Robin White, a park ranger and education specialist at Lake Mead National Recreation Area, retired on January 3rd with nearly 32 years of service.

White grew up in Worthington, Ohio, and started working for the federal government in 1977 as a park technician with the Army Corps of Engineers at the Berlin Reservoir in Ohio.

White graduated from Hocking College with associate degrees in recreation and wildlife and forestry and from Ohio University with a bachelor of science degree. In 1982, he received a master of science degree from Northern Illinois University.

From 1978 to 1982, White worked in five resident outdoor education centers – Elbanobscot Environmental Education Center, Ponkapoag Outdoor Center, Cape Cod Outdoor Education Center and  an outdoor center in Williams Bay, Wisconsin. During the summers, White worked with the Youth Conservation Corps in Humboldt National Forest and Malabar Farm State Park in Ohio.

In August 1981, he accepted a graduate teaching assistantship in outdoor education at Northern Illinois University and taught elementary students at Lorado Taft Field Campus. One year later, he returned to Cuyahoga Valley and began his permanent career with the National Park Service.

He served at Cuyahoga Valley for 10 years as an interpretive ranger before continuing that career path at Petrified Forest National Park. In 1997, White relocated to Lake Mead National Recreation Area, where he served as a ranger and education specialist for the Mohave District.

White said his major career accomplishments include building upon the already strong foundation of the education program in the Mohave District at Lake Mead NRA; working with teachers, administrators and park staff to create curriculum-based programs for elementary schools in Arizona, Nevada and California; and seeing SCAs that he hired and worked with go on to great careers of their own.

“My passion has been working with students, and I hope that I have made a difference in a few lives,” he said. “I love working with kids and the sometimes goofy things I say and do to get a point across. It has been a great 31 years. There have been some bumps along the road, but the work has been rewarding, and I have worked in some great places and met fantastic people along the way.”

Upon retirement, White will be marrying Susie Simpson, doing some volunteer work, including the Mojave Max program, and traveling around the country with his new bride.

“Don’t be surprised if we stop by your park to spend a little time with you,” he said.

If you interested in contacting White after retirement, he can be reached at whitie3@hotmail.com.

Contact Information
Name: Christie Vanover, Public Affairs Officer