Can Pamela come out and play?

We had just opened the gate at 7am and were grabbing some breakfast before doing our morning rounds when there was a knock at the door.  I opened the door to find five little blonde girls (sisters) from Minnesota standing there. Almost in unison they asked "can Pamela come out and play?" 

Pamela with the education table she put together in 2014

You'd think that this would be an uncommon scenario ... but it isn't.  Pamela love the kids and the kids love Pamela.  She will frequently start out taking a couple of children on a nature walk around the campground and end up with several children and often some adults. After a nature walk she will send them on hunts around the campground to find and identify types of wildflowers or trees.  The five little blondes were ready and eager for more.  "Okay, Pamela," I teased, "you can go play with your friends."  Pamela helps the youngsters complete their Junior Ranger book and earn their Junior Ranger badge. An interpretive Ranger at one of the visitor centers will get the honor of swearing them in and making a big deal at the center. But we get the best part.  We get to actually watch them complete the program and sign-off on their book.  To have a young person hold an often crumpled Junior Ranger book and a pen up to you and ask "will you sign my book" is priceless.  To get to sign on the line "Ranger" is an honor we take very seriously. 

Pamela with our boss, Ranger Justin Racioppi 

No matter what your job description is with the National Park Service, it in some way relates to making the visitor's stay as meaningful and exciting as possible.  Our days are long.  We average a 9-10 hours day. But when this type of experience is a part of your day, those are the best 9-10 hours of the day. 

We never look at our watches and wonder when we'll be done for the day. To the contrary we look forward to answering the door and hearing "can Pamela come out to play?"