Please tell us a little bit about yourself.
Hometown: Cincinnati, Ohio
Program of study, relevant job experience: My degree is in Communications with a minor in Sociology. But I have a mix of job experience in conservation work (trail building, wildland firefighting, chainsaw work, invasive species removal, etc.), mainly through various AmeriCorps programs, as well as education work; I was an Outdoor Educator at a camp for several years and moved from there into working in a school as a Special Education Aide.
Position in our Outer Banks national parks: Interpretive Ranger
Where you can be found: Bodie Island Lighthouse
Other national parks you have worked at: Arches National Park (Utah) and Mammoth Cave National Park (Kentucky)
Photo: Lilianne Kinne.
Currently listening to/watching/reading: I love the “Outer Banks” TV show, I listen to a lot of audio books (mostly historical fiction and fantasy), and I’m currently reading, Last of the Giants: The Rise and Fall of Earth’s Most Dominant Species.
What do you like to do in your free time? Hike, run, kayak, relax, and arts/crafts! I love making anything with my hands, but I mostly make jewelry. My more unique hobbies include Ultimate Frisbee, aerial arts, and Acroyoga.
What do you like most about the Outer Banks? The ecology here. This is such a unique ecosystem, and I love the diversity of both the biology and the landscapes around here! I did not grow up along the coast, so this is a whole new world for me!
How did you end up in your current position with the National Park Service?
I visited the Outer Banks for the first time last October while in between seasons at Mammoth Cave, and at the time I joked about maybe one day working here. Then fast forward a few months I saw a job opening and was convinced to apply by a fellow ranger who worked here before. I am also trying to work in every major ecosystem, so it seemed like the perfect opportunity to work at a coastal park!
What does a typical workday or work week look like for you?
Most days you will find me at the Bodie Island lighthouse, either in the Visitor Center, at the top of the lighthouse, or at the base of the lighthouse. However, depending on the day you could also find me giving a program on site, walking the Bonner Bridge Pier or Coquina Beach talking to visitors, or leading a kayaking or crabbing program!
Photo: Lilianne Kinne.
What do you enjoy most about working in our Outer Banks national parks?
I really love the quiet moments in between visitors when I get to be on the top of the lighthouse alone taking in the view and the peace of this beautiful place.
I also love anytime I get to be out in nature. My bi-weekly kayaking programs are the absolute favorite part of my job! I love getting out on the water and seeing the unique wildlife up close.
What is a favorite memory you have from your time working in the Outer Banks?
I’ve had so many meaningful interactions with visitors. My favorite moments are when someone who is clearly terrified of heights makes it up to the top of the lighthouse and is just in awe of what they have just done! They faced their fears, got out of their comfort zone, and were rewarded with a breathtaking view.
I also love when I get super inquisitive Junior Rangers. I have split my NPS career between Interpretation and Education, so I’ve worked with a lot of kids and students, and it is always refreshing when I get to teach something new to a young person and encourage their learning.
And finally, I love talking to people who have some sort of connection to this area. Either they grew up coming here as a kid or are related to one of our old lightkeepers (this has happened several times), or they got engaged here and now they’re back! I feel like I get to be a little part of their legacy!
Is there anything else you would like people to know about you or about our Outer Banks national parks?
I think nature is so awe inspiring and so weird and wonderful. And I think that holds so true here in the Outer Banks. This is truly one of the most unique environments I have ever been to. And because it is constantly shifting and changing you can never go to the same Outer Banks twice! It’s a little scary to think that the Outer Banks we know of today are not going to be around forever, but all the more reason to appreciate and protect this delicate, ever-changing place!