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should also be able to make connections between what they read and what they see and be given the
opportunity to leave knowing more about the area than they did when they arrived.

Rangers and all other department personnel should not use any equipment without fully
understanding its operation. Audio-visual equipment must be reserved in advance and used with
care; when not in use, audio-visual equipment and other items must be stored in appropriate storage
areas. Rangers who include the department’s wildlife mounts in their presentations must also handle
them carefully.

Visitor Experience
In all aspects, rangers are responsible for ensuring visitors have safe and enjoyable experiences on
OSMP properties. This responsibility includes utilizing tools and skills that focus on protecting
resources, interpreting their inherent value, educating the public, and enforcing rules and
regulations to ensure safety and enjoyment for all OSMP visitors.

It is essential rangers explore visitor use and carefully deliberate about desired visitor experiences in
their areas. It may also be useful to collaborate with social scientists or visitor specialists to discuss
visitor information. In any case, it is helpful to consider the following:

Has visitation increased, decreased, or stayed the same over time? What implication does that have
for interpretation/education products and services?
• Is visitation to this area changing in other ways (e.g., by season, type of experience, age or
race, activity, or behavior)? How might that influence your educational or rule-enforcement
activities?

• What common questions or complaints do visitors have?
• Are there particular visitor groups or dynamics that should be segmented or perhaps targeted
with specific programs or services?
• Are visitors’ expectations being met or not being met?
• What level of knowledge do visitors have about topics related to your area? What does that
imply about your role?
• What new visitors would you like to see in your area? Where do they live? What might they
expect? How might you reach them?
• Are there daily, weekly, or seasonal expectations (e.g., serenity, scenery, fall colors, winter
wildlife, ice fishing, solstice/equinox) that provide unusual or exciting opportunities for
visitor experiences?

The National Park Service’s first director, Stephen T. Mather, reflected upon the early park rangers
as follows:

They are a fine, earnest, intelligent, and public-spirited body of men, these rangers.
Though small in number, their influence is large. Many and long are the duties

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