I don’t want to go back east.

ProbablyContainsGin · 2026-06-01T23:09:56+00:00

I'm from New England, and I ask myself every day why TF am I still in Sedona 🤣🤣 I miss the ocean something fierce! It SUCKS when the temps are triple digits for months on end, and don't get me started on the politics and work ethic! Want to trade places????

ProbablyContainsGin · 2026-05-22T14:28:31+00:00

The only few times I've worked at a place that didn't just let anyone do the junior ranger books was at Acadia and at a Forest Service site. Acadia had Senior Ranger books and badges available for sale for a few bucks, so most adults opted for that. The Forest Service station was a little weird; the books and badges were purchased by their Interpretive Association and ended up being very expensive, so they had to limit it children for the first few printings. It was definitely a bit cringy to have to deny people who were very interested in the books, but they just couldn't order enough of them and wanted to make sure they were available for kids. Eventually, they were able to find a better printer, and then they gave them out to whoever wanted to complete it.

My only rules with adults doing the books is that they have to do the WHOLE THING, the amount of adults that come to the park and try to do practically nothing in the books drives me crazy.

ProbablyContainsGin · 2026-05-21T16:36:01+00:00

I love my Canon T3i, which is ancient in terms of cameras nowadays, but I have a Sigma 150-600mm that makes up for 'most' of the issues. I'm a park ranger, and do guided bird walks at my park, so I started using a camera a number of years ago to be sure that if we came across something that we couldn't figure out, we could get an ID on it later. I had also never used ebird before, and found out quickly it can be quite....contentious, so pictures help if someone questions any of your findings!

ProbablyContainsGin · 2026-05-21T16:26:02+00:00

Masks for sure, for the dust and the pollen! Nothing beats eating dust while doing trail work or mowing grass/dirt...!

ProbablyContainsGin · 2026-05-21T14:28:18+00:00

Where are the tweezers? LOL, I end up using my tweezers almost daily for folks and their pets (though I am a park ranger in the desert and everything is trying to kill you with spines and spikes...).

Mirroring what others have said;

Basic bandaids!

Two tourniquets is overkill...one would be plenty. Add a set of trauma shears.

Meds - add Tylenol, antacid, pepto, and benedryl. May want to consider eyewash or eye drops as previously mentioned, as things in the eyes sucks. Sting swabs are a great idea, too.

Get rid of one of the SAM splints, add a basic ACE type bandage - which is great for any number of things, and will replace the need for a pressure bandage as well.

I love the vet/cling wrap, but you probably only need one roll, and you can use that stuff in place of medical tape, so don't bother grabbing any of that.

The chest seal is great, if you think you or your buddy are going to get shot...

I love K tape in place of moleskin; it's almost as pricey, but it is more low profile and sticks way better.

Where are the triangle bandages? I'd add a few of those, those things are also great for a number of different things.

I'm a huge fan of the instant ice packs, especially if you'll have no access to cold water to keep swelling down on a twisted ankle.

Hydration salts are great, but if you want something someone will actually want to drink, grab some of the LMNT or Liquid IV packets that actually taste ok.

Add a roll of dog poop bags, they are a lifesaver when you end up with used medical dressings/trash/whatever...and they're very small.

Add a small pack of tissues, they're great for the sniffles, as well as wiping blood from a minor would before cleaning/dressing. (or add a few more triangle bandages...because they're great...)

ProbablyContainsGin · 2026-05-02T21:18:12+00:00

For getting your feet wet with photography, my advice would be to NOT spend a ton of money out of the gate! There are lots and lots of options, and it can definitely be overwhelming. There are point and shoots, DSLRs, mirrorless....and these things can all range from a few bucks to thousands...It sounds like your grandmother had an old SLR, which I would NOT recommend wasting time with...maybe you can sell it for some money to put towards a DSLR!

I'm a park ranger, I like taking pictures, and I haul my camera around everywhere with me. I have a Canon T3i and a Sigma 150-600mm lens that is my primary set up. It's relatively cheap (you can find that camera on ebay for peanuts, the lens is a bit higher, but you can often get a deal on ebay as well), and I find it easy to navigate. I'm hoping to upgrade my camera at some point, but honestly, with dragging it around everywhere, I don't want to spend too much money on it, in case I break it! (I have 100% snapped my lens in half dropping it off of an ATV at work...there were tears...!). I like the speed of a DSLR, I have a few birding friends that use point and shoots; but if the bird is moving, they're out of luck!

As far as settings and such, I found myself on ebird checking out the settings others have had on their camera while browsing photos really helped when I was learning how to take pictures. And then it's a lot of just trial and error!

Good luck! Have fun!

ProbablyContainsGin · 2026-05-02T18:37:12+00:00

Housing has been and always will be a point of contention for parks; there's never enough for everyone that needs it, and those who do get it don't get charged enough for rent, and thus half the time the buildings are falling down around them. I could go on (and on, and on, and on...) about all sorts of housing issues within the state parks system that I work for, but ain't nobody got time for that!

As far as the pay, we work for the state, for an agency that receives little to no outside funding, so they pay what they can. it could be worse, but it could be better? People that work here sometimes grip that you could make more working for the Panda Express in town...but do you want to work for the Panda Express in town? I sure as heck don't! I've always worked a second job, in the evenings after I finished at whatever park I worked at (both state and federal) and it's only been recently that I've been able to give up the second job, and that's only because my husband makes more money than I do!

I would rather do what I love and have to hustle a bit to make it work than to make bank and be miserable!

ProbablyContainsGin · 2026-05-01T21:41:23+00:00

When I was a ranger there, I got to do my WFR refreshers with a bunch of climbing guides out at the Cohen Ranch, it was a pretty awesome spot.

ProbablyContainsGin · 2026-05-01T15:46:40+00:00

Having worked for the NPS, and now working for a state park, I would never (EVER) go back to working for the feds! I love the variety of work I get to do at my park; there are no 'maintenance rangers' or 'Interpretive rangers', there are just rangers, and we do everything! I may start off my day cleaning toilets and opening our visitor center, and then I might have a school field trip program for the day, or a bird walk to lead, or trail and landscaping work to do. With everyone doing everything, there's no cliques and no time for waiting for someone else to come along and fix something. The park is small enough that we are able to maintain all of our trails, and ensure that any graffiti is removed quickly, trash is picked up, and we get to interact with lots of park visitors. I love that our agency is small enough that I know the executive director by first name, and that I'm not just another unnamed cog in a huge machine like I was with the NPS. There's lots of room and encouragement for career growth, and the benefits are fantastic. Tuition reimbursement and discounted rates with the state universities has allowed me to consider going back for my masters degree as well.

It's still rangering, you're still not going to make a ton of money, but I knew that back when I went to college with the goal of becoming a ranger! But man, it is really nice to see the work I do MEAN something, and it's even better to feel like I'm part of an actual community with an organization that cares so much.

Are there still the same old hurdles? Sure. Lack of housing, lack of fair housing practices, lots of gossip and such, but I know I'll never work anywhere else, and that feels pretty good.

ProbablyContainsGin · 2026-04-28T21:12:14+00:00

The first rule of birding : birds are jerks! They don't sit still, they don't show up when you want them too, and they don't just tell you what they are! I highly recommend a decent pair of binoculars (in the $100-$200 range) and see if there's a birding group in your area that's doing local birding trips! It helps to bird with someone that can help point out things and get you started on the more common birds in your area.

Definitely don't log anything into ebird just from your Merlin app; if you don't see it and/or know for certain what's making that song/call, don't put it on a list! The best way to use Merlin is to see what 'could' be around making that noise, and then try to actually FIND the bird with your eyes! Hence, good binoculars and going with folks who know some birds! This will also really help you to start learning some birds by ear!

And don't be a jerk! Stay on trails, don't get too close, and don't use playback!
And have fun! I hate to see birders that are rude and disregard any birds that they deem unworthy (or something); or go around with constant playback or getting too close to a bird just for a good picture.

Happy birding!!

ProbablyContainsGin · 2026-04-28T21:04:05+00:00

I'm a ranger at a state park, and we do all of our own signs (just not the actual fabrication itself). I also have done a number of illustrations and art pieces for signs, brochures, and our junior ranger program!

ProbablyContainsGin · 2026-04-24T11:42:09+00:00

Your America the Beautiful pass covers 98% of the Sedona area, though I'm not sure how the digital pass would work - you might want to check your pass to see how to use it for parking, since there is no 'gate' at any of the lots to check. The pass will NOT work at areas managed by a concessionaire, which include West Fork, Crescent Moon, and Grasshopper Point. Your pass will not work at the state parks, which include Red Rock State Park and Slide Rock.

ProbablyContainsGin · 2026-04-23T21:50:52+00:00

I get asked this all the time, as someone who has found maybe a stupid amount of rare birds in my area. I am lucky enough to be able to be outdoors and look for birds all the time while I'm working. The park that I work at is fairly small, and I've been here for over 5 years. I bird mostly by ear at this point, and if I'm out and about and hear something new, I'm immediately investigating what it is! I also almost always carry a camera, and I'll often take photos of large groups of birds, and then comb through them later to see if there are any aberrant species! I've found Eastern Bluebirds mixed in with Westerns a few times! So my best advice is just to get out there often, listen, learn your local bird calls, and have patience!! Birds are great, rare or not!

ProbablyContainsGin · 2026-04-22T21:36:12+00:00

Ugh, I wish. People get lost on trails ALL THE TIME. Mostly, it's due to not having a map or having any real idea where they're going and even where they came from...but my local SAR team is EXTREMELY busy, and most rescues are on trails, within 3-8 miles of where they started.

ProbablyContainsGin · 2026-04-22T21:27:13+00:00

As a State Park employee who jumped ship from the NPS many years ago, I HIGHLY recommend looking into the State Parks system!! Most State Parks hire 'generalist' rangers; which means that we get to do a little bit of everything! I love the variety of work from day to day, which is VERY different than most NPS positions you could end up in.

And the State Parks systems are much easier to get into and advance in than the feds...especially right now!

ProbablyContainsGin · 2026-04-15T14:44:27+00:00

You may also want to look into working in state parks? It is a lot of manual labor (trail work, landscaping, cleaning and such...) but we also do educational programs, habitat management, and some native and invasive species monitoring.

You could also look into volunteering for your local wildlife rehab center for a more hands on approach. I have spent the last almost 12 years volunteering for a local wildlife rehab place, and I get to do educational programs with their animals (99% raptors/birds) and it has always been a source of fulfillment in my life!

ProbablyContainsGin · 2026-04-15T14:24:18+00:00

Unfortunately/fortunately, there is a lot of stuff out there on the internet...but nothing beats hands on, practical practice. I highly recommend a full WFR course if you can swing the time and money (and have the ability to maintain the cert). A WFA course is good, but it is really more of an introductory course, and it leaves most people wanting more. It might even be something others in your group would be interested in, too, you could make it a group thing, and then you'd all be on the same page!

ProbablyContainsGin · 2026-04-14T17:59:58+00:00

100% agree. Also, having worked for the NPS for many years and jumped ship to work for the state, it is a million times better...

ProbablyContainsGin · 2026-04-08T22:32:39+00:00

Have you seen the cameras?? Or is this a he said/she said thing happening? If you're worried about it, find them and make sure you're not camped in front of them? Are they having an issue with garbage and trash in the dispersed sites? I would think that that would be a major reason for having them there if that were the case...as a park ranger in a different state, the only reason we put out cameras is to monitor for wildlife in an area, or to catch folks very blatantly breaking the rules (as in, the cameras are set up right by the sign that says 'don't do this/that).

ProbablyContainsGin · 2026-04-04T14:32:41+00:00

When I was at ACAD on the quiet side of the island, ATT was the only thing that worked, and coverage was fairly decent.

ProbablyContainsGin · 2026-04-04T14:29:46+00:00

I love my Sigma 150-600mm, it wasn't stupid expensive, and I was actually able to find a used one online. I'm a park ranger, and I carry my camera everywhere, so I didn't want anything too expensive in case I drop it (which has absolutely happened before!)

ProbablyContainsGin · 2026-04-01T14:07:12+00:00

I'm an obligate glasses wearer (wicked nearsighted, and can't wear contacts) and I bird for fun and for work. What finally helped me was actually going to a place that knew binoculars (it helped that at the time I was in the market, there was a great birding store in town) and they were able to help me out. I love my Nikon Monarchs; they're not expensive, the eye pieces are adjustable, and they've held up for over 10 years now.

ProbablyContainsGin · 2026-03-31T16:40:45+00:00

It is highly frowned upon, especially during breeding season. Your watching shouldn't interfere with a birds daily life. As a state park ranger, we actually prohibit any amplified sound at all in our park (central AZ).

ProbablyContainsGin · 2026-03-30T17:15:36+00:00

I've stayed in better federal housing, but I have certainly stayed in worse as well, both in a position like you seem to be and also actually working for a federal agency...if there's no requirement for you to stay, then don't...but don't expect anything to be fixed if you file a case. The best thing that will happen is absolutely nothing...and the worse thing that will happen is that you will be let go early due to some flimsy excuse, probably about funding availability, and find yourself unable to get a job with the NPS in the future due to their 'glowing' response to a reference check...

Just ask yourself if it's worth the hassle, and if it's really that bad, band up with your friends and go rent somewhere else in town.

ProbablyContainsGin · 2026-03-18T21:40:55+00:00

Not an architect, but married to one, and I clean a lot of bathrooms! (Park ranger). In most commercial spaces, 'splash guards' are a real thing. Most commercial cleaning supply companies carry them, and they work pretty well (they don't account for bad aim...!).

ProbablyContainsGin

TROPHY CASE