The Difficult Aspect Of Becoming A National Park Ranger Most People Don't Realize

In order to operate national parks, there must be people dedicated to preserving the amazing sites and helping guests get the most out of their visits. This is why there are a handful of different types of park rangers working in national parks. For example, some focus on law enforcement while others focus on education. For lovers of the great outdoors all around the world, being a national park ranger sounds like a dream job that millions would love to have. Therefore, becoming a park ranger takes more than nature enthusiasm.

Former park ranger Ash Nudd found the job incredibly rewarding, but explained that the park ranger job market is competitive. Many applicants have academic backgrounds in related fields like environmental science or hold some other college degree. "It's getting pretty hard to get hired in the park service now," Nudd told Business Insider. "You almost need to start with volunteering or an internship or something to get your foot in the door." 

Additionally, knowing exactly what it means to be a park ranger can help you get started.

Park rangers are trained to deal with frustrating or downright scary situations. Think difficult park guests and rescue missions within dangerous terrain. Park ranger Kevin Moses summed it up well when speaking to the National Parks Conservation Association. "We protect the park from the people, the people from the park, and the people from the people," he stated. These are skill sets to consider developing if you want to stand out among the park ranger applicants.

Aside from getting the necessary experience, limited openings for park ranger positions can be a hurdle, too. While thousands of people work for the National Park Service in the United States, not all are actually called park rangers. Some jobs are more like office jobs, as running a national park involves campsite bookings, facility management, finances, and more business-like duties. Other workers conduct vital research for things like park wildlife care. This does not mean that such jobs are less important; it takes a village to keep a national park open for visitors. If you're passionate about national parks and nature conservation, any of these jobs could be that foot in the door that Ash Nudd was talking about.