Her Office: Nature!

    If you’re a nature lover, Jin Prugsawan just might have your dream job. In her career with the National Park Service (NPS), she has worked in some of the most beautiful places in the United States. Today, she works at Haleakala [hah-lay-AH-kah-LAH] National Park in Hawaii. 

    Jin, now 33, has been part of the NPS since she was 18. She was a park ranger for years. Now she has worked her way up to a leadership role. We talked to her about her incredible job.

Why are national parks important? 

    Parks are places where you can go to learn and grow. It’s amazing to be in a place where there is no development. You can see what the country looked like hundreds of years ago. Nature is a great place to go to reset and relax.

You’re the chief of interpretation, education, and volunteers at your park. What does that mean?   

    I’m in charge of any information we put out about the park. That could be a social media post, a sign on a path, or an exhibit at the visitor center. I’m also in charge of the park rangers. 

What do park rangers do?   

You might see them out in the park, ready to answer your questions. They give tours. They visit classrooms. They help people experience the best of our parks.

How did you get started with the NPS?  

    When I was in high school, I did an internship at Arlington House. That’s a historical site within the NPS. My job was to educate people about the site. My favorite part was that I got to dress in 1860s clothes!

What kinds of jobs are there in the NPS? 

    You don’t have to be a ranger giving tours. Maybe you’re the person managing the way the park uses its money. Maybe you’re the law enforcement ranger who’s keeping the park and its visitors safe. Maybe you’re the biologist studying birds. There are so many opportunities based on what you’re interested in!