How Do I Become A Park Ranger?

If you enjoy the outdoors, then your dream career may be as a park ranger. When you are a park ranger, you can gain a daily appreciation of wildlife and nature’s beauty. You will be responsible for overseeing a natural habitat or other natural reserve. You may have the task of conducting daily tours of a natural reserve for tourists and schoolchildren. It can be fun to share your appreciation of nature with other individuals every day of your career. You can also care for the animals that are contained within a natural habitat. Maybe you have wondered, “How do I become a park ranger?” When you want to become a park ranger, you should try to learn as much as you can about the natural reserves contained in the United States.

What’s it like to be a park ranger?

When you become a park ranger, you will have the opportunity to give talks about geology and the history of natural formations. You will be able to care for the animals in your particular reserve. You will also learn about ways to help the environment through recycling and other means. It will be essential for you to get the community involved in learning about a natural habitat. You may do this through hosting camping trips for members of the local community. You may be responsible for hosting a group of cub scouts or school kids during a camping trip. It will be your responsibility to check up on everyone and ensure that they are safe. You will also deal with the media on occasion. It may be your job to raise public awareness about the endangerment of a particular species on the campground. You may need to speak with journalists and other members of the media in order to raise this awareness. You may also need to write up grant proposals to the government for additional funds. As a park ranger, your duties can be very extensive and varied.

Education Requirements

To become a park ranger, you should obtain a bachelor’s degree in wildlife conservation or biology. These types of degrees will expose you to basic fundamentals of science, and you will learn how to care for the environment. You will also learn how organisms work together in a habitat system. It is essential for you to study geology, plants and other important aspects of the environment. Try to learn as much as you can about natural habitats during your undergraduate years. You do not need a bachelor’s degree in order to become a park ranger. If you do not want to pursue a bachelor’s degree, then you should try to network with as many people as possible in this field. You should try to visit as many natural environmental sites as possible, such as Yosemite National Park and the Grand Canyon. Visiting these public parks will help you develop an appreciation for the work that park rangers do to make them accessible to the public.

Salary & How to Get a Job

The average salary of a park ranger is about $57,000 a year. If you want to obtain a position as a park ranger, then you should try to shadow a park ranger for a semester. You may also want to participate in an internship program for a national park. This will help you foster connections that will prove to be valuable after graduation.

References:
1. http://www.ehow.com/how_8752_become-park-ranger.html
2. http://www.bls.gov/ooh/life-physical-and-social-science/conservation-scientists.htm