Celebrating World Ranger Day
World Ranger Day is observed worldwide on July 31st to celebrate the work Rangers do to protect Mother Earth’s natural treasures and cultural heritage. World Ranger Day is also a time to remember the many rangers who have been injured or killed in the line of duty while protecting national and state parks.
Today, Orenda Wildlife Land Trust would also like to recognize our own “Ranger,” Chris Miller. Chris has served as Director of the Natural Resources, Conservation, and Harbormaster departments in Brewster since 2007, and works tirelessly to promote sustainability and to implement environmental best practices in every aspect of his life.
As a member of Orenda Wildlife Land Trust’s Board of Directors, Chris, along with Orenda’s volunteer sanctuary monitors, is instrumental in ensuring that the Organization’s mission to preserve and protect open space for wildlife habitat, fresh air, and water quality in sanctuaries on Cape Cod and throughout Massachusetts is realized.
How to celebrate rangers on World Ranger Day:
Honor our fallen ranger heroes
Pause today for a moment of reflection, thought, or prayer in remembrance of the more than 1,000 park rangers who have died in the line of duty since 2009. Encourage others to learn about and pay tribute to these fallen heroes using social media posts and special World Ranger Day resources available online from The Thin Green Line Foundation and International Ranger Federation websites and social media accounts. The names of the fallen rangers are available as a downloadable Honor Roll on the foundation’s website.
Become a junior ranger
It’s never too late to take the National Park Ranger Pledge to “explore, learn, and protect” our national parks as a junior ranger. Just ask Rose Torphy. Rose became a Grand Canyon Junior Ranger in 2019 at the age of 103. World Ranger Day is the perfect day for you to take the pledge and live the dream yourself. Although the activity program is specifically oriented toward youth aged between five to 13, anyone can participate. Most National Parks offer young visitors the opportunity to become junior rangers. Each junior ranger takes an oath to protect and learn about parks, and share their own ranger story with friends and family.
Visit a park to thank the rangers
World Ranger Day is a good day to visit a park and thank the rangers who make it possible for us to safely enjoy our nation’s parks. While you’re there, ask how your family, church, school, or civic group can actively participate in special events and projects throughout the year.