Professional Opinion Paper 10 - Renewal of the Park Ranger Profession

Abstract

This is one of a series of professional papers developed by the Coalition of National Park Service Retirees (CNPSR). These papers address the broad issues and challenges regarding the future of our country’s national parks. This paper invites discussion on one set of critical employees (among many) who will implement that future – the National Park Service ranger.

We believe that there is a critical need to focus now on park rangers, especially those performing resource and visitor protection duties, for the pace of change in the role and image of these iconic representatives of parks is accelerating. There’s widespread perception and concern that we are losing something that has for many years contributed to the success of the National Park Service.

Few things remain the same and the nature of ranger work should be one of continuing change as the NPS responds to a wide variety of political, economic, technological, academic, and societal trends. Such change has been occurring for a long time. By the middle of the 20th century, most parks had divided ranger work into two primary areas. One was what we now call interpretation; that is, providing information at visitor centers, leading guided walks and talks, and educating visitors about park resources. The other was what became generically known as protection; that is, protecting park visitors and resources by enforcing laws and providing emergency services. Over recent years, however, law enforcement has become ascendant in many areas, compromising the traditional image of all rangers. This paper focuses on that issue and its resolution.

We believe it essential to acknowledge at the outset that the perceptions of any organization of retirees may be perceived as those of a group of old-timers who simply wish to turn back the clock. A great deal of effort has been made to assure that the perceptions and recommendations contained in this paper present the best possible integration of historic and contemporary observations and opinions.