asktheranger

• About Me

  When I was 14 yrs old my parents took us camping to a family reunion at Tenderfoot Campground in Dillon, Colorado.  It was a large family gathering and our parents were very busy so our persistent questions about the flora, fauna and history of the area generated an "ask the ranger" response.  The Forest Service seasonal ranger was named Johnny Maple(I am not making this up) and in our eyes he knew "everything"!  He so inspired me that at the end of our stay there I told my parents that I was going to become a park ranger so I could help people in the parks.  Five years later I began working seasonally in Yellowstone while studying Parks and Recreation Management at Michigan State.  I worked for the National Park Service and the Dept of Interior for 34 years and did my best to live up to the standard set by Johnny Maple.  This blog is intended to continue that effort to help others understand and appreciate America's natural and cultural heritage.  I will try to answer questions on America's heritage either directly or by finding the answer when I don't know.  Perhaps along the way we can share ideas about conserving America's heritage and inspire the next generation of rangers.

• Recent Stories

  • Hope
  • Courage Under Fire
  • Political Promises
  • Snowbirds for sure
  • View from the Skyline
  • Charlottesville Downtown Mall
  • Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia
  • Spring Primary
  • Mt Rushmore Trip Day 5
  • Mt Rushmore Day 4

  View all of asktheranger's Stories

• Friends and Family

• Favorite Stories

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• Contact Information

  
  
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