The Association of National Park Rangers (ANPR) is committed to promoting an equitable and transparent federal hiring process. In recent weeks, ANPR become aware of concerns over the rollout of USA Hire, a supplementary assessment designed to "measure general competencies and soft skills critical to the job".

We need your assistance to ensure we are informed on this topic.

If you are a hiring official or job seeker, your feedback on our brief survey would be invaluable in helping us address these concerns. Please select one of buttons below to anonymously share your story.

As once characterized by a former NPS Chief Ranger, the job of a National Park Service Protection Park Ranger is threefold:

1. Protect the parks from the people;
2. Protect the people from the people;
3. Protect the people from the parks;

...using the lowest level of enforcement necessary to achieve these goals.

The NPS Protection Park Ranger serves as a multi-skilled guardian of our most sacred special places, and the visitors and employees who live, work and visit these natural and cultural wonders. They are more than just federal law enforcement officers, and their job series, GS 0025, was specifically developed to reflect these special requirements.

National Park Service Protection Rangers are a special breed of individual. Unlike any other federal law enforcement officer, NPS Protection Rangers not only perform the full range of professional law enforcement responsibilities, but they are also called upon to provide EMT and paramedic level emergency medical services, structural and wildland fire suppression, technical rescue in swift water and on high angle cliffs, wilderness and urban search for lost and missing individuals, natural and cultural resource protection, public health inspections, and many other duties. They are often called upon to use their interpersonal skills to prevent and stop violations of law and regulations through effective education and persuasion.

Thus, in 2019, when the NPS, in response to a Fish and Wildlife Service human resources audit, considered reclassifying all NPS protection rangers into the same series as customs and border enforcement agents. ANPR worked collaboratively with NPS management to demonstrate that narrowing protection rangers’ focus to inspection, investigation, and enforcement would be counterproductive to successfully accomplishing the NPS mission.

ANPR has been deeply involved in the evolution of the Park Ranger Protection job series over many decades. ANPR was instrumental in establishing the park rangers’ training program at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) and also successfully advocated on behalf of protection rangers’ eligibility for 6(c) Law Enforcement Retirement. ANPR believes it is essential that law enforcement rangers be trained to a high standard and properly prepared to justly enforce the law. ANPR also believes that NPS law enforcement should be done by multi-skilled Park Protection Rangers, and that retaining them in the GS 0025 job series is essential to accomplishing the NPS mission. We are pleased to share the January 24, 2021, memo from the Acting Associate Director for Workforce and Inclusion reaffirming that position on behalf of the NPS.

On January 6th, I was disgusted to see the lawlessness and disorder around and in our nation’s Capitol. Besides the sad spectacle of watching lawmakers run for cover, I was shaken as violent protestors assaulted federal staff and defiled our halls of government. The protestors’ unpardonable behavior constituted an attack not only on the Capitol Building but also on our government and our democracy.

Every Federal employee swears an oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United States, and I know thousands of park rangers are faithfully discharging that duty today.

It’s because I know that oath is vital to rangers in every park that I wanted to write on behalf of the Association of National Park Rangers to express gratitude to National Park Service staff across the United States and especially in Washington, D.C. who are sacrificing to fulfill it.

The work rangers do is essential to maintaining our national parks and our democracy. We all owe a debt to rangers who put themselves in harm’s way to justly enforce the law and contribute to the preservation, protection, and defense of our country’s most treasured places.

Paul Anderson
President
Association of National Park Rangers

The Civil Service Oath of Office

“I, ___, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. So help me God.”

On December 4, 2020, the following letter was sent from the Association of National Park Rangers to Ms. Shannon Estenoz, member of the Biden Administration's Transition Team.

The Association of National Park Rangers (ANPR) has decided it’s time for some good news in 2020. Set a calendar reminder for October 15-18 because that’s when ANPR will host our annual Ranger Rendezvous online for the first time! Going online will help us to reach more Rangers and at a lower cost than ever before, and the Rendezvous 43.0 Planning Committee is working hard to make attending fun, affordable, and easy.

Rendezvous presentations are always meaningful, and this year’s presenters will engage important topics that are relevant for NPS employees in every division. We want you to help us let NPS employees know about the event (#RR43.0, #RangerRendezvous) and donate if you can help early career ANPR members attend.

We will share the event program soon. Check the Ranger Rendezvous 43.0 website to see updates, follow us on Facebook, subscribe to get our newsletter, and look for important updates in Ranger Magazine.

Earlier this summer, ANPR’s Board of Directors made the decision to cancel the in-person Ranger Rendezvous 43. This marks the first time since 1999 that the event will not be held in-person. “While we’re disappointed that we won’t be able to meet in one place with our friends from across the National Park Service, we’re glad this latest ‘unprecedented message’ of 2020 offers a new opportunity for all of our members,” ANPR President, Paul Anderson, said.

ANPR is concurrently planning Ranger Rendezvous 44 which is scheduled for October 2021 in Jacksonville, Florida. Before changes necessitated by COVID-19, ANPR had planned to host this year’s Rendezvous in Jacksonville.

ANPR to give free memberships to National Park Service employees displaced by COVID-19

Through the generous support of an anonymous donor, the Association of National Park Rangers (ANPR) is offering free annual membership to every National Park Service (NPS) employee who had a job offer delayed or withdrawn due to COVID-19.

“ANPR knows COVID-19 has caused big changes for everyone who works for the National Park Service, and we have been disappointed to learn that some of those changes have included delaying or cancelling job offers to many employees,” said President Paul Anderson. “These changes create uncertainty for hardworking NPS staff and limit parks’ ability to provide essential services to visitors.”

ANPR knows visitors count on NPS staff to orient them at visitor centers and fee booths, enforce the rules that keep park resources safe, clean and repair park facilities, provide interpretive programs, and complete scientific research that helps the NPS protect parks.

All NPS employees and especially seasonals count on work in parks not only as a means of support but also to develop the skills and professional relationships that enhance their service in the National Park System.

If you are a displaced NPS employee:

ANPR knows it is hard to be separated from the parks we love and the work you were counting on. The NPS seasonal and permanent staff parks hire today will be the service's backbone tomorrow. We want to support you in this difficult time, and we are here to help.

Fill out our form, and you will be entitled to all the benefits of an annual membership in our organization.

ANPR always has and always will support those who pursue ranger careers, and we’re proud to have you join us.

The Association of National Park Rangers is extending its offer of free membership to National Park Service employees’ whose jobs were affected by COVID-19. These rangers have until 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time on Sunday, July 12, 2020 to sign up.

Since enrollment opened this June, ANPR has welcomed more than 80 new members who would have worked in the divisions of administration, interpretation, law enforcement, and resource management at more than 40 parks across the United States.

“This response is exactly what we’d hoped for,” ANPR President, Paul Anderson, said. “ANPR is working with our new members to provide meaningful opportunities to develop skills, discuss the state of park management, and make professional connections. Not being in a park is definitely a loss, but we’re working to connect our members, and most especially seasonals, with tools that keep them ready to get back out in the field.”

ANPR knows visitors count on NPS staff to orient them at visitor centers and fee booths, enforce the rules that keep park resources safe, clean and repair park facilities, provide interpretive programs, and complete scientific research that helps the NPS protect parks across the country.

All NPS employees, and especially seasonals, count on work in parks not only as a means of support but also to develop the skills and professional relationships that enhance their service in the National Park System.

If you are a displaced NPS employee:

ANPR knows it is hard to be separated from the parks we love and the work you were counting on. ANPR will support you in this difficult time, and want you to know we are here to help.

Fill out our form by July 10, 2020 and you will be entitled to all the benefits of an annual membership!

ANPR always has and always will support those who pursue ranger careers, and we’re proud to have you join us.

If you want to support displaced employees:

You can help ANPR support the enrollment of new members by gifting a membership. Use our gift member enrollment page and simply type “COVID-19” in all of the boxes coded for the gift membership recipient.

Dear ANPR family,

As we near almost a month of sheltering in our homes due to COVID-19, know that each of you is on our minds. We hope to meet again in happier and healthier times. During this crisis, your ANPR Board of Directors has been working to ensure that the support we provide to our ranger community doesn’t waver, not even during a pandemic. But we need your help!

In years past, ANPR has held an annual fall fundraising campaign as its primary fundraising event of the year outside of the Ranger Rendezvous. In 2019, the Board of Directors proposed holding a spring fundraising campaign, thinking that the springtime might find more rangers in a better situation to give rather than the fall, preceding the holiday season. Turns out, we were wrong! The situation we are all in now was never on our radar in 2019. Despite this, we are still having a fundraising drive, from April 15 – May 31. Many ANPR members are working both from home and in parks to ensure they remain protected. Rangers don’t stop, and neither should our support. Pandemics aren’t permanent.

In times like these, we want to do as much as we can to help with the current crisis, and being stuck at home can be a hindrance to this. But small actions can make a big difference! ANPR is 646 members strong. If each of you gives a small gift, it will help ANPR immensely in 2020. Here’s what your donation will accomplish:

1. Helping us publish four issues of the professional Ranger magazine. At a time where the ranger community must support one another, Ranger can help bring us closer together.
2. Funding the Bill Supernaugh memorial scholarship. How many of you attended your first rendezvous with the help of this scholarship? Help other rangers attend their first Rendezvous and make lasting connections.
3. Reviving ANPR’s oral history project at the upcoming Ranger Rendezvous 43. On this 100th anniversary year of the passage of the 19th amendment, NPS Historians Lu Ann Jones and Brenna Lissoway will travel to rendezvous to resume this project where women’s stories will be collected and recorded, providing training and inspiration for young rangers.
4. Boosting our membership numbers. Give a gift membership, either digital or full, and help expand our ranger community and make us stronger.

Go to anpr.org/fundraiser where you will have the opportunity to donate to a project of your choice. Then watch for weekly updates on Facebook to see which projects are getting the most support! Contributions are tax deductible to the fullest extent allowed by the law, and we will send you an acknowledgment letter for tax purposes. ANY amount you can give is appreciated!

Once again, we realize that these are worrying times, and again, you are in our thoughts. ANPR remains steadfast in its commitment to you and the important work you are doing for our parks. Please consider making a gift to ensure ANPR can come out of this stronger, like all of us. Thank you.

Paul Anderson
ANPR President

I’m sure I don’t have to tell you the last couple of weeks have been stressful. As we all grapple with the spread of coronavirus, we can take heart knowing that National Park Service employees are still serving our country on the front lines protecting parks and helping people. Now, more than ever, they deserve our thanks and our support.

The Association of National Park Rangers (ANPR) appreciates the actions the National Park Service has taken to slow the spread of the coronavirus. Though the response has been slow and halting at times, limiting access to facilities and closing parks is the right way to protect park employees and those who would have traveled to visit them. Now, ANPR supports empowering rangers to make decisions that are best for their communities and their families.

Rangers are members of close knit, park communities, and we want to support them as they take action to do their jobs and to keep themselves, their families, and visitors healthy and safe. We support the National Park Service’s flexibility in allowing telework, and we encourage the Service to be more forthcoming with policies to approve appropriate kinds of leave for employees who cannot perform their duties remotely or whose lives are being upended by the closure of schools or the sickness of family and neighbors in their communities.

At this time of year, our park communities typically grow as the National Park Service hires seasonal rangers to work on roads and trails, in park entrance stations, at visitor centers, and on patrols or surveys all over park lands. ANPR urges the National Park Service to honor its commitments to this year’s seasonal hires. We know the seasonals you hire today will be the service's backbone tomorrow. Breaking promises to employ them would needlessly throw their lives into disarray and be a wasteful disinvestment in the National Park Service's future.

I say this because ANPR always has and always will support those who pursue ranger careers. With that in mind:

If You Are A Park Ranger

We’ve got your back. We want to help and support all rangers. We know the rangers who study animals or plants, repair roads, lead hikes, administer park operations, and enforce the law are the soul of the National Park Service. We support keeping rangers healthy and want to make sure the National Park Service does everything it can to follow public health experts’ guidance in making decisions that might put you in harm’s way. If you are worried about what’s happening in your park, get in touch so we can talk about it. We want to know and share your stories.

If You Are A Park Manager

We know you are concerned about your staff, your park, and the visitors who travel to see both. We want you to know that you are not alone. If you feel overwhelmed or need someone to talk to, reach out to me, and I’ll connect you with an ANPR member who’s been there and who can share advice and some words of comfort.

If You Are A Park Visitor & Supporter

As parks take action to combat the spread of coronavirus, it’s more important than ever that you consider when and whether to visit a park. In order to avoid bringing the virus to small, isolated communities and to avoid taxing already strained rangers, consider delaying your visits to parks and planning for a visit later instead. Today there are many wonderful ways to enjoy your national parks using digital tools. Most of your favorite parks have multimedia resources available on their websites and accessible on social media. Take advantage of these great opportunities!

Parks aren’t going anywhere, and we aren’t either. Stick to planning your visit today so we can all enjoy the parks tomorrow. Waiting to visit until after the COVID-19 pandemic subsides will help ensure that you are able to travel safely and that the rangers you meet will stay healthy and ready to host you.

It takes everyone working together to keep our parks safe. Whether you work in maintenance, interpretation, law enforcement, natural and cultural resources, administration, business management or any of our many other disciplines, you play a vital role in protecting our parks and park visitors. Thank you for everything you are doing during this critical time! I am humbled to be president of the Association of National Park Rangers representing you and serving as your advocate.

Thank you for that trust and opportunity. We’ll all get through this together.

Please take care of yourselves and your coworkers. Be safe! Stay healthy!

Paul Anderson
ANPR President

ANPR’s Ranger Rendezvous Planning Committee is monitoring the status of the spread of COVID-19 around the world and now across the United States. While it is impossible to predict whether the virus will pose a threat in October, as the committee plans for panels and other events at the conference, we will also continue to monitor guidance from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and state and local health authorities in the months leading up to Rendezvous. We will share more information as the situation develops.

The Association of National Park Rangers (ANPR) is recruiting for the part-time position of Editor-Publisher of its quarterly professional publication – Ranger Magazine. The position requirements are:

• Provide all editorial, design and production responsibilities, normally associated with magazine production, for four issues per year (quarterly - 24 to 28 pages each) of Ranger Magazine, the journal of the Association of National Park Rangers (ANPR).
• Coordinate with ANPR Editorial Advisor to develop the general plan of contents of each issue of the magazine, solicit articles, photos and other input for the publication.
• Design or create graphics to meet specific visual identity needs, such as packaging, displays or logos. Determine layout designs. Determine size, quality and arrangement of illustrative matter, select style and size of type. Use computer software to generate new images.
• Read, evaluate and edit manuscripts or other materials submitted for publication and confer with authors regarding changes in content and style. Verify facts, dates and statistics, using standard reference sources. Read copy or proof to detect and correct errors in spelling, punctuation and syntax. Write Editor's introduction and occasionally other short feature stories. Allocate print space for story text, photos and illustrations, according to space parameters and copy significance, using knowledge of layout principles.

The position will be filled starting in July, 2020, in time to transition with the current editor in producing the Fall Issue of Ranger Magazine.

Persons interested in applying can do so by going to the link below and completing the requirements included therein:

Please pass this information along to anyone you know who might be qualified and interested in the position.

Questions can be addressed to ANPR Treasurer, Bill Wade at bwade@anpr.org.

Do you have an exciting new project, an engaging program, or a topic of interest that you would like to share with other members of the Ranger community? If so, please apply to be a presenter at Ranger Rendezvous 43! The Association of National Park Rangers (ANPR) is currently looking for dynamic speakers to share fun and interesting topics related to the Ranger profession and the National Park Service.

Topics of particular interest to ANPR include:

• Natural and Cultural Resource Issues
• History
• Fire Management and Fire Ecology
• Human Resources Issues
• IT and Admin
• Trails and Facilities
• Communications and Social Media
• Incident Command Issues
• And More!

What types of presentations or posters will ANPR accept?

ANPR is accepting proposals for 50-minute breakout sessions and for poster presentations. The 50-minute breakout sessions can be individual or panel presentations and presenters are encouraged to allow at least 10 minutes for questions. Posters will be on display through the week of Ranger Rendezvous. There will be a poster presentation session during the President’s Reception on the evening of Thursday, October 15.

Where is Rendezvous 43 Going to be Located?

ANPR will host Ranger Rendezvous 43 in Jacksonville, Florida from Tuesday, October 13 to Sunday, October 18, 2020. The focus of this year’s meeting will be on how ANPR and the National Park Service will work together building on our legacy.

This year’s Rendezvous will be held at the Lexington Hotel and Conference Center, located in downtown Jacksonville and close to several NPS sites, including Castillo de San Marcos National Monument and Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve.

What are the Deadlines and how do I apply to be a presenter?

Applications will be accepted until midnight PDT on Saturday, April 25, 2020.

To apply, please use the following application form.

When will I know if my application has been accepted?

All presenters that submit an application will be notified of their status by email after May 1, 2020.

Why should I apply to present at Ranger Rendezvous 43?

Your audience will include engaging individuals who care about national parks, the Ranger profession, and the National Park Service who hail from all across the United States. Attendees include seasonal park rangers, mid-career park rangers, current and former Superintendents, and other current and former senior NPS leaders.

Ranger Rendezvous provides professional development through training, breakout sessions, and the chance to network with other dedicated professionals throughout the service.

Will there be financial aid available for interested speakers?

The cost of travel, registration, and other costs associated with attending Ranger Rendezvous is the responsibility of the applicant. ANPR will be opening applications for the Bill Supernaugh Memorial Scholarship during summer 2020. There will be some limited scholarships available through this program. Please visit anpr.org/rr43 to learn more.

Who is the point of contact for additional questions?

The Ranger Rendezvous program committee is led by Jamie Richards (jrichards@anpr.org). Please email Jamie Richards if you have additional questions.

More about the Association of National Park Rangers

Established in 1977, ANPR is the primary organization working in support of National Park Service (NPS) employees in all park disciplines. Ranger Rendezvous attendees include members of the NPS national and regional directorate, superintendents, interpretive and protection rangers, administrative employees, natural and cultural resource managers, maintenance employees, retirees, academic researchers, and a host of other recreation and conservation professionals both within and outside the NPS.

The Association of National Park Rangers Ranger Rendezvous Planning Committee looks forward to reviewing your application and we hope that you will be able to join us in Jacksonville!

Are you a park professional, or do you want to develop the expertise to become one? Do you want to be a better communicator? Do you want to develop skills to work in media relations?

You should apply to serve as an Association of National Park Rangers (ANPR) public information officer (PIO). As a PIO, you will work with the ANPR board of directors to develop:

• News releases
• Social media posts
• Web content
• On the record statements
• Articles for publication

These products are important tools that help ANPR communicate with park rangers, our allies, the media, and other key stakeholders. You will work with ANPR members who will share their expertise to help you develop skills to excel as a PIO.

What makes this a great job?

What’s in it for me?

What kinds of skills do I need to be selected?

What is the time commitment to do this job?

How do I apply?

Ranger Rendezvous has always been one of my favorite parts of being a member of ANPR. Attendees get to attend presentations about resource management, administration, NPS history, and law enforcement. We get to have conversations with NPS staff from seasonals to regional directors and sometimes, even the NPS Director (invited this year). And, when the hour is right, we get to swing by the hospitality suite to see what Nancy Ward brought to drink!

As this year’s RR manager, I’m happy to say that all of this and much more is already in the works for Ranger Rendezvous 43 in Jacksonville, Florida! This October 14 through 19, we’ll be meeting at the Lexington Hotel on the banks of the St. Johns River. Situated in the heart of downtown Jacksonville, our venue is less than an hour’s drive from NPS sites at the 348 year old Castillo de San Marcos, Timucuan Ecological & Historic Preserve, and from historic St. Augustine.

Next to the hotel, you can enjoy the Jacksonville Riverwalk, an in-house bar and restaurant (breakfast and parking are included with your room), and easy access to the nearby San Marco neighborhood. The hotel is also less than a mile from the city’s Science and History Museum, Museum of Contemporary Art, and Space Gallery, in case you want a quick change of pace.

At Rendezvous, you can expect to pick from several supplementary training sessions, to participate in our ever popular raffle, and, as a unique attraction this year, attend the 25th anniversary celebration of the Harry Yount Award! I’ll be sharing more details about all of these activities in the summer issue of Ranger, but, for now, I wanted to make sure you save the dates so we’ll see you in Jacksonville this October 14 through 19!

Contact: Reghan Tank, rtank@anpr.org

For the first time ever, Association of National Park Rangers (ANPR) members are eligible for exclusive discounts on outdoor gear through Outdoor Prolink. ANPR members qualify for 30-50 percent discounts on technical outdoor products from brands like Black Diamond, Osprey, La Sportiva, and more. Offering access to pro-deals helps restore access to a service many members value.

“The ANPR Board works hard to identify and provide services that our members value,” ANPR President Paul Anderson said. “Providing access to pro-deals builds on the work we did last year to get ANPR members discounted professional liability insurance.”

ANPR partnered with Outdoor Prolink because NPS employees are no longer allowed to take advantage of discounts in their capacity as federal employees. NPS Policy Memorandum 18-01 states “The use of pro-deals creates the appearance of an endorsement for a product, which is not allowed” and revokes older policy that allowed NPS employees to use them. ANPR members who are NPS employees will not violate agency policy if they use this new service.

According to the US Department of the Interior’s Ethics Office, exceptions to the gift prohibition include “commercial discounts offered to members of a group or class in which membership is unrelated to Government employment.” (Exceptions to the Gift Prohibition - 5 C.F.R. § 2635.204) Since membership in ANPR is open to anyone who supports the organization’s mission, NPS employees who take advantage of the discounts in their capacity as ANPR members will not violate Policy Memorandum 18-01.

If you are a member, ANPR will email instructions that explain how you can use this service. The email will have:

-Sign-up instructions
-An application code to input on the Outdoor Prolink website.

The code gives you access to Pro-Deal discounts for one year. We will share new codes next year when you renew your membership.

If you are not a member, join today! All ANPR members can use this service.

About Outdoor Prolink
Outdoor Prolink is a one-stop shop for professionals in the outdoor industry. These “pros” have first-hand knowledge and experience, which creates an influencing power sought after by top outdoor gear brands. Because of Outdoor Prolink, more than 100,000 pros are connected with deep discounts on over 90 outdoor brands as a way of saying “thanks for repping our gear!” For more information, visit www.outdoor prolink.com.

I would like to kick the year off right by saying how glad I am today to have begun my duties as President of ANPR.

First I want to congratulate the newly elected Board members:

• Rebecca Harriett - Government Affairs
• Lauren Kopplin - Secretary
• Tim Moore - Professional Issues
• Lauren DeGennaro - Seasonal Perspectives

It will be a privilege to work with these excellent new members along with our continuing Board members on behalf of ANPR in “Building on our Legacy.” Those folks are Jan Lemons - Past President, Chris Reinhardt - Business Manager, Jonathan Shafer - Strategic Planning, Kayla Sanders - Education and Training, Jeanette Meleen - Fundraising, Elsa Hansen - Internal Communications, Reghan Tank - Membership Services, Bill Wade - Treasurer.

I also want to thank the Board members whose terms expired in 2019 for their service to the Board and to ANPR. We wouldn’t be where we are without their effort and leadership! I hope you will continue to help guide us into the future

• Marin Karraker - Secretary
• Jamie Richards - Professional Issues
• Will Mundhenke - Seasonal Perspectives
• Ben Walsh - Government Affairs
• Jan Lemons - President

During my term, I’m looking forward to working with you to accomplish big things. Over the last year, you helped the ANPR board identify significant needs you would like to see our organization address. In the months and years to come, my top priorities are to accomplish the goals we identified in ANPR’s strategic plan. In short, these are to:

• Advocate on behalf of park rangers and park resources
• Educate park rangers so that our skills stay sharp
• Coordinate among NPS park rangers and our peers around the US and world
• Perpetuate ANPR so that we continue providing value to our members

We are capable of accomplishing great things, but that will only happen if we work together to make them happen. In the weeks ahead, those of you who shared your contact information at Rendezvous will begin to hear from board members about how you can help.

If you weren’t at Rendezvous and you want to help accomplish our strategic goals, get in touch with me. I’ll connect you with a board member who can help you apply your skills to improve the ranger profession and the NPS.

I am humbled to follow in the footsteps of presidents who have accomplished so much good for park rangers, and I’m looking forward to working with you as we build on that legacy to accomplish even more.

Welcome to 2020!

Paul Anderson
President
Association of National Park Rangers

The Association of National Park Rangers (ANPR) would like to extend its gratitude to all Park Rangers and their valiant efforts throughout the shutdown while facing personal financial uncertainty. Apart from the highly publicized resource and infrastructure damage, it’s regrettable that many important trainings were forced to be canceled over the last 35 days as well. Some of these will be impossible to reschedule and will have a direct impact on Rangers’ ability to respond to emergency situations in the coming summer season. With the shutdown occurring during the time that many parks hire their summer seasonal positions, we recognize the burden now placed on hiring managers service-wide to fill the National Park Service’s front line Rangers who most directly engage with the public. Finally as Rangers return to their parks, we thank our timekeepers who are now charged with the unenviable task of quickly and accurately entering the information to allow for the rapid processing of backpayments. ANPR expresses its strong desire that Congress and the President work diligently to ensure future shutdowns do not occur. This is for the benefit of the public, National Park Service, and most importantly its Rangers.

ANPR is concerned with the ongoing government shutdown as it is harmful for visitors and for America's national parks. Visitors who planned holiday vacations aren't able to use NPS campgrounds or restrooms and aren't able to see the national treasures in park museums or visitor centers. In parks where some areas are still open, law enforcement rangers (on duty without pay) are stretched thin protecting animals, scenic landscapes, and historical landmarks. Besides the possibly permanent damage caused to parks, the shutdown also leaves hardworking rangers who would usually be maintaining park facilities, welcoming people in visitor centers, and researching park ecosystems, laid off for the holidays.

So that national park rangers can provide visitors access and protect parks' natural and cultural resources, the Association of National Park Rangers encourages Congress and the president to fully fund government operations and send Park Rangers back to work as soon as possible.

-Jan Lemons, ANPR President

Your ANPR Board of Directors thanks you for participating in a survey last winter to determine future RR locations. Based on the survey results, the top two locations for RR42 (Fall 2019) are the Pacific Northwest near Seattle and Central California near Fresno. The Board is now seeking applicants interested in several key positions for RR42 planning and coordination:

-RR42 Coordinator/Joint Coordinators

-RR42 Planning Committee Members (Program Chair, Budget, Communications/Marketing, Training, etc.)

We would like these new committee members to assist the Board in evaluating final venue proposals this Fall.

Please contact anprpresident@gmail.com by October 8, 2018 if you are interested in any of the above positions. The ANPR President and Board hope to fill these critical positions prior to RR41 this November.

We are looking forward to seeing you all in Bowling Green in less than two months!

The Association of National Park Rangers (ANPR.org), a group of nearly 800 national park rangers and others who support their work, wishes to respectfully express its serious concerns over the proposal to increase some entrance fees to $70, and urges that the fee proposal be reworked.

First, the Association is concerned about ensuring safe conditions for employees and visitors. Park visitors have been expressing frustration over issues including high fees, long lines, lack of parking and lack of staff. There have been incidents of fee collectors and visitor center staff being yelled at and harassed over these issues. In many units of the National Park System, ranger staffing levels have been declining while visitor use has been increasing. Many parks hire seasonal employees during peak season. The fee increase may shift visitor use to off-peak seasons when fewer staff members are available to assist visitors, or it may encourage people to purchase the $80 Annual Pass and increase visitation, further overwhelming existing facilities and staff in some of the proposed parks at the same time park operations budgets are proposed to be cut. Second, we have concerns that visitors may purchase the $80 Annual Passes in lieu of the single-visit (7-day) $70 passes. Annual Pass receipts are not used to support park transportation systems. In parks with shuttle buses, a major portion of the single-visit entrance fee pays for this transportation system to alleviate traffic congestion. If, instead of paying a $70 entrance fee, visitors purchase Annual Passes, shuttle bus system funding may be in serious jeopardy, adding to overcrowding. Third, the Association is concerned if entrance fees are raised as proposed, low and middle-income families and individuals may not be able to visit during their summer vacation. If visiting national parks becomes costprohibitive, support for conserving these lands will decrease.

Lastly, we are concerned that a proposal to triple the fees at certain parks assumes that National Park System areas are primarily recreation sites that might be eventually largely financed by visitor receipts. However, more than just recreation sites, these are places that preserve, by law, our natural and cultural heritage for present and future generations. Many values are protected in our national parks, including outstanding wildlife, wilderness, recreation, and historic resources that are the envy of the world. They provide an important “window” into our past and future that must be preserved.

The Association of National Park Rangers wants to keep our national treasures accessible, protected, and safe for all visitors, and believes they ought to be managed primarily with federal tax revenues, with an additional limited contribution of fees from the people who visit in a given year. We look forward to working with the Administration to solve the issues that arise and to ensure the protection of our national parks for future generations.