Both the Friends of the Virgin Islands National Park and the StJohnSource are putting the spotlight on Park Rangers.
The Friends are offering a free "Ranger in Training Camp" as part of a series of summer eco-camps for children interested in learning about marine and land life. The Ranger camp begins July 5th and, like the other five programs, it is free for VI residents.
The Source, meanwhile, has published a profile of Dave Horner, a Ranger on St. John since 2006. Horner's background is solid. With botany, zoology and anthropology degrees from Miami University of Ohio, and completed an assignment in the Pace Corps.
He much prefers teaching people about the environment and conservation, though some people think the primary job of Rangers is being a policeman who walks a beat on the sand.
"Every day at the beach, someone has a dog, someone has a glass bottle and someone is anchoring in the dinghy channel," he told the Source. "Drunks are also a problem and it's hard to talk to people who are intoxicated," the story added.