Recent Essays
In the last year, America’s public lands have been under attack from the Trump Administration, but now finally some good news.
Both American democracy and America's national parks have received catastrophic wounds this past year. Can they heal?
Travel, novel experiences, and nature have all been shown by science to have a beneficial impact on our mental health.
America’s public lands have the popularity President Trump wishes he had. Here are five ways they are more popular than him and his policies.
National park rangers keep the records of our heritage. To lose their knowledge is to forget who we are and where we have been.
When we don’t understand history, we are destined to repeat it. This is a reality we are seeing play out right in front of our eyes.
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For over 60 years, Ellis Island was the busiest and most iconic entry point for those immigrating to the United States.
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Popular Essays
Interested in US national parks? What about living a wild life? Get started with these popular essays.
Want more? Peruse an archive of All Essays.
When nature calls: National parks are being overwhelmed with human waste. Here are the reasons why and how not to be a part of the problem.
Learn what an interpretive theme is and what it isn't. A theme is not a topic. A theme is the glue that binds the topics together.
An interpretive park ranger conveys a park's story. Every park has a story, a reason that it was protected and staffed with park rangers.
Learn the twelve must-haves for your wilderness first aid kit, including items not found in a traditional first aid kit.
As a former ranger, I'm often asked how to become a national park ranger. These are my tips for prospective park rangers.
In the early days of US national parks, rangers did it all–built trails, fought fires, caught poachers. What do park rangers do today?
Stephanie McCullough
As a former US national park ranger with a master’s degree in environmental education and interpretation, Stephanie (she/her) created the Ranger Desk to share her passion for national parks and the natural world.