ProRanger San Antonio

ProRanger Program at San Antonio College

Friday, November 23, 2012








ProRanger is now accepting applications to the program.
Please contact us at lmerritt8@nps.gov


US Park Ranger John Gonzales ProRanger 01


The ProRanger San Antonio Program was designed by the Intermountain Region’s Branch of Visitor and Resource Protection to recruit and train the next generation of National Park Rangers. The two-year program focuses on recruitment, education, career development and job training of a highly qualified and diverse group of students. Applicants can go to http://www.alamo.edu/sac/proranger/ to learn much more about the program.

During the school year ProRanger cadets learn about the National Park Service. We focus on the history, culture, traditions and the skills, knowledge and abilities to be successful US. Park Rangers.

NPS 8 Fundamental Competencies
Ø  Mission Comprehension
Ø  Fundamental Values
Ø  Agency Orientation
Ø  Communication Skills
Ø  Resource Stewardship
Ø  Problem-Solving Skills
Ø  NPS Operations
Ø  Individual Development and Planning

Our classes meet at San Antonio College in the Oppenheimer Instruction Center on Thursdays from 3pm to 6pm.

The ProRanger learning experiences are reinforced through two 14 week summer internships in National Parks. May to August cadets go on paid summer internship in the National Parks.

This blogg will share the unique experiences of our ProRanger Cadets.

During the summer seasons our cadets engaged in some phenomenal experiences.

Jorge Sanchez served his first summer internship in 2011 at Wrangell St. Elias National Park.


Jorge got involved in various areas of park operations. He specifically served in the interpretation and protection branches.





While serving at WRST Jorge engaged in several important trainings including water safety, swift water, all terrain vehicle and bear safety.





This first summer internship was a phenomenal opportunity for Jorge to learn more about the NPS and for the NPS to learn about Jorge. His second internship was at Rocky Mountain National Park.

Over the school year at San Antonio College the ProRanger Program class continued its focus on career development, leadership, and teaching the knowledge and skills required to be a US. Park Ranger.

Our classes focused on the US Constitution, Code of Federal Regulations, and court room procedures. ProRanger Cadets also earned Wildland Fire Certification. 

We traveled to Big Thicket National Park and Preserve in March 2012. We learned as much as possible about Wildland Fire Fighting and then demonstrated our skills and ability.








ProRanger San Antonio Cadets served over 320 hours on the Wildland Fire line in the 2012 summer internship. 

Jorge's second internship was at Rocky Mountain National Park.   






His internship focused more on visitor and resource protection. He was able to get lots of training opportunities including search and rescue, high angle ropes, law enforcement, emergency medical response, and of course engaging the public in education, interpretation and giving information.










ProRanger Travis Heinrich



 
Ranger Heinrich was a ProRanger Cadet in 2010 at the beginning of program.
 
 
Ranger Heinrich has a love and knowledge for nature and respects our nation’s resources. His participation in the ProRanger Program developed his being a part of something that is important and life changing. 
In 2000 he joined the United States Air Force and served 6 years as a Generator Technician, Security officer, and a Bugler for the United States Honor Guard. He deployed to Iraq, Kuwait and Poland. He traveled around the globe from the Philippines to Prague.He lived in Germany and Dubai and several states around the US. He was a Guide and Board Member of a Non-profit organization in Denver Colorado serving the Blind community. He worked as a Teacher’s Assistant for the biology labs at Red Rocks Community College in Colorado and served as a Green Peace member for the fight on Global Warming. He considers himself very motivated and focused with a very open mind. He has a can do attitude and gained a wealth of knowledge about our National parks and Law enforcement through the ProRanger Program.
 
His first internship was at Padre Island National Seashore. Ranger Heinrich learned about all of the operations of the National Park Service.
 
 

 

His second internship was a Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve
 


 
 

 
 
Ranger Travis Heinrich gained a highly meaningful experience working at Wrangell St. Elias National Park and Preserve. He is now a permanent US Park Ranger at Padre Island National Seashore.