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Approximately 500 people applied for the OC Parks Ranger Academy (the only academy of its kind in Southern California) last summer; from those 500, about 80 applicants successfully passed the first round. They took tests, went through interviews and had to pass an Orange County Sheriff's Department background check. From those 80, just 31 were selected for the rigorous academy. During the 14-week academy, recruits underwent intensive training in all aspects of becoming a park ranger, from enforcement, safety and first aid, to animal handling, natural/cultural history, interpretation and much more. The 207 hours of training included a state-mandated peace officer course, first-responder and firefighter training. Recruits also learned about flora and fauna; in addition, candidates had to demonstrate they were fit enough to march for extended periods and perform cardio and other exercises. In other words, this academy is not for the faint of heart. "I enjoyed the wildlife and firefighting trainings the most," said Ranger Reserve Aleta Walther."Being shot with pepper spray in both eyes was a bit much, but if you are going to carry pepper spray, you have to know how it will affect an assailant." Walther added that unexpected benefits of the academy included losing 20 pounds and becoming more physically fit and mentally alert. The academy is conducted by OC Parks in conjunction with Santa Ana College. Classes are taught by instructors from a variety backgrounds and expertise, including IRC Field Naturalists Evelyn Brown and Kelley Reetz. Brown taught the Southern California Wilderness course, which covered a variety of topics. "In my Southern California Wilderness class, the recruits were taught to identify native plants and animals, studied the unique ecology of this area, and learned about the human history that has shaped the county during the past 200 years," says Brown. "Recruits were also responsible for an in-depth report on a local species of their choice and had to present their findings to the class on the last day. We covered quite a lot including Coast Live Oaks, California Ground Squirrels, Acorn Woodpeckers, Tarantulas, Coyotes and Prickly Pear Cactus—just to name a few!" Reetz covered the National Association for Interpretation's Certified Interpretive Guide training (also known as CIG), which included interpretation techniques for both natural and cultural history resources. "It was an honor to be a part of the OC Parks Ranger Academy and interact with such a terrific group of people," says Reetz."They are all highly motivated, passionate and dedicated individuals who will be a true asset to the entire parks system." These two courses alone provided the recruits with nearly 50 hours of instruction and activity designed to make them well-versed in the natural and cultural history of Orange County and Southern California, as well as teaching them the proper techniques for communicating this information to park visitors. These two classes required the recruits to participate in lectures, presentations, quizzes, tests, activities, homework, reading and field work. The trainees graduated on January 12 in a ceremony at the OC Sheriff's Tustin Training Center. In addition to IRC staff participating, a number of IRC volunteers went through the program and graduated, including Aleta Walters, Matt Malin, Joseph Rios and Monica Edwards. Graduation does not guarantee employment, though the trainees will be ready when jobs open. The entire OC Parks system includes approximately 60,000 acres of land, including several miles of beaches. The OC Parks Ranger Academy offers a clear perspective in resource protection and a true appreciation for open space and recreational opportunities offered through the community, while preparing those enrolled for the challenging and rewarding career as a Park Ranger. A number of OC Parks Rangers participated in this program including Training Manager, Todd Daniel; Senior Training Officer, Kevin McKeown; Supervising Park Ranger, Ron Slimm; Academy Administrator, Vicky Malton; Training Officer, Chris Lorenzi; Training Officer, Jacky Velasquez; Training Officer, Ryan Cordero, and many more (this is not a complete list). For more about the OC Parks Ranger Reserve Program, visit or to get more information about OC Parks click here. 
(photo provided by OC Parks). |