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Park Rangers

Meet the beloved national park rangers who've welcomed visitors, taught us about the parks, and elevated the history of the GGNRA. Our appreciation for these rangers runs deep.

What's New
A park ranger smiling during a program on Alcatraz Island.
Meet the Alcatraz park ranger sparking new conversations on the island

Ranger Oliver Goodman was raised in a family where "nobody hiked, nobody camped," but attending protests and participating in community events were a part of everyday family life. Alcatraz immediately struck him.

Ranger Mia Monroe in Muir Woods.
Park Ranger Mia Monroe and a life's work in the GGNRA

Park Ranger Mia Monroe is the Marin Community Liaison for the NPS, and one of the longest serving employees in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area.

National Park Ranger Alanna Smith, a young woman, stands in the Presidio with the Pacific Ocean visible through the trees behind her.
Learning through the parks with Ranger Alanna Smith

"We’re always on the lookout for what stories are not being told, whose perspectives we have not heard in some of our stories," says Park Ranger Alanna Smith. Meet Ranger Alanna and learn about how she and the NPS are interpreting stories at the Presidio and beyond.

Ranger Rebecca Au poses with a butterfly drawing in a flower field.
Parks are a Universal Language with Ranger Rebecca Au

In 2016, Park Ranger Rebecca Au, a former art teacher with a Master’s degree in museum education, drove from Massachusetts to California. She estimates she visited around 10 national parks along the way, including Badlands, Grand Tetons, and Bryce Canyon.

Park Ranger Lara Volski helps visitors.
Meet the Ranger: Lara Volski on climate resilience and history in the Marin Headlands

Park Ranger Lara Volski is relatively new to the National Park Service (NPS), but she’s already made a big impact for Marin Headlands visitors. Working at Point Bonita Lighthouse, the Nike Missile Site, and other locations, Ranger Lara talks about climate resilience and history in unique ways.

Ranger Rik Penn leads a program with youth at Fort Point in March 2018.
Ranger Rik Penn on his retirement, Buffalo Soldiers' lessons today, and more

Beloved Ranger Fredrick—or Rik—Penn is retiring after 30 years of public service. Penn is passionate about storytelling, sharing the history and impact of the Buffalo Soldiers, and increasing visitation to our public lands for all people.