The Ranger Desk
Protect parks. Protect park rangers.
Recent Essays
Asian American and Pacific Islander heritage is celebrated in America's national parks. Here are three such parks, and links to many more.
A written snapshot of a solar eclipse. That day we felt aligned with our earth, with our sky, and all the wonders they both provide.
People are not a plague on the Earth. We are not a disease; we are ill, infected with a sense that we are not natural, that we don't belong.
Eliza Scidmoore is one of countless forgotten women who helped create a healthier environment and some of our favorite parks.
Being a park ranger is not as dangerous as people think, but it can be. My most dangerous ranger job was climbing the side of a cruise ship.
Completely unique, Reelfoot Lake State Park has bizarre origins, shallow waters, odd-looking trees, and some spectacular eagle viewing.
One man had a dream: the civil rights journey may be ongoing, but the Lorraine Motel is today a signpost, reminding us how far we’ve come.
"You're so brave!" is a common phrase said to women who camp or travel alone. It says more about the people saying it than it does about us.
Learn what an interpretive theme is and what it isn't. A theme is not a topic. A theme is the glue that binds the topics together.
Featured Essay
Ever wonder what the differences are between seasonal and permanent rangers? In this month’s featured essay, former Ranger Stephanie explains the differences and how they impacted her ranger career.
Acadia National Park was the first national park east of the Mississippi River and remains the only national park in the northeastern US.
César E. Chávez National Monument oversees property donated by the Chávez family, including César and his wife Helen's home and gravesites.
The mountain forests of Mexico's Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve attract millions of butterflies each winter.
Valley of Fire State Park, the largest state park in Nevada, is renowned for its colorful rock formations, petroglyphs, and scenic highway.
Attracting half a million visitors a year despite its remote location, Big Bend is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Texas.
Minidoka is a national historic site that memorializes the unfair treatment of Japanese Americans and their internment during World War II.
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Popular Essays
Interested in US national parks? What about living a wild life? Get started with these popular essays.
Want more? Peruse an archive of All Essays.
Stephanie McCullough
A former US national park ranger with a master’s degree in environmental education, I created The Ranger Desk to share my passion for national parks and the natural world.