Have You Been to a Ranger Program?

The first ranger program I remember attending was in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, at the age of four. Honestly, all I remember from this talk is a ranger pointing out some hills or mountains in the distance.

The next ranger program I attended was one given some seventeen years later at Glacier National Park. I was there with Paul and Ned, and we were partway through a 50-mile backpacking trip. This program was great. The ranger giving the talk only used a couple of bird puppets and a few other props. Yet for forty minutes this ranger had his audience engaged, laughing, and learning. It was an amazing experience.

But I’ve wondered how during the seventeen years between these two experiences I had never been to another program. Between those two talks, I had visited eight National Parks and many National Monuments. Not to mention growing up less than two hours from Yellowstone and visiting who knows how many times.

It turns out my experience isn’t that unique though.

Many people never interact with Park interpretive material and far fewer go to ranger programs.

My Time As a Ranger

Now, I’d love to say that after my experience in Glacier I started to always attend ranger programs whenever I had the opportunity. This wasn’t the case, however. I’m chagrinned to say that it wasn’t until I worked at Capitol Reef National Park, when I had to prepare my own programs and went to programs to support my friends, that I started to regularly attend ranger programs. And you know what I learned?

Ranger programs are awesome, and a lot of work goes into them.

And while the process isn’t the same in every park, I’ve been told that the process is similar in most parks. Let me elaborate.

The summer I interned at Capitol Reef National Park I was on the interpretation department staff. Interpretive rangers are the people who help explain the park to visitors, teach, and answer questions. You can get a degree in interpretation: it’s a big job.

Like all parks, there was a lot to learn about Capitol Reef. When I started working with the interpretive department I was literally handed a (large) backpack full of books and told that once I finished those, I had the basics of the park. 

Weekly Programs

Now, National Parks have set programs that they give throughout the week (at Capitol Reef it was the geology talk, petroglyphs talk, and nature walks). Each interpretive ranger would prepare and practice giving talks on these subjects.

On top of these “standard” programs that rangers give, rangers prepare evening programs that are given at the campsite amphitheater, which last about 45-60 minutes. What’s fun is that the subject of these programs are up to the choice of the ranger giving them, as long as they’re related to the park.

That summer, we had rangers that chose to give programs on astronomy, desert bighorn Sheep, water in the desert, mountain lions, art inspired by the park and local area, women in the park, Native American history of the area, geology (more in depth), birds, reptiles, and several others. Each of these programs is individually researched by the ranger giving the talk (someone who is REALLY excited about the topic), and it goes through a review process.

What’s my point? A lot of effort, research, and practice goes into preparing Ranger programs.

And I’m not saying people should attend these programs to honor the work that has gone into them. I’m saying that there is so much you can learn about the park you are visiting by attending a ranger program, and it’s fun.

A Deeper Experience

If you drive around a park and just look at the sights, you won’t really learn much about the park. If you read some signs along the way you’ll learn a little. Visitor centers and films shown there can teach quite a bit.

But ranger talks are a great way to really delve into the amazing facts and stories about the area you’re visiting. Programs cover a wide variety of topics, and after the program, you Rangers are more than happy to point you toward material to keep learning.

Parks will also sometimes have special programs, such as programs led by the park’s artist in residence. These are especially fun. I once enjoyed a great program by an artist in residence who played saxophone songs he had written about his experiences in the park.

When at a park you can usually find program topics posted throughout the park, or you can call ahead to learn what program topics are coming up to help plan your visit.

Attending ranger programs are a wonderful way to slow down and learn about the public land you are visiting. It gives you a chance to learn something you may not have known about, and to take some time to take that information in while still at the park.

I know it has taught me a lot that I never would have known about areas I’ve visited, and it has allowed me to share the cool things I’ve learned with others.

Have you attended a ranger program you loved? Send us an email and share your experience!