Season 2016 Partner Parks Announced!

The ProRanger Program is pleased to welcome Cohort 5 to the program.  We are also pleased to announce the participating parks for Summer 2016!

Cohort 5
Angelo Algeri
Nicholas Gosik
Stephanie Hudson
Seth Jaworski
Taylor Johnson
Shauni Kerkhoff
Brennan McAuley
Justen Williams

New Parks to the ProRanger Program
Big Cypress National Preserve
Buffalo National River
Christiansted National Historic Site
Cumberland Island National Seashore
Ozark National Scenic River
San Juan National Historic Site
Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area
Virgin Islands National Park

Returning Partner Parks
Antietam National Battlefield
Boston National Historical Park
Colonial National Historical Park
Fire Island National Seashore
Gettysburg National Military Park
Independence National Historical Park
Shenandoah National Park
Manassas National Battlefield Park
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
Valley Forge National Historical Park
Yosemite National Park

Check back soon for updates from our new ProRangers and announcements about Summer 2016 park assignments.

Horsing Around

I was scrolling through photos of my summer internship at Manassas National Battlefield Park and came across several photos of the horses at the park that I had a chance to work with. At MANA, a Law Enforcement ranger runs the mounted patrol program. He works closely with the horses day in and day out. He trains, cares for, and maintains the horses and their stables. As well as training volunteers that go out on rides to get the horses some exercise. 

I personally have never worked with horses. I had never ridden one, fed one, or knew any sort a caring techniques for a horse. Well, that all changed this past summer. When I first arrived at the park a ranger met me at the law enforcement office, which happened to be attached to the horse stables. The ranger I was meeting was going to show me where I would be staying for the summer, but before we left the Law Enforcement office he gave me a quick tour, which led to the stables and began introducing me to each of the four horses MANA has. He handed me a snack to give the horse and I stared at him with a wide-eyed expression and he gave me my first lesson of how to feed a horse.

My Chief made it my duty to feed the horses each morning whenever I arrived at the Law Enforcement office. It was an interesting experience learning how to work around such a large animal of that size, and learning to control any signs of being nervous around them. I helped "muck stales"with my Chief, disposing the animal waste and placing down new straw for the horses. Taking care of these horses and keeping the program running takes a lot of work and dedication. Manassas is not just a place for lovers of history to visit and enjoy, but a place of recreation that many local residents go to run, walk, hike, and even go on rides with their horses. 

Frankie the Horse

Ginny the Horse

Can't forget Sadie the Cat, the mascot of Manassas!

To the new ProRanger Cohort, welcome and remember to take on every new experience you can get out of your summer internships and the classes at Temple. This program has a lot to offer, it is up to you what you make of it.

Watching the Seasons Change

I was just thinking to myself as I took notice of the leaves changing their colors how beautiful Shenandoah National Park would be this time of the year. Whether you're taking a drive along the Skyline or going for a hike in the back country to spot rattlesnakes and waterfalls it's a beautiful sight. I was stationed at Manassas National Battlefield Park, but I was less than an hour away from the North entrance of Shenandoah through the small town of Front Royal. Midway through my summer experience my Chief thought it would be great if I could take the Wildland Fire course, S-130/190 at Shenandoah NP where it would be taught. Luckily with a couple phone calls and a few forms to fill out I would be staying just outside the park for the 4-day training to receive my Red card along with a seasonal maintenance worker at MANA.
We spent three days in a classroom going over basics and essential tools used on a fire, and the last day was spent in the field getting to use the equipment and understanding how to deploy your shelter in a matter of seconds. Not only did the training teach me about wild land firefighting, but in order to go on this training I had the opportunity to work closely with Manassas's administration staff. I was fortunate enough for them to support me going on the training and help teach me about how to send someone out on a training or even on a fire, as well how one would get paid or reimbursed during such an event.
Overall I had a great time at Shenandoah, getting the chance to meet other people working in the park and seeing Shenandoah in a different way rather than from a visitor perspective. A way in such that can help protect and prevent the spread of fire throughout the park if such an unfortunate incident ever took place.

Here we are all lined up, each ready to head out into the woods to do
some practical training with different tools.

       

Myself, in (borrowed) Personal Protective Equipment.

Seasonal Maintenance employee at MANA, Christian, carrying the leaf blower.

Digging a line.

Not only is the leaf blower used to help control and reduce fire in the field,
but also used to simulate the rough wind speeds of fire rolling over a deployed shelter. 

Saying goodbye to Shenandoah NP.

Manassas National Battlefield Park

My name is Daniel Bussell, I am currently in Temple University's ProRanger Program and spent my summer internship at Manassas National Battlefield Park. After my long struggle and not-so tech savvy skills I have finally made it onto to blog about my experience. I had an excellent time in Virginia and was sad to go. My supervisor and Chief Ranger of Manassas, Mark Howard, provided me with copious amounts of opportunities to attend trainings and refreshers. Through each department, I was welcomed with open arms to teach me more about the roles of their jobs in the park service, from natural resources to administration.
I was given the opportunity to attend Chainsaw Safety, Maintenance, and Operation certification the first week I was at the park. It was a great way to meet the staff of the park, and the volunteers that help maintain it. After receiving my certification in CSMO, it allowed me to work and help with the Fuel Reduction teams. Fuel Reduction projects are areas that are mapped out in the park that have a high potential of wild land fire fuel. We would work to clear and chip fallen trees and branches. We worked to drop every tree to the ground that sat elevated because of the higher chance of drying out and potentially becoming a greater source of fuel to a fire.
Thanks for reading, plenty more to come!

A class photo after we all successfully passed our certification.

Maintenance worker and head of Fuel Reduction crew James Riddick runs over the mapped fuel reduction zones for the areas to be covered with Natural Resource's Allison Sloop.

Fuel Reduction Crew

2015 Participating Parks and Assignments

ProRanger interns will be heading out to their parks in June.  We are excited to announce our participating parks and intern assignments for summer 2015:

Assateague Island National Seashore - Kathryn Yody
Boston National Historical Park - Brittany Kriner
Colonial National Historical Park - Hannah Sender
Fire Island National Seashore - Nicholas Fitzke
Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine - Jessica Bustamante
Gettysburg National Military Park - Isaiah Lewis
Independence National Historical Park - John Hesdon
Manassas National Battlefield Park - Daniel Bussell
Monocacy National Battlefield - Timothy Greene
Sleeping Bear Dune National Lakeshore - Julia
Valley Forge National Historical Park - Kelly Tascarella
Yosemite National Park - Kelechi Akabogu

ProRanger Orientation and Leadership Camp took place from May 11-May 15th.    Look for posts and photos from the ProRangers about their experiences at leadership camp and their parks coming soon.