ProRanger Blog

This week I shadowed Alan, Everette, and Toby for facilities management. My week with them was the highlight of my internship.  For the first day, Alan (Chief of Facilities Management) wanted Everette and me to trim tree branches along the trails. Everette utilized a pole saw to cut branches. Then we threw the debris to the side to clear the trail. Sometime later, Alan met with Everette and I so we could take a break. While trimming trees, Alan discovered that an oak tree had fallen. The tree was huge! I could push it, but all I did was hurt my pride. Moving the tree requires planning, so we returned the next day to clear the path. The next day, facilities management had a strategic internal meeting about the fallen oak tree at a Diner. In short, we spoke about the plan for removing the oak tree. Toby would operate the machine, Alan and Everette would use chainsaws, and I would be a spotter. After the meeting, we went back to the park headquarters. Before leaving HQ, Alan went over...

 As mentioned in another post, Superintendent Boles is the Superintendent of First State National Historical Park. Meaning there is a person available under him that handles Admin. That person is Cecily Wood. I briefly met her at INDE when she activated my PIV card. Mrs. Wood works as Admin for INDE and FRST.   She manages budgets, procures equipment and supplies, and allocates resources to optimize the park's operations. Their knowledge and expertise allowed them to make informed decisions on resource allocation, ensuring that the park had the necessary tools and infrastructure to effectively carry out its conservation efforts. Mrs. Wood only showed me information about FRST. The sheer amount of information I was given was astounding. I can't imagine what it is like working Admin for INDE?!?   Overall, admin duties are crucial for ensuring efficient operations, effective decision-making, and the overall success of FRST. They encompass strategic planning, resour...

 Happy 4th, everyone, This week I was shadowing Superintendent Joshua Boles for Admin. My first day was July 4th, so I knew things would be crazy in the park. Superintendent Boles took me on a guided tour around the park. This allowed me to witness the Superintendent's deep knowledge of the park's history, structures, and geography. As we hiked along trails, the Superintendent pointed out notable features and discussed ongoing conservation efforts to preserve the park's ecosystem and history. Back at the park headquarters, I observed the Superintendent's administrative duties. He was responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations, managing staff, and coordinating with other agencies and organizations involved in conservation and environmental protection. It was impressive to witness the Superintendent's ability to balance the administrative tasks while maintaining a genuine connection to the park and its mission. While shadowing, I learned about the Superinten...

 Hello all,   My time working the night shift is coming to an end. I will transition to First State in about a week to finish the internship. A lot has happened since my last post. For one, two rangers returned from FLETC and began field training. The Nightshift Supervisor, Ranger Fahey, took on the 'Field Trainer' role to train one of the returning Rangers. Part of the field training experience is to engage in various scenarios.  One  scenario was based on traffic stops. Ranger Fahey observed and critiqued the trainee based on their performance.   One day during a patrol, Ranger Pitts discovered a man sleeping in front of the Liberty Bell Visitor Center. The man lying on the ground was someone we encountered earlier in the day; he seemed completely different. The person before us could barely move, and his speech was sometimes illegible. Soon after, Ranger Sean arrived at the scene. At the same time, Ranger Pitts got the man to stand up. The Rangers w...

My last day working on the day shift at INDE was Tuesday, and I started working nights on Saturday. I was initially intimidated working day shift because there were many people. Fortunately, I was able to navigate day-to-day routines thanks to all-day shift rangers. I will utilize the techniques and strategies for my remaining time at INDE (and beyond). Here are a few important things I learned during the day shift.  Park rangers face many perils throughout their tenure. One of the most important aspects of being a Law Enforcement (LE) ranger for the National Park Service is the ability to carry a firearm. Title 54, the General Authorities Act, allows commissioned park rangers to carry firearms. A gun is a dangerous weapon that must be handled in a particular way to avoid unintentional discharge(s). For that reason, there are 4 (four) rules every ranger must know to utilize a firearm safely.  The rules are: Always keep your gun pointed in a safe direction....

Good morning, good afternoon, and good night, This week was very odd, to say the least. Independence (and Philadelphia) experienced a thick haze of smoke. Canada was the progenitor of the miasma inflicted on us. The good vibes prevalent in the park were replaced with melancholic ire. Many visitors wore masks due to the poor air quality. Overall, the wildfire from our northern neighbor reverted the city to a pandemic-era environment.  The fog cleared a few days later, and things returned to normal. There were a few events on the docket. One was for the Armed Forces recruitment event. A plethora of soldiers from different ranks were in People's Plaza.  In addition, a prayer for the Islamic Heritage Festival was held across the street next to the Visitor Center.  The Islamic Heritage Festival's flyer said there would be a parade on June 10th at 1pm. The parade would start at 1 N Independence Mall and end at Penn's Landing. Upon my arrival, I did not see anything resembling a...