Ranger Angelina and Beavers

Wyoming Education Rangers

Ranger Lawson from Eno River State Park joins us to chat about Salamanders! 

Ranger Lawson from Eno River State Park joins us to chat about Salamanders!

Salamanders!

Ranger Josh explains what a ranger does working for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service!!

Ranger Josh explains what a ranger does working for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service!!

Exploring a Wildlife Refuge with Ranger Josh

We chat with Ranger Daniel again! This time we talk about why he started the Black Park Ranger experience Instagram and why it’s important to tell these stories. 

We chat with Ranger Daniel again! This time we talk about why he started the Black Park Ranger experience Instagram and why it’s important to tell these stories.

The Black Park Ranger Experience 

We chat with Daniel about his journey to rangering and what it’s like working in an park in LA! 

We chat with Daniel about his journey to rangering and what it’s like working in an park in LA!

Ranger Daniel: LA City Parks

This month we chat with Jared who works for the NC Forest service! 

This month we chat with Jared who works for the NC Forest service!

Assistant County Ranger Jared

We chat with Wildlife Resources Commissions CC King on why place based education is crucial for our children and us as adults. 

We chat with Wildlife Resources Commissions CC King on why place based education is crucial for our children and us as adults.

NC Wildlife Educator CC King: Place Based Environmental Education

Park Superintendent Claude Crews: Working at Hammocks Beach State Park Part 2

Park Superintendent Claude Crews: Working at Hammocks Beach State Park in the Beginning of NC State Parks Career

How far can a jumping spider jump? DOES a woodchuck chuck wood?  What does a Park Ranger do all day?  All these questions and any you may have will be answered through this podcast series! So come, join us, listen and write Ranger Crystal and Ranger Jess all your questions about park and other natural science careers

I think this podcast is wonderful:) I love state parks and this podcast is really nice to listen to while hiking

Amazing!!!!

The Ask a Ranger Podcast is just another reason to love NC State Parks!

North Carolina State Parks Rock!

Ask a Ranger Podcast

The peace of the woods, the crackle of the campfire, trying different s’mores recipes — who amongst us doesn’t love camping? From its past as a necessary part of exploration to its present status as an excursion and break from our daily lives, camping is something that is held near and dear by most people who do it. Whether you enjoy camping in a van or living out of a backpack for a week, camping is personal and treasured by us all.In this podcast, we discuss everything from wearing socks while sleeping to a perfect camping environment. Join Rangers Jess and Crystal and guest Ranger Brian as we discuss the finer side of camping and maybe even share a couple of our favorite camping hacks to help make your experience even better.Please bear with us as we are trying different audio equipment this episode. Special thanks to Joe and Keith for the music.

The peace of the woods, the crackle of the campfire, trying different s’mores recipes — who amongst us doesn’t love camping? From its past as a necessary part of exploration to its present status as an excursion and break from our daily lives, camping is something that is held near and dear by most people who do it. Whether you enjoy camping in a van or living out of a backpack for a week, camping is personal and treasured by us all. In this podcast, we discuss everything from wearing socks while sleeping to a perfect camping environment. Join Rangers Jess and Crystal and guest Ranger Brian as we discuss the finer side of camping and maybe even share a couple of our favorite camping hacks to help make your experience even better. Please bear with us as we are trying different audio equipment this episode. Special thanks to Joe and Keith for the music.

Camping

Join us for a discussion with Ranger Scott about what prescribed fires are and why they are so important to the forest.

Join us for a discussion with Ranger Scott about what prescribed fires are and why they are so important to the forest.

Good Fire 

In this episode of the Ask a Ranger Podcast, Ranger Nick tells us all about renewable energy and, in particular, the power of solar energy.  Thank you to Ranger Nick, Joe, Keith, and Jacob.

In this episode of the Ask a Ranger Podcast, Ranger Nick tells us all about renewable energy and, in particular, the power of solar energy. Thank you to Ranger Nick, Joe, Keith, and Jacob.

Solar Energy

We sat down with Ranger Austin Paul who has been fortunate enough to have experienced being a park ranger in both state parks and national parks. He takes us on the journey that led him to both state parks and national parks as well as some of the similarities and differences between state and national parks.  

We sat down with Ranger Austin Paul who has been fortunate enough to have experienced being a park ranger in both state parks and national parks. He takes us on the journey that led him to both state parks and national parks as well as some of the similarities and differences between state and national parks.

Exploring Park Ranger Careers in State and National Parks

Rangers Jess and Crystal take a deep dive into women’s roles in NC State Parks to celebrate Women’s History Month. *You will need to turn this episode all the way up, we had some technical issues with this recording. 

Rangers Jess and Crystal take a deep dive into women’s roles in NC State Parks to celebrate Women’s History Month.  *You will need to turn this episode all the way up, we had some technical issues with this recording.

Women’s History Month 

Disclaimer: This episode is intended as a brief introduction to edible plants. We do not advise anyone to go out and try plant life without proper and intensive education and technical ID knowledge of the plant life.  In this episode of Ask a Ranger, we sit down with Ranger Neil who will chat with us about edible plants.  

Disclaimer: This episode is intended as a brief introduction to edible plants. We do not advise anyone to go out and try plant life without proper and intensive education and technical ID knowledge of the plant life.   In this episode of Ask a Ranger, we sit down with Ranger Neil who will chat with us about edible plants.

Edible Plants

Listen in as Ranger Crystal, Ranger Kevin, and Ranger Jess sit around a campfire and demystify the often misunderstood coyote. 

Listen in as Ranger Crystal, Ranger Kevin, and Ranger Jess sit around a campfire and demystify the often misunderstood coyote.

Howling Coyotes 

In this episode we chat with the affable Ranger Kevin about his favorite animal — SNAKES!  Ranger Kevin delves into the wonderful world of snakes and helps demystify some of the myths and fears that sometimes surround these wonderful creatures.  Thank you to Rangers Kevin, Jacob, Joe and Nancy.

In this episode we chat with the affable Ranger Kevin about his favorite animal — SNAKES!  Ranger Kevin delves into the wonderful world of snakes and helps demystify some of the myths and fears that sometimes surround these wonderful creatures.   Thank you to Rangers Kevin, Jacob, Joe and Nancy.

SSSSSSnakes Alive!

Let's go back in time, to a time where prehistoric sharks swam the ocean, some with a spiral of bottom teeth, some with bony protrusions off the top of their head, and one that was 30 times larger than a Great White Shark!  We sit down with Dr. Christian Kammerer from the Museum of Natural Sciences and pick his brain about all the wonderful and wondrous prehistoric sharks that lived in the ocean well before our time.  

Let's go back in time, to a time where prehistoric sharks swam the ocean, some with a spiral of bottom teeth, some with bony protrusions off the top of their head, and one that was 30 times larger than a Great White Shark!  We sit down with Dr. Christian Kammerer from the Museum of Natural Sciences and pick his brain about all the wonderful and wondrous prehistoric sharks that lived in the ocean well before our time.

Prehistoric Sharks with Dr. Kammerer

Ranger Jess took a trip out west and was able to explore Franklin Mountains State Park with Park Ranger Lydia Pagel.  After, they sat down and Ranger Lydia talked about her journey into becoming a park ranger at Franklin Mountains State Park as the Education Ranger.

Ranger Jess took a trip out west and was able to explore Franklin Mountains State Park with Park Ranger Lydia Pagel.  After, they sat down and Ranger Lydia talked about her journey into becoming a park ranger at Franklin Mountains State Park as the Education Ranger.

Franklin Mountains State Park – El Paso, TX

Tune in with us this month and sing-a-long with this musical Ask a Ranger Podcast episode; Music and Environmental Education. Ranger Keith shares with us how to connect outdoor education and music. Thank you to Keith, Joe, and Jacob.  Photo credit and thanks to Dave Cook. 

Tune in with us this month and sing-a-long with this musical Ask a Ranger Podcast episode; Music and Environmental Education. Ranger Keith shares with us how to connect outdoor education and music.  Thank you to Keith, Joe, and Jacob.  Photo credit and thanks to Dave Cook.

Music and Environmental Education

Hank the hognose snake asked us to do a quick podcast release to set the record straight on the rumors of "Zombie Hognose Snakes" in North Carolina.  So for this #factcheckfriday; we chat with Hank the hognose snake and find out about this misnomer and the TRUTH about Hank and other hognose snakes like him.  

Hank the hognose snake asked us to do a quick podcast release to set the record straight on the rumors of "Zombie Hognose Snakes" in North Carolina.  So for this #factcheckfriday; we chat with Hank the hognose snake and find out about this misnomer and the TRUTH about Hank and other hognose snakes like him.

Hank the Hognose Snake Sets the Record Straight

Learn the basics of herpetology with our guest educator Mike Ramano. Thank you to Umkar for the Ask a Ranger question this month. Music by Joe Shimel and Keith Nealson.

Herpetology

Ranger Mary

How can an insect no bigger than the period at the end of a sentence take down an entire tree?  We sit down with Ranger Mary from Hanging Rock State Park to find out.  Thank you Ranger Mary for your wealth of knowledge and your knee slapping jokes.  

How can an insect no bigger than the period at the end of a sentence take down an entire tree?  We sit down with Ranger Mary from Hanging Rock State Park to find out.   Thank you Ranger Mary for your wealth of knowledge and your knee slapping jokes.

Hemlocks at Hanging Rock State Park with Ranger Mary

In this episode of Ask a Ranger Podcast, join Ranger Crystal and Ranger Jess as they recount personal ghost stories and  tell spooky North Carolina ghost stories.  This is perfect for your camping trip to a North Carolina State Park- ready to be played or retold around your campfires.  Special thanks to all of our helpers for this episode: Pete, Noah, Laurie, Wes, Keith, Joe, and Erica.

In this episode of Ask a Ranger Podcast, join Ranger Crystal and Ranger Jess as they recount personal ghost stories and tell spooky North Carolina ghost stories. This is perfect for your camping trip to a North Carolina State Park- ready to be played or retold around your campfires. Special thanks to all of our helpers for this episode: Pete, Noah, Laurie, Wes, Keith, Joe, and Erica.

Campfire Ready Ghost Stories!

Many of our North Carolina State Parks were affected by gristmills and the millponds that were created in and around our North Carolina communities.  We do not have any working gristmills in NC State Parks so we traveled to a Raleigh county park, Yates Mill Pond, to talk all things millpond and gristmill.  From how a gristmill works, the community aspects of a gristmill and millpond, to the nature that is in and around a millpond, our guest Ranger Rebeccah Cope educates us on it all!

Yates Mill Pond

Dig into this episode as Ranger Jess learns the difference between archaeology and paleontology with Assistant State Archaeologist Mary Beth Fitts.  Ranger Jess had the opportunity to help with an archaeology survey area down at Lumber River State Park and speak with Mary Beth about all things archaeology.

Archaeology Dig at Lumber River 

Our guest for this episode of the Ask a Ranger Podcast is the stupendous Ranger Jake from Hammocks Beach State Park.  In this episode we cover the basics of what you need to have a safe and fantastic trip on your next canoe, kayak, paddle board excursion.

Water Safety

In this episode Ranger Crystal and Ranger Jess delve into the wonderful and mysterious world of the American Eel.  Listen in as Ranger Crystal and Ranger Jess explore the research history, ecology, and behaviors of this awesome species of fish!Thank you to Ranger Joe , Jacob, Rebeccah, and Archifa for your help with this episode!

In this episode Ranger Crystal and Ranger Jess delve into the wonderful and mysterious world of the American Eel. Listen in as Ranger Crystal and Ranger Jess explore the research history, ecology, and behaviors of this awesome species of fish! Thank you to Ranger Joe , Jacob, Rebeccah, and Archifa for your help with this episode!

Wall Climbing Eels!

Ranger Jess is a little nervous hiking at night, but NEVER FEAR, Ranger Crystal is here! Ranger Crystal is taking Ranger Jess and you on a night hike to demystify the sounds and the animals that make them. Come, join us and take a virtual night hike!To gain a visual understanding about the animals we talk about in this episode, hop on over to our Ask a Ranger article. You can find this episodes coinciding article as well as past Ask a Ranger articles at:   https://www.ncparks.gov/ask-ranger. Just copy and paste.  Thank you to Keith and Joe for their intro and exit music!!!

Ranger Jess is a little nervous hiking at night, but NEVER FEAR, Ranger Crystal is here! Ranger Crystal is taking Ranger Jess and you on a night hike to demystify the sounds and the animals that make them. Come, join us and take a virtual night hike! To gain a visual understanding about the animals we talk about in this episode, hop on over to our Ask a Ranger article. You can find this episodes coinciding article as well as past Ask a Ranger articles at: <a href="https://www.ncparks.gov/ask-ranger" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.ncparks.gov/ask-ranger</a>. Just copy and paste. Thank you to Keith and Joe for their intro and exit music!!!

Night Hike...Wait! What was THAT sound?!

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