ProRanger accepts intern applications

Natural or social science major?
The ProRanger Program is designed to provide the skills to become an employee with the National Park Services.

The ProRanger program offers two 12-week paid summer internships at a national park in the United States. This is an internship that is paid in full by the National Park Service, which starts at about $12 an hour for 40 hours a week.

ProRanger is a two-year program in the Law Enforcement Academy. Travel and stay are covered as well as admission into the Law Enforcement Academy where cadets will be required to complete 500 hours of to receive a law enforcement certificate. They can be hired as Level 2 park rangers after graduation.

This program accepts applications once a year during the fall semester.

ProRanger is accepting applications for the spring semester until Nov. 1.

Fifteen students will be chosen per semester.

“We do encourage them to be focused, mature and sure that this is something they would like to do,” Dr. Lavell Merritt, program manager, said Tuesday.

“This is a great opportunity for a young person to serve in our nation and gain unique leadership skills and have an opportunity for a permanent job as a park ranger. It’s a great opportunity to build a career out of. You can retire from this in 20 years.”

Once accepted into the ProRanger program, a leadership course is a required each semester while enrolled in this program.

The ProRanger management team will assist students in signing up for the class, which costs $150.

The student will learn all the skills needed to become a successful park ranger as well as obtain a wildfire certification, he said.

This college is the only school in Texas that offers this program, he said.

The only other place that participates is Temple University in Philadelphia. The highest-level performer in this college’s program will get the first choice of 18 national parks for internships.

Cheryl Armstrong, workforce enhancement specialist and part of the ProRanger management team, said the career is fun.

“This is an outstanding opportunity for young people to come into the federal service to serve a higher purpose,” she said.

“You are protecting the America’s national treasure.”

“This is an excellent career opportunity and it’s a pathway into a federal career. Plus, it’s a lot of fun.”

For more information, contact Merritt at 210-486-1701 or visit the college website at alamo.edu/sac/proranger/about-program/.