CINDY PURCELL
National Park Service Ranger
 
Raised in northern Virginia, I earned a B.S. in Environmental Studies at Ferrum College. Between my junior and senior years, I was introduced to the Student Conservation Association and was selected to work in West Texas with the National Park Service. The wide open spaces of the great Southwest desert intrigued me. I was struck by the lifestyle, the people, and the places of the National Park Service and I decided that summer that I wanted to make this my career.

In 1985 I got my first permanent National Park Service position at Mammoth Cave NP, Kentucky. After law enforcement training, I transferred to Guadalupe Mountains NP and worked there two years. I then transferred to Bandelier National Monument in New Mexico for six and a half years as the Lead Park Ranger in Law Enforcement. From that job, I moved to Sequoia/Kings Canyon National Parks in California and worked as the Sierra Crest Subdistrict Ranger, responsible for 300,000 acres of roadless wilderness.

What a great job that was. They actually paid me to supervise 5 backcountry ranger stations (all about 2 days hike apart). I had my own horse and two mules which I packed and rode into the backcountry for several days at a time. I have a few good bear stories from this job.

Most recently, I transferred to Zion National Park, where I work as the Plateau (Backcountry) District Ranger. I have been here five years, and I truly believe that I have the best job in this beautiful place. This is a dynamic park with a lot going on and much to accomplish. I can’t imagine leaving for another couple of years but you never know when the next great job will open up..