What do forest rangers do?
Forest rangers are focused on protecting and managing natural environments to ensure their sustainability and accessibility. These professionals perform a wide range of tasks, and your duties could vary significantly depending on your exact role.
- Some ranger roles are focused on nature conservation and managing wildlife habitats. These jobs take you out into the field for hands-on work, and may take you to remote locations.
- Others are more focused on emergency response, such as responding to wildfires and other natural and manmade threats.
Some forest rangers work more with the public, and their job duties include conducting educational classes or guided walks through parks. - Want to combine a love of the outdoors with a career in law enforcement? The National Park Service hires law enforcement rangers for a number of parks in the system.
Through conservation efforts, emergency response, enforcing laws, educating the public and more, forest rangers work to ensure our outdoor spaces thrive for generations to come.
How to start your career as a forest ranger
To begin your journey toward becoming a forest ranger, gaining hands-on experience early on is essential. Look for opportunities such as internships, volunteer work, part-time roles or seasonal employment in the early stages of your career. Programs like AmeriCorps offer an excellent starting point, providing opportunities to work on conservation projects while building valuable field experience. Additionally, you can explore job openings at state parks through the National Park Service, which oversees more than 400 national parks and offices nationwide.
Keep in mind that securing a full-time position as a forest ranger can be highly competitive. Starting with part-time or seasonal roles allows you to build a diverse skill set that will make you a stronger candidate for permanent positions. Being flexible and willing to relocate for opportunities can also significantly increase your chances of landing a permanent position.
The skills you’ll need to succeed
This role is cross-functional, so in order to be successful you should possess a combination of technical and interpersonal skills. Here are some of the most important skills you’ll need to possess as a forest ranger:
- Analytical skills: You may need to interpret data from computer models or field tests to guide your decisions.
- Communication: Effective collaboration with team members, landowners, government agencies and the public will be key to your role.
- Critical thinking: Being able to draw conclusions utilizing your expertise and experience in environmental sciences will result in better outcomes.
- Decision-making: You’ll be responsible for determining the best course of action to solve problems effectively and meet specific objectives.
- Endurance: Depending on your role, you could work in a variety of weather conditions and challenging terrain which will require resilience.
- Public speaking: It can be common for forest rangers to present information and instructions to both large and small groups of people.
Forest ranger vs. park ranger: Differences between the two
Forest rangers and park rangers both play important roles in the management and protection of natural areas. Although the titles of the roles are similar, they each have distinct responsibilities that align with their areas of focus.
A forest ranger typically works in large, undeveloped forests, focusing on resource management and conservation. They are responsible for tasks such as monitoring wildlife populations, managing logging activities and preventing wildfires. Forest rangers also handle law enforcement related to hunting, fishing and environmental protection, to maintain the health of forest ecosystems.
On the other hand, park rangers primarily work in parks that are designed for public recreation and education. Their responsibilities include leading educational programs, guiding tours and enforcing camping permits or trail usage. Park rangers also ensure that recreational activities are safe and can even assist with emergencies such as search and rescue operations.
Prepare to be a forest ranger with an online degree from Arizona State University
Earning an online degree can provide you with the skills and educational background you’ll need in the field of environmental sciences. Once you graduate, you’ll be one step ahead in the job market to look for a career as a forest ranger or similar roles.
ASU Online’s Bachelor of Arts in earth and environmental sciences focuses on the physical, chemical and biological processes that define our world. In this program, you’ll establish an understanding of Earth as a complex system, with a focus on the environment and the physical processes that impact it. Beyond the life sciences, this program also delves into the realms of natural resources, biogeochemical cycles, natural hazards, human-environment interactions and other processes.
Additionally, you’ll have the opportunity to specialize in your interest area by selecting an elective track. You can either take five elective courses in the same track or explore various topics between:
- Climate and environmental change.
- Environmental education.
- Environmental management.
- Environmental policy.
- Natural resources.
- Sustainability.
Upon graduation, you’ll be equipped for a career as a forest ranger, environmental analyst, climate change analyst and many more careers in this field.