My Park Story: Bethany Szczepanski

Delia Silva

It has been my experience that many times, in the moment, we do not realize that the adventure we are currently experiencing will be a beacon in a future journey in our lives. As a child, my parents shared the national parks with me during our summer vacations. Unbeknownst to me, the park rangers during these trips awakened my desire to provide similar experiences for others.

I have journeyed through three careers to find my way to Channel Islands National Park. Throughout this migration of careers, national parks were always there, shining their light of possibility. Returning to school later in life allowed me to pursue a career as a park ranger that I never dreamed would be possible. Today, as an education ranger, I appreciate the opportunities provided to me to connect students with their national parks. I can only hope that, in some way, I am sparking something in them just as the rangers from my past did for me. I am grateful for the park rangers that inspired me in the past and all the visitors that made these places and my purpose in life possible today.

You can share your story by using the hashtags #YourParkStory and #MyParkStory.

Can you spot Ranger Bethany as a child in this photo from 1989?

David Gruenenfelder