maryland park service – Jay's Real Estate Blog

Maryland Park Service Graduates 20 New State Park Rangers

The Maryland Park Service recently graduated 20 new State Park Rangers after they completed four weeks of training. The graduation ceremony took place on February 24, 2023, at Elk Neck State Park and NorthBay Adventure Camp. This is the 13th class of new State Park Rangers since the modern ranger school program was established in 2009.

Ranger school focuses on the primary jobs of the Maryland Park Ranger, which include operations, maintenance, interpretation, and customer service. During the four-week training, students participated in intensive practical exercises and written exams. The training was designed to simulate real-world scenarios, allowing rangers-in-training to execute emergency response, park operations, search and rescue missions, resource management, and more.

To become fully certified, rangers must also complete one year of operational experience. The new rangers will work in different regions, and they are as follows:

Central:

Nicole Staab, Rocks/Susquehanna State Park
Margaret White, Rocks/Susquehanna State Park

Eastern:

Brian Bokulic, Janes Island State Park
Ashley Brown, Pocomoke River State Park
Kirby Brown, Assateague State Park
Michael Fray, Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad State Park
Erin Swale, Assateague State Park

Southern:

Samuel Behrens, Point Lookout State Park
Matthew Gregory, Southern Maryland Recreational Complex
Aubree Moore, Southern Maryland Recreational Complex
Calvin Ogburn, Southern Maryland Recreational Complex
Riley Schwertz, Point Lookout State Park

Western:

Travis Anthony, Cunningham Falls State Park
Emily Hendershot, Rocky Gap State Park
Ryan Keller, Herrington Manor State Park
Noah Manges, New Germany State Park
Cecilia Melton, South Mountain Recreation Area
Scott Offutt, Cunningham Falls State Park
Andrew Ogle, Deep Creek Lake State Park
Christine Smith, Deep Creek Lake State Park

“Maryland Park Rangers represent the vanguard of the Park Service mission – ‘to manage the state’s natural, cultural, historical, and recreational resources, to provide for wise stewardship and enjoyment by people,’” said Maryland Department of Natural Resources Secretary Josh Kurtz. “I thank each of them for their commitment to their duties, sharing and preserving our most treasured lands and waters now and for future generations.”

The Maryland Park Service takes pride in their ranger school program, which ensures that their rangers are highly skilled and competent in their duties. With the graduation of the 13th class of new State Park Rangers, the Maryland Park Service continues to maintain the quality of service they provide to the public.

MD Park Service to Host Annual Lifeguard Competition

State Park Lifeguards from across Maryland will compete in the Maryland Park Service (MPS) Lifeguard Competition at 1 p.m. on August 9 at Deep Creek Lake State Park in Garrett County.
“The Maryland Park Service employs some of the most dedicated, talented young adults as lifeguards at State Park beaches, lakes and pools,” said MPS Superintendent Nita Settina. “This competition showcases the skills that those guards utilize every day to ensure the safety of our visitors.”

Lifeguards from Deep Creek Lake, Herrington Manor, New Germany, Greenbrier, Sandy Point, Gunpowder Falls, Rocky Gap, Dan’s Mountain, Point Lookout, Cunningham Falls, Pocomoke River and Assateague State Parks are expected to compete in the event. Challenges will include a 300-yard swim, a rescue race, beach flags, the “Iron Guard” relay and the “Ultimate Challenge” obstacle course, in which lifeguards will compete for individual and team prizes.

Children and spectators will also have an opportunity to compete for prizes in a variety of water safety activities, featuring “PFD Panda,” the Department of Natural Resources’ water safety mascot.

More here.

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Park-Service-ranger-recipient-of-Environmental-Education-Award

Blizzard honored by Appalachian Lab
For the Cumberland Times-News
Cumberland Times-News The Cumberland Times-News Fri Apr 22, 2011, 10:50 PM EDT

— FROSTBURG — Maryland Park Service Ranger Caroline Blizzard is the recipient of the 2011 Richard A. Johnson Environmental Education Award for helping elevate environmental stewardship and understanding throughout Western Maryland.

Blizzard was selected for the honor by the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science Appalachian Laboratory.

The award was presented Thursday evening at the lab by its director, Robert Gardner. The annual award recognizes local citizens for their outstanding contributions to environmental education and was presented to Blizzard for her work at the Deep Creek Lake State Park Discovery Center and her personal contributions to local schools and civic organizations.

“Caroline has set a new high-water mark when it comes to engaging others about the need to conserve and protect our natural resources,” said Gardner. “Her passion and leadership has helped bring the natural world into the lives of thousands of local residents and park visitors every year.”

Blizzard has spent a lifetime helping area residents and visitors better understand and appreciate nature. Whether through her work as a certified interpretive guide, directing the Discovery Center or developing the Maryland Department of Natural Resources Becoming an Outdoors Woman program, Blizzard has long been a regional leader in the environmental education field.

Since 2004, she has directed the Discovery Center and its interpretive programming and education programs. She and her team have worked hard to make the center a frequent destination spot and hub for people to enjoy and learn about nature around Deep Creek Lake.

“Caroline is an invaluable asset to our agency, to our state and to the thousands of visitors to Deep Creek Lake,” said DNR Secretary John Griffin, “Through her dedication to the Maryland Park Service and natural resources education, visitors can better relate to — and appreciate — what makes our state unique.”

As a monarch ambassador, Blizzard has helped establish monarch butterfly “way stations” at area schools where students annually tag and release more than 800 butterflies and learn about their migration to butterfly sanctuaries in Mexico. Blizzard photographs the butterflies in Mexico to create lessons for the classrooms. This year, teachers traveled with her to directly link the classrooms via Internet video, pen pal letters and on-site visits.

Her nature photography can be viewed around the area in various venues, including the Four Storm Artists Gallery that she founded along with her family. She is also involved with numerous area organizations, including the Garrett Natural History Association, Garrett Trails, the American Cancer Society and several local civic and garden clubs.

The award honors the memory of Richard A. Johnson, a well-known orthopedic surgeon in the Allegany County area who died in 1990, leaving a legacy of a caring and dedicated physician, family man and naturalist. It provides $1,500 to support environmental education activities, which this year will go to the Western Garrett County State Park Volunteers.

An endowed fund to support the Johnson Award has been established at the University System of Maryland Foundation. Contributors include AES Western Maryland Management Co. LLC, Allegheny Power, NewPage Corp., Mettiki Coal Corp. and numerous private citizens and other organizations.

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Maryland Park Service issues warning for Deep Creek Lake snowmobilers

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The Maryland Park Service reminds all snowmobilers of the potential for unseen safety hazards on Deep Creek Lake, particularly at night. As of this Saturday, Feb. 20, an area of ice will be removed near Uno Chicago Grill along Garrett Highway to create open water for the annual Special Olympics Deep Creek Dunk. This area will remain unsafe for quite some time and will be marked with reflective traffic cones, said a park service spokesperson.

He added that persons should be aware that lake surface conditions under bridges where road salt and abrasives are plowed from the pavement are often particularly hazardous.

“Other conditions that may cause unpleasant situations are unseen snowdrifts or pressure ridges that can act as ramps and cause sleds to become airborne, leading to a loss of control and accidents,” he added.

Deep Creek Lake is a part of the designated ORV trail system, permitting use by registered snowmobiles only. Permits are available by mail or at any of the local state park offices during normal business hours. Snowmobiles may operate at night if equipped with working head and taillights.

Access to the lake may be made at Deep Creek Lake State Park or with permission from a private landowner with a permit site adjacent to the lake.

Ice fishermen, hikers, and cross-country skiers traveling on the lake should also exercise caution. The wearing of or having readily accessible life preservers could prevent a tragedy, said the spokesperson.

“Anyone who encounters people, pets, or wildlife that have fallen through the ice is asked to call either 911 or the toll-free DNR Communications number (1-800-628-9944) for assistance,” he added.

For further information on ice conditions at Deep Creek Lake, persons may telephone a ranger at the park headquarters office, 301-387-5563, or the Discovery Center on weekends at 301-387-7067.

If you are thinking of buying or selling real estate in Garrett County or Deep Creek Lake, Maryland, call Jay Ferguson of Long & Foster Real Estate for all of your real estate needs! 877-563-5350

Category: maryland park service

Maryland Park Service Graduates 20 New State Park Rangers

MD Park Service to Host Annual Lifeguard Competition

Park-Service-ranger-recipient-of-Environmental-Education-Award

Maryland Park Service issues warning for Deep Creek Lake snowmobilers

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