When you hear that it is World Ranger Day on July 31 you probably do not think of “Park ranger” at first. More likely, you may have visions of army rangers, New York Rangers, or Texas rangers. World Ranger Day is not about sports or military heroes. On this day, we pay tribute to park rangers (also known as forest rangers) — the noteless heroes who protect, preserve, and safeguard the shrinking wilderness land resources of America. We commemorate rangers who have lost their lives while performing their duty. The majority of us can easily picture that park ranger collecting entrance fees and verifying passes at an entrance booth of a national park, or the forest ranger discussing conservation and interpreting wildlife as they guide visitors on tours. But few among us are apprised of how frequently a park ranger’s duties bring him or her one-on-one with dangers inherent to their occupation.
History
In 2004, documentary filmmaker and conservationist Sean Willmore made it his mission to bring real-life stories of the plight of park rangers into the public spotlight through the lens of a camera as he was concerned about the lack of respect for and awareness of the dangers that park rangers encounter worldwide. Willmore was a park ranger himself and he spent nearly one whole year interviewing rangers in 23 countries, exposing and recording moving stories of service and sacrifice for the documentary film which was called “The Thin Green Line.”
This film premiered in 2007 and since then has been viewed by people in around 50 countries, restoring pride, dignity, and hope to park rangers across the world. The documentary provides a rare peek into the day-to-day lives of park rangers, sharing the sacrifices they and their families make among typical risks they take every day. The film became the motivation for Sean Willmore to establish The Thin Green Line Foundation, nowadays the authorized charity arm of the International Rangers Federation, or IRF, which was founded in 1992. Together the two organizations work to provide support and assistance to families of rangers who have died or been injured in the line of duty, similar to the organizations that support the families of fallen firefighters and police officers.
In 2007, The International Rangers Federation and The Thin Green Line Foundation joined forces to celebrate the first World Ranger Day in appreciation of the 15th anniversary of the founding of the International Rangers Foundation. World Ranger Day brings to the attention the men and women who have dedicated their lives to protecting and maintaining our parks, forests, and preserves, and honors the fallen rangers who have lost their lives while serving. In 2011, well-known primatologist, conservationist, and anthropologist Dr. Jane Goodall became the ambassador for The Thin Green Line Foundation. Dr. Goodall vigorously promotes World Ranger Day to draw attention to the critical role park rangers play in preserving and protecting the natural resources and wildlife of our planet.
Park rangers serve as cultural historians, environmentalists, and law enforcement officers. Despite their main role, all rangers are the first line of defense in protecting natural resources, wildlife, and ecosystems within the national, state, and local parks, while providing the safety of park visitors. Rangers live, work, and sometimes die while endangering their lives to defend wildlife habitats from poachers and other threats from human-like wildfires caused by reckless behavior. On any given day, a ranger may be required to intercept poachers and smugglers, suppress wildfires, confiscate firearms, stop thefts of timber and cultural objects of historical significance, and prevent illegal grazing of livestock on federal lands. When park visitors are lost, injured, or trapped rangers are always the first responders who perform dangerous and daring rescues by land, sea, or air. As a matter of fact, nonprofit groups report that during the past ten years, over one thousand park rangers have been killed while performing their duty.
Timeline of World Ranger Day
1872 (First Official National Park was opened) – President Ulysses S. Grant designated Yosemite National Park as a National Park.
1891 (U.S. Army Troops Served as Rangers) – The official administrator of Yosemite and Sequoia National Parks became the U.S. Army.
1992 (Milestone) – The International Rangers Foundation [IRF] was founded.
2007 (Movie Premiere) – The documentary “The Thin Green Line” was released.
FAQs about World Ranger Day
Are Park Rangers police officers?
Municipal parks departments, state park systems, and the National Park Service (NPS) employ rangers to serve in a variety of roles. The primary duty of all rangers is to protect and preserve the park and its guests, although not all rangers are law enforcement officers. Some rangers serve as law enforcement rangers as they are trained specifically, they have the same powers and duties as officers of the city, county, and state law enforcement including writing citations and making arrests.
What do Park Rangers do each day?
Depending on the park where they are employed and the specific roles for which they are trained and qualified, park rangers perform a wide range of duties. A primary duty of all rangers is enforcing park regulations and rules. Rangers usually spend a large amount of time communicating with park visitors as mediators between humans and nature. Within the park they serve, rangers who are environmental experts or historians give group tours and make presentations for visitor programs, describing the historic or cultural points of interest.
Do all rangers work in parks?
Some rangers are assigned to duties at national monuments, historic battlefields and trails, and other sites of state or federal historic importance. So, not all park rangers work in parks. National Park Service rangers can be found at national rivers and seashores. It is a huge honor to be assigned to serve on the grounds neighboring the White House in Washington, D.C.
Read about various National Days here
How To Pay Tribute To Rangers On World Ranger Day?
Honor our fallen ranger heroes
On this day, pause for some time for reflection, prayer, or thought to the remembrance of the more than one thousand park rangers who since 2009 have lost their lives in the line of duty. Using social media posts and special World Ranger Day resources available online from The Thin Green Line Foundation and International Ranger Federation websites and social media accounts you are able to encourage others to find out about and pay homage to these fallen heroes. On the foundation’s website, the names of the fallen rangers are available as a downloadable Honor Roll.
Become a junior ranger
It is never too late to take the National Park Ranger Pledge to learn, explore, and protect our national parks as a junior ranger. To take the pledge and live the dream yourself, World Ranger Day is the perfect day for it. Anyone can participate in the activity program regardless of the fact that it is specifically oriented toward youth aged between five to 13. The majority of National Parks offer young visitors the opportunity to become junior rangers. Junior rangers must take an oath to protect and learn about parks, and share their own ranger story with family and friends.
Visit a park to express gratitude toward rangers
World Ranger Day is a good day to visit a park and express gratitude toward the rangers who ensure our safety while enjoying our nation’s parks. Ask the rangers how your family, school, church, school, or civic group can actively take part in special projects and events throughout the year.
5 Dangerous Things park rangers Encounter
1) Arrests
For misdemeanors or felonies, rangers make physical arrests.
2) Investigations
Criminal investigations are often conducted by rangers.
3) Confiscations
Rangers are authorized to confiscate firearms.
4) Interceptions
Poachers and smugglers are regularly apprehended by rangers.
5) Rescues
Land, water, and air search-and-rescue missions are often performed by rangers.
Why Is the World Ranger Day Important?
It honors fallen rangers and their families
More than 1,000 rangers died in the line of duty from 2009 to 2020. This day reminds us to never take park rangers for granted as these selfless, courageous men and women make sacrifices every day.
Spreading awareness on this day inspires others
This day raises awareness of the outstanding contributions rangers make every day. Through the selfless sacrifices of these guardians of our parks and forests, people become inspired to be better caretakers of the earth.
World Ranger Day inspires the next generation of park rangers
young people are encouraged by the activities and educational programs of World Ranger Day to consider careers as park and forest rangers. Reaching these forthcoming guardians of our planet’s natural resources today is vital for the ongoing preservation of our national, state park, and forest treasures in the future.
