Current Position: Park Ranger for Stillwater State Park
How long have you been with Vermont State Parks and in what capacity?
Five years, as a host attendant, assistant ranger, and ranger.
How did you become involved in working as a Park Ranger?
I was looking for summer work and love being outdoors.
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.)
I am up at 7am and check the office for messages, do reports or paperwork, and set the day's schedule of work. The crew starts arriving at 8am and we check bathrooms and set up to clean sites. By 9am, site cleaning begins and we break for lunch at noon. When sites are finished, we begin bathrooms and any other projects that need to be done, such as getting wood, brushing roadsides, mowing, weed whacking, etc. At 4pm the crew starts leaving for home and by 5pm most of the crew is gone. I close the office at 7pm on most days (9pm on Fridays and 8pm on Saturdays) and deal with any unresolved issues in the campground from 7-10pm. I get ready for rounds at 10pm, which I finish between 11-12pm, Then I go home and go to bed, and then begin again the next day.
How many hours a week do you work in this position?
50-75 hours per week.
What aspects of your job do you enjoy the most?
The people. I love it when people go away satisfied with their experience. Also the visitor programming. I enjoy watching the families and strangers who come together to make new friends and memories.
What do you find to be the greatest challenges of your job?
Staff relations/communication. It is hard to keep everyone on the same page because everyone has their own interpretation of what is said.
What kind of training/schooling is required in your position?
College or work experience.
Is there any kind of training or general experience that you wish you had before taking your job?
Maybe a course on dealing with difficult people and correct ways to offer feedback.
What are a few of the projects that you've been working on recently that have been the most interesting?
I like bringing the park back to its former glory and making it a place families like to come. For example, taking sites back to original dimensions and re-graveling to level the areas. Trimming the roads back so people can enjoy the beauty of the forest and creating a place to bring people back to the outdoors. Creating visitor programming and creating a time and place that those families can come together and make a memory.
If someone were interested in working as a Park Ranger, what advice could you give them?
Like people! Expect the unexpected, and always have a backup plan. Listen more than you talk, and hear what people are telling you. Know when to be silent and when to speak, but don't be afraid to say what you mean and back it up. Think long and hard before you say something -- you can’t take it back. Be prepared to work hard but enjoy your job. If you can find something fun in your day, it makes your work seem like play. Remember to say "thank you" every day; people work harder for praise then they will for criticism.
Please share any further thoughts you may have about working in the state park system:
This is a job you'll either love or hate -- there is no in-between. You need good customer service skills and a good understanding of why the parks are run the way they are. Don't be afraid to ask for help and don't forget to say "thank you." Learn to let go – this is the hardest. Don't be afraid to learn new things and not always in a traditional way. School won't teach you everything -- learn from those around you. Don't be afraid to admit your mistakes – also very hard - but people will respect you more if you don't try to cover up. Always be honest, with yourself and everyone around you.
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