NEPRA is an association created to promote the advancement of the Park Ranger profession by providing a forum for the exchange of ideas through interacting with park professionals, educators and others interested in the Ranger profession. NEPRA plays a leadership role in encouraging the highest standards of public service in the region. The Association is committed to enhancing the Ranger profession through training, networking, research and social enrichment.

Members come from a variety of park agencies, including federal, state, municipal and private parks and historic sites. Many students and outdoor enthusiasts also enjoy the benefits of membership. The organization is open to all individuals interested in the protection and management of the natural, cultural and recreational resources of New England.

For more information, please visit the NEPRA website.

WHAT IS A PARK RANGER?

Park Rangers are public servants entrusted with and committed to the care and protection of our natural, cultural and recreational resources. Rangers manage resources to assure each park visitor a quality experience. To accomplish this, rangers may perform a wide spectrum of duties including:

• Patrolling trails and facilities to ensure public safety and resource protection
• Communicating the importance of resource stewardship through positive role modeling
• Educating the public about the critical interdependence of humans and the environment
• Providing emergency response and pro-active management to ensure visitor safety
• Enforcing park rules and regulations to facilitate an enjoyable experience for all

Whether you are the "Lone Ranger" or an integral member of a large rangering force, NEPRA has something to offer you...

• Regional newsletter with articles of local interest
• Membership directory listing names, addresses and job titles
• Annual Ranger Rendezvous Conference offering sessions on ranger techniques, management and research
• Training workshops throughout the year providing skills enhancement and information exchange
• Awards recognizing professional excellence and service to the ranger field
• Job listings and associated conference listings

Your membership to NEPRA is an acknowledgment of your professional commitment and your contribution to the future of the Park Ranger field. In addition to the services NEPRA offers, members also receive many intangible benefits, including:

• promoting inter-agency communication
• generating support for new and existing programs
• sharing new ideas and trends in the field
• creating a network of professional contacts in the region
• providing professional development and resume enhancement
• boosting staff morale and creativity

"In the planning and management of all parks,...we must be guided by the unifying management principle that protection of ecological health and historic integrity is our first consideration and priority; that these resources are conserved for the benefit and inspiration of the people through the understanding, appreciation and enjoyment of the values being preserved." Gary Everhardt

"Conservation is a state of harmony between men and land." Aldo Leopold

"The long fight to save wild beauty represents democracy at its best. It requires citizens to practice the hardest of virtues - self-restraint." Edwin Way Teale