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Protect the Gray and Green - Part 1

Park Ranger Marisa

(Photos by Mark) Novelist Wallace Stegner coined the phrase that America’s national parks are “the best idea we ever had.” The agency entrusted with “the best idea” also happens to have the most highly favorable (in the 70%- 80% columns) rating of any Federal agency -- for decades! 

Since 1916, the National Park Service (NPS) has preserved our most beautiful places, our history, and our common values. The 433 areas within our system share a story as timeless as the natural and cultural values themselves. 

One reason for this is the “gray and green” – the cadre of NPS employees. Park employees, AND our volunteer (VIPS)s, have earned their reputation as the most courteous and helpful of all public servants. As a civilian agency, their skill, training, and experience to meet the complex needs of the mission are unmatched, just like their deep care and love for the resources under their watch.

Did you know that when you visit a national park area, generally there are different groups of rangers in one of several operational units? 

V&RP rangers carry sidearms, conduct investigations, enforce wildlife, fishing, traffic, and other laws. If a friendly chat doesn’t work, they can issue you a ticket. They provide emergency services; protect geological features; safeguard historical structures and archeological sites; manage aviation, fire, and dispatch activities; and coordinate with local law and judicial offices….and more. 

Full-time Visitor & Resource Protection (V&RP) rangers are commissioned officers. They complete 20 weeks of Academy training and complete a 3-month in-service field training. 

These rangers also have one other unimaginable task when called upon - to locate and carry-out deceased bodies. 

Natural Resource rangers conduct studies on wildlife populations, forests, and grasslands; monitor water and air quality, and research specialized ecosystems such as wetlands, mountaintop glaciers, and reefs. 

They protect resources from threats like invasive species, and work to restore degraded habitats. Cultural Resource rangers identify, preserve, and study a wide range of resources while performing archeological surveys, historic structure preservation, landscapes and viewsheds conservation, museum management, and Tribal consultation. 

These rangers are the parks’ compliance experts. They work to ensure America’s cultural resources and their intrinsic values are available for understanding and enjoyment for future generations … and more. Both groups work with other scientists and local communities to achieve conservation goals.

You’ll meet Interpretation & Visitor Service rangers just about everywhere – at the visitor center front desk, leading a guided walk, providing children’s programs during the day and evening campfire talks to guests at night. 

They stroll the campgrounds, write the park newspaper articles, trail guides and informational brochures; educate visitors on critical resource issues, and recreate some of the most interesting historic demonstrations you’ll ever see. 

They aim to help visitors make connections to the park, its stories and its values … and more. Do you have a question, a lost kid, a broken-down vehicle, need directions or the need to let off some steam – the gray and green Interpretive ranger is there to help … smiling through it all.  

Administration staff are the “behind the scenes” worker bees at every park. All other operational unit depends upon them for managing accounts, human resources, procurement, and IT (computer systems and network infrastructure), as well as overseeing facilities and property inventories. They support park staff in areas like travel, office management and end-of-the-year closeouts.  One of my best friends in any national park area is the budget analysist.

No matter how large, or how small a national park area, they all have facility systems to maintain. There are paved and unpaved roads, parking lots, really unique entrance signs; visitor centers, ranger stations, museums, historic structures, maintenance garages and equipment yards; hiking trails, boardwalks, and horse trails; campgrounds and picnic grounds with restrooms, tables, and fire pits; information signs and wayside exhibits, accessibility features; water, wastewater and fire suppression systems, electrical grids and communications towers. 

Specialized park areas might have shuttle systems and boat docks; research stations and monitoring equipment; sometimes forts and battlefields.  There’s always lots of lawns; and the proverbial cleaning closets with supplies and toilet paper…and more. No wonder the Facility Management units employ the largest number of full-time and seasonal staff. 

Visitor protection (law enforcement) Rangers (NPS file photo)

Management & Supervisor Park Rangers

Historical demonstrator Rangers & volunteers

Seasonal facility management Rangers 

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