weekends.
What aspects of your job do you enjoy the most?
Interaction with park guests, providing assistance and information, meeting new people and greeting back frequent visitors. Being a Park Interpreter.
What do you find to be the greatest challenges of your job?
The fine line between doing your duties as a law enforcement officer and being a good host for park guests. To be too strict or too lenient in enforcing park rules and regulations sometimes can be a challenge. Most of the time a happy medium can be attained.
What kind of training/schooling is required in your position?
All law enforcement officers in the Commonwealth of Kentucky (Park Rangers included) must complete a 16 weeks training at the Law Enforcement Academy. After graduation from the Academy, the Park Ranger will be assigned to a park (if possible a Field Training Officer shall be assigned or the District Sergeant shall assist during probation period to indoctrinate into the duties assigned).
Is there any kind of training or general experience that you wish you had before taking your job?
A Park Ranger is a "jack of all trade" in the park and should be knowledgeable about almost anything connected to the park. Since the Ranger will be working during the hours when regular maintenance workers are off (nights and weekends), sometimes the ranger has to deal with situations that is "outside his job description" (electrician when camper has no power, plumber when bathhouse has problems). Also the ranger should have a working knowledge of fish & wildlife when guests ask about any animals or fish (including hunting seasons and size limits), and as a naturalist when asked about plants. Teaching skills and public lecturing are needed when giving Junior Ranger programs or talking with large groups. And more First Aid/CPR training is always needed.
What are a few of the projects that you've been working on recently that have been the most interesting?
Blazing, constructing and maintaining trails designed to provide recreation for park visitors and have a small impact on the park environment. Junior Ranger Programs.
If someone were interested in working in your position, what advice could you give them?
A law enforcement position with mostly public relation duties. A Kentucky State Park Ranger is more than a 'Park Police Officer', yet enforcing Kentucky statutes and Park policies are the primary duties. If you like working with the public and working outdoors in a park setting it is a great job. A college degree is not required for being a park ranger as of now, but hopefully in the future the park rangers duties and responsibilities will increase and the further education will help the ranger in the performance of his job.
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