What do park rangers really do? It’s more than you think. Yes, they do get to wear a cool ranger hat and spend a lot of time outdoors. But what you may not know is it is a position held by highly-educated and trained individuals. Men and women who are passionate about their parks and are selfless in their quest to maintain and preserve the naturally wonderful spaces in North Carolina.
Park rangers see, hear, smell and sense all manner of wildlife and the environment. They get to know the park up close and personal over extended periods of time. They teach and manage the natural resources with this knowledge and experience.
Park rangers are the first responders in a park for any emergency. They communicate with local fire, EMS, and police when there is an emergency in or near the park. Since many parks are more than 30 minutes from the closest town or hospital, many rangers are also trained Emergency Medical Technicians.
Park rangers are certified as Environmental Educators, Emergency Medical Technicians, Canoe/Kayak Instructors, Wild-land Firefighters, Pesticide Applicators, Wastewater Treatment Operators and many other things.