Becoming a Forest Ranger

[Joe1999]

Can anyone give me some information on how to become one?

Im 27 and have been riding around in the pines for years... so I figured I might as well find a job I like doing. And I think being a forest ranger could be just that. I think you have to take a civil service test. But is there more than one civil service test? Is there one for every gov. position? Or does one test cover them all? Do I need to go and take college classes to become one? Or what, Im pretty lost on how to go about this. Any info is appreciated.

 

[Badfish740]

Welcome to NJPB! Parks and Forestry is a part of the Department of Environmental Protection so here are a few numbers:

State Park Service Assistant Director's (Lynn Fleming) Office
Support Staff: Carmen Davila 609-292-2772

Forest Service Chief's (Edward A. Lempicki) Office
609-292-2520

State Forestry Service Assistant Director's (James Barrisi) Office
Support Staff: Vicky Hesse 609-292-2520

State Park Police Chief's (Theresa Genardi) Office
609-633-7577

That should at least get you started. All of these numbers and more can be found on the DEP website here.

I would guess that you definitely have to sit for the civil service exam but be advised, with the budget crisis being what it is they may not be hiring for a while.

 

[bobpbx]

Can anyone give me some information on how to become one? Im 27 and have been riding around in the pines for years... so I figured I might as well find a job I like doing.

Joe, if I had a do-over, I'd get a Batchelors's degree in something. You are young enough to do it. Even if you had to live in a small place for 4 years in a college town and really throw yourself into it, it would be worth it. The sooner you start, the sooner you are done. You write well, go for it!

PS: I think most rangers have a degree these days.

 

[RednekF350]

Can anyone give me some information on how to become one?

Im 27 and have been riding around in the pines for years... so I figured I might as well find a job I like doing.

You will need a bachelors degree to become a ranger in N.J.
I graduated from Cook College in 1981 with a bachelors degree in their Natural Resouce Management program. (now called Professional Resource Management) Lynn Flemming, who was on the list posted above as Assistant Director of Parks and Forestry, was a classmate.
Here is a link to the programs at Cook:
http://www.cookcollege.rutgers.edu/majors/
I too wanted to pursue a career in parks or forestry but 1981 was similar to todays hiring climate in the federal and state governments.
Jobs in that field were hard to come by and I ended up where I am now as an environmental specialist for a consulting engineer with licenses in land surveying and planning.
I have been at the same company since 1982 and I was hired because of my education which included soils, geology, land use planning and forestry.
The education will be to yor benefit no matter what career you pursue and as Bob said, the earlier you start the earlier you get done.
As you get older, life has a way of getting complicated real fast and with a wife and or kids, going to school full time is not an option for most.
If you are single and have the resources, I would enroll in a degree program at Rutgers or Stockton and try to do some summer work with Parks and Forestry to get your name out there.
Scott

 

[woodjin]

I have a Bachelors in Business economics and an Associates in psychology and I play the guitar for a living Not that that means anything because the educational experience in itself was worth the work and believe it or not I actually use both of those disciplines in my work (business owner, teaching (psychology) I agree you should go for a degree but do it NOW.

Jeff

 

[Joe1999]

Thanks for the replys. I guess I should go for a degree. And NOW. I always have a habit of putting stuff off and never get around to it.

If you are single and have the resources, I would enroll in a degree program at Rutgers or Stockton and try to do some summer work with Parks and Forestry to get your name out there.
Scott

I was thinking BCC. They probably would have something for me there, right?

 

[Ben Ruset]

I believe you need at least X credits in Law Enforcement. Many rangers today are more police officers than environmentalists.

 

[Boyd]

As discussed here before, I think the "forest rangers" are now called "park police," or at least that's what I've seen painted on the vehicles now....

 

[RednekF350]

I was thinking BCC. They probably would have something for me there, right?

BCC would probably get you to the Associates level.
Most county colleges, as far as I know, do not offer bachelor degree programs.
Some are affiliated with 4 year schools that make transfer of credits to the 4 year school an easy transition.

 

[bobpbx]

BCC would probably get you to the Associates level.
Most county colleges, as far as I know, do not offer bachelor degree programs.
Some are affiliated with 4 year schools that make transfer of credits to the 4 year school an easy transition.

Ocean County College now has a program where you can stay there and be affiliated with Kean College and get a bachelors that way. Criminal Justice is one of them.

 

[RednekF350]

Ocean County College now has a program where you can stay there and be affiliated with Kean College and get a bachelors that way. Criminal Justice is one of them.

That sounds good Bob.
It also sounds more economical than doing the full run at the 4 year school.
We have one son in Camden County College and one in a 4 year school, Millersville Univ., and the County tuition bill is pretty manageable.
The Millersville bill is slowly bleeding me out.
Next year both kids will be taking out student loans in their names.
It is beginning to look like I am going to die a very poor man.
But that will be a poor man in the pines.

 

[Joe1999]

OK, well, I was riding out in tha pines today... came across a forest ranger by chance. Then the thought came to my mind... I should ask him. So, I jumped in my car and tried to catch up to him. He was hiding behind Caranza Memorial. I pulled up next to him and started talking to him.

He said you dont need college. You need to pass the civil service test for law inforcement, since its a law inforcement job, which I didnt know... and you need then to go thru 6 months of boot camp at the police academy. Sounds doable to me. So, I think Im gonna get started on my first step, finding out when and where I can take the civil service test, then go from there.

 

[Joe1999]

Many rangers today are more police officers than environmentalists.

I found that out today too.

 

[ChrisNJ]

I agree you should be getting your degree.
Burlington County in the last few weeks just announced they were going to start their own County Ranger service to service all the new parks they are creating. Not sure who you could contact for that other than check the website for Burlington County Parks.

Jeff Kerchner is the Superintendant of Parks and he will prolly be at Smithville Park for February the Moose's Birthday party next month so you could most likely talk to him about what you would need.

 

[Joe1999]

I agree you should be getting your degree.
Burlington County in the last few weeks just announced they were going to start their own County Ranger service to service all the new parks they are creating. Not sure who you could contact for that other than check the website for Burlington County Parks.

Jeff Kerchner is the Superintendant of Parks and he will prolly be at Smithville Park for February the Moose's Birthday party next month so you could most likely talk to him about what you would need.

Thanks for that, maybe ill go..

 

[pinelandpaddler]

Good luck to you, Joe! We are in dire need of cool-headed rangers around these parts. You're not a hot-head, are you?

 

[Joe1999]

Good luck to you, Joe! We are in dire need of cool-headed rangers around these parts. You're not a hot-head, are you?

Haha, not even close. But it still seems a long ways off for me. I dont know what I should do. I feel like even if I do everything that needs to be done to be qualified, I still wont get a job. Its all so complicated. And I think too negatively. So, I dont know what the future will hold for me.

 

[bobpbx]

Haha, not even close. But it still seems a long ways off for me. I dont know what I should do. I feel like even if I do everything that needs to be done to be qualified, I still wont get a job. Its all so complicated. And I think too negatively. So, I dont know what the future will hold for me.

Think baby steps Joe. Go to your local community college and talk to a counselor. They help people like you. Eat this elephant one bite at a time.

 

[pinelandpaddler]

Joe, are interested in police work or forestry?

 

[Joe1999]

Joe, are interested in police work or forestry?

I dont know. I guess more forestry. I think I know what your going to say... a forest ranger is more like a policeman of the forest, or something of the sort. I dont know what forestry is really tho. I just like being out in tha pines, so I guess I would like any job where I am out there alot. Any more ideas for a job of that sort? ...One that I could make a living off of.