On Wednesday, July 25th, ten ProRangers met with Deputy Director Peggy O’Dell to discuss the ProRanger program, their summer internship experiences, and National Park Service career goals.

The group exchanged ideas and thoughts with her on how to continue to strengthen and improve the program and work collaboratively with the ProRanger San Antonio program. Afterwards the group made a site visit to the National Law Enforcement Officer’s Memorial.

The ProRanger Philadelphia program is a four year academic and technical skills training and paid internship program that is cooperatively administered by the National Park Service’s Northeast Region and Temple University. The Northeast Region has partnered with the National Capital Region under the leadership of Regional Director Dennis Reidenbach and Regional Director Steve Whitesell to provide summer internships in parks in both regions. The internships have also been embraced by other regions this summer. Similarly, the ProRanger San Antonio program works cooperatively with the National Park Service’s Intermountain Region and San Antonio College’s two year academic program. ProRanger San Antonio also places students in summer internships.

After completion of their academic studies and the seasonal law enforcement academy ProRangers are placed in National Park sites. Currently the Philadelphia program has successfully placed students at Independence National Historical Park, Valley Forge National Historical Park, Boston National Historical Park, George Washington Birthplace, and Thomas Edison National Historical Park. Five additional ProRangers will be placed in early fall at Gateway National Recreation Area, Boston National Historical Park, Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park, and two at Jefferson National Expansion Memorial.

Anyone interested in learning more about the ProRanger Philadelphia program can contact Regional Chief Ranger Stephen M. Clark at 215-597-4940.

Contact Information
Name: Kim Coast, ProRanger Philadelphia Program Manager (acting)