The Ranger Desk
Protect parks. Protect park rangers.
Recent Essays
When you need help, tell people. When I was injured and limping on trail, I asked strangers for help. What happened next surprised us both.
Butterflies, children, and guns. How a terrified child's question about butterflies changed the way I thought about migration and borders.
Why are there no stupid questions to ask a park ranger? Because the biggest questions provide the biggest opportunities to learn.
I quit the national park service for the same reason I became a ranger in the first place: to find and do what makes me happy.
Naturalist gatekeeping can frighten people away from trying new things. Lets encourage beginners to love what we love, not shame them.
This land tells a story: Booker T. Washington National Monument. Stand in the spot where a family of slaves learned that they were free.
Discover where to stop on the Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia. Ten scenic stops and hikes along the parkway's northern section.
Why I became a Wilderness First Responder: how a scary accident taught me that doing your best is always enough.
Learn the twelve must-haves for your wilderness first aid kit, including items not found in a traditional first aid kit.
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.
Craters of the Moon is known for its ancient lava formations, including some of the largest open rift cracks in the world.
At nearly 45,000 sq km, Wood Buffalo National Park is larger than Switzerland and the second largest national park in the world.
Independence National Historical Park is made up of several sites important to the founding of the United States.
Slide Rock State Park is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Arizona and regularly makes national lists of favorite water holes.
Dry Tortugas National Park is both an American cultural and natural treasure. It's home to the famed Fort Jefferson.
In 2016, the Stonewall Inn was declared a national monument, making it the first US national park site dedicated to LGBTQ+ rights.
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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.