17 June 2009

Opportunity offered for World Ranger Day 2009

Aspiring young rangers are being offered the chance try their hand at tracking pests, monitoring wildlife, maintaining tracks and facilities, talking to the public and generally getting out into the great outdoors in Wellington’s parks and reserves.

To celebrate World Ranger Day 2009, Greater Wellington, Department of Conservation and Wellington City Council are offering a unique opportunity for secondary school students to experience a day in the life of a park ranger on Friday 31 July.

“We are inviting nominations for up to two students from various high schools in the region to spend a day at parks in Wellington City and the Hutt Valley” said organiser Gareth Cooper from Greater Wellington Regional Council. “Planned activities are as varied as spending a day monitoring wildlife on Matiu/Somes Island in Wellington Harbour to learning about ecological and recreational management in one of our many Regional Parks”.

World Ranger Day was initiated by the International Ranger Federation (IRF) and has been held since 2007. The day aims to celebrate and promote the work of rangers across the globe, with previous events held in over 50 participating nations and attracting thousands of participants.

The English word ranger was originally the title given to the guardians of the Royal Forests in 14th century England, protecting the King’s lands from poachers. Today, rangers in protected areas throughout the world continue this role for the public and are a key force in protecting these places. They do this through law enforcement, environmental education, community relations, fighting fires, conducting search and rescues, undertaking biodiversity research and monitoring, maintaining tracks and huts and in many other ways.

“Students will be able to find about more about what a park ranger does on the day as well as learn more about how to get a job as a ranger,” said Mr Cooper.

Students interested in participating in World Ranger Day 2009 can obtain information and nomination forms from their school’s career advisor. Nominations close on 8 July and are accepted on a first in, first served basis.

More information about World Ranger Day can be found at:

The International Ranger Federation website: http://www.int-ranger.net/whatsnew.html
Greater Wellington Regional Council, Department of Conservation and Wellington City Council websites:
www.gw.govt.nz www.doc.govt.nz www.wcc.govt.nz

Find out more about the ranger training programme offered by the Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology in partnership with the Department of Conservation: www.nmit.ac.nz/courses/programmehome/mid/12284/p/6195073/trainee-ranger-certificate.aspx

ENDS

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