Current Position: Regional Interpretive Ranger
How long have you been with New Mexico State Parks?
Nearly two years, and all in my current position.
How did you become interested in working as an Interpretive Ranger?
I found an online reference to interpretive rangers working for New Mexico State Parks and contacted the organization to learn about possible openings.
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.)
My primary responsibility is to provide or coordinate presentations on nature and local history for the ten state parks in the northeast region of New Mexico. This includes summer programs for park visitors as well as bringing school classes into the parks for programs during the school year.
How many hours a week do you work in this position?
40 hours, sometimes more.
What aspects of your job do you enjoy the most?
Researching and learning new things about nature, crafting these ideas into a program and then actually presenting the program. (Handing out Milky Way bars for correct answers during astronomy programs is also lots of fun!)
What do you find to be the greatest challenges of your job?
Keeping track of the needs of so many different parks.
What kind of training/schooling is required in your position?
I'm not sure about current requirements... I believe a college degree plus experience. I came into the job with a master's degree and about seven years of related experience.
Is there any kind of training or general experience that you wish you had before taking your job?
I was fortunate in getting a huge amount of related seasonal work before getting this position. I did everything from seasonal law enforcement ranger to seasonal naturalist to seasonal wildlife tech to educator for a botanic gardens. This means I can usually turn to activities or books I've used or seen in other jobs.
What are a few of the projects that you've been working on recently that have been the most interesting?
I just put together two new programs, one on fireflies and one on coyotes. I hadn't caught fireflies in a jar since I was a kid, and it was a thrill for me to get kids and parents out in a field at night chasing lightning bugs!
If someone were interested in working in your position, what advice could you give them?
Get as much hands-on experience as possible. Work as a seasonal naturalist and ranger. Start as a volunteer part-time if you have to. Talk to people working in the interpretive field, make contacts and show them that you are going to follow through on your dream. If you need to, go back to school and get a degree in a related field (environmental science, biology, park management, education). Don't be discouraged if you have to work for years as a seasonal employee before getting a permanent position. Remember, others have been there before you (including me!) Also, some of my best on-the-job learning came in positions that wouldn't have been my first choice (i.e. water quality testing, plant education, etc.) Those jobs filled gaps in my background and made me more versatile.
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