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If you love nature and being outdoors, but still enjoy being with people, you might like being a park ranger.
As a park ranger, you would basically run the park and help people enjoy it.
There are 21 state parks in Alabama and many other preserve-type areas where a park ranger could work.
Helping people enjoy nature can be a rewarding experience.
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Requirements to Become a Park Ranger in Alabama
There are two levels of park rangers in Alabama, and they have different requirements.
A general park ranger needs a high school diploma and two years of experience either in law enforcement or working in a public recreation facility.
A park naturalist is expected to know a lot more about the science of the outdoors and has to have a bachelor’s Degree.
Park naturalists are in an interpretive role for the biological, topographical, and historic features of the park.
Bachelor’s degrees may be in things like forestry management, natural science, or parks and recreation.
Park rangers in Alabama also have to complete a basic training program along with police officers.
They will have to pass a physical ability test and will have to pass a firearms course.
Park Ranger Duties in Alabama
Duties of park rangers would vary some, depending on the needs of individual parks.
In general, regular park rangers provide maintenance and oversee the park’s operation.
They provide security, and law enforcement, and help people enjoy the park and follow the rules.
They also protect natural resources.
They would also educate people on protecting nature, especially in that immediate area, and work outside to maintain the park.
People with the park naturalist job would do all of those things when needed.
They would also do guided tours, give talks, and oversee educational programs.
They would also be involved in managing plant and animal life in the park.
State Parks in Alabama
Oak Mountain State Park, in the northwest part of the state, is the state’s largest with more than 10,000 acres.
It is also one of the oldest, founded in 1927.
The park features two large lakes, 50 miles of trails, and a host of day-use activities you can be involved in.
It is one of the most popular parks in the state, partly because of its size.
It has camping and lodging facilities.
There is also a 65-foot waterfall on one of the trails.
There are guided horseback riding events, a marina, a golf course, an exhibit of farm animals, and a 2500-square-foot interpretive center.
Lake Guntersville State Park is in the hills of the northeast part of the state and is surrounded by beautiful mountains.
It was opened as a state park in 1974, but its scenery and amenities make it the flagship park of the state.
It has a lot of nature to enjoy, but it is one of the few parks that have a lot of luxuries as well.
It has 6,000 acres along the banks of the Tennessee River.
It has a large camping area on the river, and there is a state park lodge on the grounds.
This park also has a formal restaurant and a convention center.
It has a golf course, 30 miles of trails, bathhouses, horseback riding, and more.
Little River Canyon National Preserve is part of the state’s park program and was created in 1992.
It was started to protect the little river canyon, which some say is the deepest canyon east of the Mississippi.
It is on top of Lookout Mountain, near Fort Payne.
There are not many amenities here, but there is a lot of raw nature to enjoy.
There is a pavilion for public use, and waterfalls that are accessible by car.
The area has an 11-mile scenic drive along the edge of the canyon.
There are also 23 miles of dirt roads in the backcountry for public use.
You may camp there anywhere, or mountain biking is also popular.
Kayaking on the river is another popular activity. This is a great park for those that like to rough it.
Alabama Park Ranger Salary
Park rangers in Alabama make between $26,000 and $43,000, and there are 21-step raises from the bottom to the top.
A park naturalist with a college degree would make about $50,000 in Alabama state parks and could go up to 60,000 with years of service.
Annual Salary Range:| Location | Avg. Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Birmingham | $38,881 |
| Montgomery | $36,828 |
| Mobile | $38,014 |
| Huntsville | $38,848 |
| Tuscaloosa | $38,501 |
| Georgiana | $36,499 |
| Dothan | $36,282 |
| Decatur | $37,661 |
| Auburn | $37,061 |
| Gadsden | $38,536 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you have to renew your license in Alabama?
No, and there are no specific licensing or continuing education classes required.
Rangers are appointed to full-time permanent jobs.
Where could a park ranger work, other than a state park?
The state’s historical sites also employ park rangers to oversee the site and give interpretation programs.
National parks also hire rangers.
Do you have to have a college degree to be a naturalist?
A college degree is required.
However, experience as a park ranger can be a substitution for education requirements over time and you could get qualified that way.
What does a park ranger naturalist do?
A naturalist is a park ranger with a college degree and has to be more knowledgeable in the sciences such as biology.
They work with interpreting the natural area.
They might plan, organize, and lead programs for visitors.
Why is law enforcement experience required?
A big part of a park ranger’s job is enforcing the rules, as well as the laws, inside the park.
They also direct traffic and are in effect park police officers.
Read the full guide: How to Become a Wildlife Conservationist
Park Ranger by State