The Journal of the Association of National Park Rangers Stewards for parks, visitors & each other Vol. 36, No. 2 | Spring 2020 Road map to the future IN THIS ISSUE CONTENTS Spring 2020 President’s message ............................... 3 ANPR Strategic Plan: Road map to the future ........................... 4 ANPR serves rangers and the ranger profession .................................... 6 Wrestling with the paradox: Social science in the national parks.................. 8 9th World Ranger Congress was fulfilling for all .................................10 9th World Ranger Congress keynote reflections ................................11 SAMO youth personify the rangers of the future ..............................12 Changes and challenges A highway for the parks .........................14 Ranger Rendezvous 43 ..........................16 aul Anderson employs an Ben Walsh writes about proposed infographic to illustrate changes in the Federal Employees Professional Ranger ...............................17 Pimportant plans and priorities Retirement System that have the Welcome to the ANPR family ................21 for the Association of National Park potential to impact a large number of Rangers. NPS veterans. Life Century Club.................................. 23 Rebecca Harriett shares inspiring Alan Spears makes the case for a ways the International Ranger comprehensive, concerted effort Federation and World Ranger that focuses on cultural resources Congress delegates work on behalf initiatives, staffing, training, funding of rangers’ changing needs with and expertise. regard to safety, training, resources These articles in this Ranger issue and recognition. point out aspects of an extraordinary Will Rice outlines ways in which period of change and some of the social science is used to balance change agents who are helping to visitor use with resource protection drive positive change. and visitor experience. As you read the issue, think Ana Beatriz Cholo tells readers about how you can participate in how a special program gives young transformative efforts to make the adults access to jobs and a potential National Park Service and National future in the work of preserving and Park System better, now and for protecting natural resources. future NPS employees, visitors and Mark Maciha discusses the citizen “owners.” need for shifts in the approach to seasonal law enforcement training — Ann Dee Allen and funding. Ranger editor ON THE COVER: A research technician administers a survey to evaluate the impacts of road noise on hikers’ experiences in Death Valley National Park, California. Photo by Will Rice LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT Paul Anderson, President ANPR THE JOURNAL OF THE ASSOCIATION OF NATIONAL PARK RANGERS Vol. 36, No. 2 Spring 2020 Ranger (ISSN 1074-0678) is a quarterly publication of the Association of National Park Rangers, an organization ANPR 2020 plans and created to communicate for, about and with National Park Service employees of all disciplines; to promote and enhance the professions, spirit and mission of National Park Service programs gain momentum employees; to support management and the perpetuation of the National Park Service and the National Park System; and to provide a forum for professional enrichment. elcome to Spring! It is an ex- visiting with our partners, NPS leader- In meeting these purposes, the Association provides citing time of year in our na- ship and the assistant secretary for fish education and other training to develop and/or improve tional parks, as many people and wildlife and parks about ANPR’s the knowledge and skills of park professionals and those W interested in the stewardship of national parks; provides a gear up for the busy season. Of course, priority issues. forum for discussion of common concerns of all employees; people in some parks are already in the These issues include: and provides information to the public. middle of their busy seasons. The membership of ANPR is comprised of individuals Your ANPR Board is busy as well. • Improving the seasonal and perma- who are entrusted with and committed to the care, study, nent employee hiring process. explanation and/or protection of those natural, cultural Since we finished the new Strategic Plan and recreational resources included in the National Park in January, the Board has developed an • The NPS effort to reclassify GS/GL System, and persons who support these efforts. annual work plan to help us address and 0025 park ranger law enforcement ANPR business address P.O. Box 151432, Alexandria, positions into the GS 1801 Inspec- VA 22315-9998, anpr.org. Members receive Ranger as part achieve our strategic goals for this year. of their membership dues. See the website or Ranger for The work plan lays out the actions, tion, Investigation, Enforcement and Compliance job series and the membership/subscription details. deadlines and commitments each Board FINAL DEADLINES potential impacts on rangers’ careers member has made to accomplishing our and the NPS mission. Spring issue ..................................................Jan. 31 strategic goals, and it is an impressive Summer issue ............................................. April 30 commitment. As you read through our • How ANPR can work cooperatively Fall issue .......................................................July 31 with NPS Learning and Develop- Winter issue ................................................Nov. 15 Strategic Plan goals, think about how ment to provide high-quality train- you might want to help us accomplish ing not currently provided by NPS. them, and then contact Jonathan Shafer, [email protected], to sign up for A side benefit of the trip is that a committee that will work on the goal everyone we talked to – including the of your choice. We need your help! assistant secretary, acting director and As you will read in this issue of WASO program managers – expressed Ranger, ANPR was well represented their support for the upcoming Ranger BOARD OF DIrectors at the 9th World Ranger Congress in Rendezvous 43 in Florida. We also re- Officers President Paul Anderson, RETI Nepal. It was the largest World Ranger ceived enthusiastic responses from those Past President Jan Lemons, NCRO Congress ever and attendees report that we invited to speak at Rendezvous. Secretary Lauren Koplin, DINO it was a truly exciting, motivating and We also spoke with Acting NPS Treasurer Bill Wade, RETI memorable experience. Director David Vela about his desire to Board Members engage with ANPR. All agreed that em- Education & Training Kayla Sanders, EVER ANPR was a founding member of Fundraising Activities Jeanette Meleen, WIHO the International Ranger Federation, ployees’ well-being deserves to be a top Internal Communications Elsa Hansen, SEUG and our members have served in the priority for both NPS and ANPR. Membership Services Reghan Tank, XNPS Going forward, we will work to help Professional Issues Tim Moore, NAMA roles of president and other leadership Seasonal Perspectives Lauren DeGennaro, MISS positions through the years. We intend implement the recently announced Strategic Planning Jonathan Shafer, NCRO to continue our active involvement in NPSNext initiative. We will share more Government Affairs Rebecca Harriett, RETI international ranger programs, with information about ANPR’s role and Staff Meg Weesner at the helm of the ANPR the actions we are taking in support of Membership Services Chris Reinhardt International Programs Committee. NPSNext in the months ahead. Ranger Magazine I hope you enjoy the Spring issue of Editor/Publisher Ann Dee Allen While the next World Ranger Graphic Design Sherry Albrecht Congress will not occur until 2022, Ranger magazine. I wish you the very Professional Ranger section there will still be plenty of opportunities best for a wonderful, safe and successful Cultural resources Alan Spears, NPCA to get involved. If you would like to Spring and Summer in the parks! Harry Yount Award JT Townsend, RETI volunteer, please contact Meg Weesner. Focus Curt Dimmick, MORA — Paul Law enforcement Mark Maciha, NAU ANPR’s Bill Wade and I spent a ANPR President Government affairs Ben Walsh, XNPS week in January in Washington, D.C. Copyright © 2020. All rights reserved. Articles and images in this publication are the sole property of ANPR and Ranger magazine, except where otherwise indicated. Republication in whole or part is not allowed without written permission. RANGER • Spring 2020 u 3 ANPR STRATEGIC PLAN Board members organized our findings and ideas into an 18-page Strategic Plan. The plan lays out all of the things we are Road map to the now working to accomplish. The most important concepts members identified are all reflected in the plan. We know ANPR needs to advocate for better ranger housing, improvements in seasonal and permanent hiring, and high-quality training for all NPS employees. Now we future have a plan to work toward making those By Paul Anderson things happen. JOIN US IN THIS EFFORT To help define the mile markers that will show our progress during Strategic Plan implementation, I held hour-long calls with every member of the Board and the ANPR business manager. We talked about how each of us will take the lead to accomplish our parts of the plan in 2020. Check the monthly ANPR e-newsletter for an online link to the work plan we produced as a result of these meet- ings. Please take the opportunity to look at what your Board members are working to accomplish for you and other members. Think about how you can contribute your