A park ranger is a professional who is responsible for protecting and preserving parklands, including national, state, provincial, or local parks. The duties of a park ranger are varied and diverse, and they may serve as law enforcement officers, environmental experts, historians, or a combination of the three. Park rangers are responsible for protecting the natural resources, ecosystems, and wildlife within parks, as well as the people who visit them. They may work for municipal parks departments, state parks systems, or for the National Park Service (NPS) . Some of the duties and operations that park rangers may perform include:

• The park’s operations
• Interpretation
• Resource protection/management
• Patrol/law enforcement
• Public safety
• Giving private and group tours to visitors
• Designing and implementing park lectures for schools and other community or social groups
• Preparing exhibits and information materials
• Developing conservation programs
• Leading nature tours
• Studying wildlife behavior

Park rangers may work in a variety of environments, including woodlands, forests, and conservatories. They may also work in an amazing range and variety of locations, from the Park Ranger who greets visitors at the gate to the Superintendent managing multiple large parks. The ideal candidate for a park ranger position is personable, well-informed, and passionate about protecting and promoting national parks and natural and cultural history. They should also be proficient in more than one discipline, as the profession includes a number of disciplines and specializations.