#MyParkStory: Visions to reality - Hailie Hauser, Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area

Hailie sits on top of a horse for her patrol.

Hailie Hauser

My park story began after graduating from Feather River Community College in Quincy, CA with an associate degree in Equine Studies and Agriculture Studies and certificates in Colt Starting, Pack Skills and Ranch Skills. A few months after graduating college, a friend suggested that I attend the Seasonal Law Enforcement Training Academy in Santa Rosa, CA, and that I did, not really knowing what all it took to be a Park Ranger.

When applying for these positions I was often discouraged that I would not be eligible because I did not have a four-year degree. However, I was able to use my experience as a Volunteer Fire Fighter, various other jobs and my associate degree to be found eligible for a career with the National Park Service.

Day one at academy I was asked by our class Director why I wanted to be a Ranger. I said, “I plan to do mounted patrol and combine my passion for horses with work.” He looked at me and shook his head and said “okay….” When I made it to my first season at Buffalo National River, 6 months after graduating Seasonal Law Enforcement Training, I sent him a photo of me on horseback patrolling for work. He later told me he was so impressed that I said what I wanted to do with this agency and made it happen. I was able to use my degree and passion for horses to keep doing mounted patrol, as well as search and rescue, at Buffalo National River, Golden Gate National Recreation Area, Yosemite, and Big South Fork National Recreation Area.

My relationship with the National Park Service was not an easy one out of the gates: I didn’t get my first seasonal job for 6 months and then moved 10 times in 4 years to obtain enough service time to be eligible for the Land Management Work Force Flexibility Act (LMWFA), which makes you eligible for permanent employment. Throughout that time, I was able to gain so much experience and meet so many great Rangers who mentored me and provided support and encouragement on getting my first permanent job. I am ever so thankful for the fellow Rangers that I have had the opportunity to work side by side with.

It would be hard for me to say I have had one favorite memory thus far but, one that sticks out the most would be initiating a traffic stop on horseback in Yosemite Valley under the cliffs of Glacier Point. At that moment I experienced a “wow” moment with the career I had chosen.

With the good memories come the not so good too. Assisting with death investigation, overdoses, suicides, and body recoveries are often memories that can’t be forgotten. Those are parts of the job you can’t really train for and don’t know how they can affect your own well-being, so knowing yourself and your own limitations is so important because only you know how you really feel.

From my first day as a seasonal Law Enforcement Ranger to today, I can say my relationship with my career has changed: from jumping through hoops, paying for and attending Seasonal Law Enforcement Academy, reaching LMWFA, getting hired permanent, attending FLETC, completing Field Training to achieve a better work life balance, recognizing my accomplishments thus far, and realizing that one person can only do so many things.

If given the opportunity to redo the past 5 years of my career, I would say NO. I am so thankful for the good, bad, and everything in between thus far.