My Park Story: Bonnie Smith

NPS/Bonnie Smith

A mama and her baby at Anacapa Island! I’m not the only one expecting … lots of Western gull chicks will be hatching here soon, starting middle or end of May. By the beginning of July most Western gull eggs have hatched on Anacapa Island, making this isolated island one of the largest breeding areas for Western gulls in the United States. Parent gulls are very protective of their nests and eggs. Good job seagull parents!

With the birth of my second child approaching, I reflect on how the Channel Islands and national parks have influenced my life as a park ranger and mom. I became a park ranger when my younger sister Candace passed away from leukemia in 2011. I remember the time she had to spend inside the hospital for treatment and realizing how fortunate I am to spend time outdoors - seeing the night sky, feeling the breeze on my face, swimming at the beach. Since then I have volunteered at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and worked at Yellowstone National Park, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, and Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area.

As a park ranger I feel honored to share about America’s national parks with others, especially with children. I can honor my sister’s memory, while helping to protect special places like Channel Islands National Park for visitors today and future generations.

Inspiration Point on Anacapa Island is especially close to my heart, where my husband Jeff and I got engaged in 2017. We are now raising our toddler Catalina on a sailboat, which we have lived on for the past nine years. Space is limited on a sailboat, but the wide ocean is our home.

Seeing my daughter experience the beauty of the islands and the surrounding waters has been a joy. Catalina loved smelling the flowers at Santa Rosa Island and playing in the sand at San Miguel Island. I am grateful for the memories we have made as a family at the Channel Islands, and I hope you and your loved ones can experience the park islands too - a place rich in history and new beginnings. Happy Mother’s Day!”