In 2007 ANPR undertook a survey of NPS employees, with funding from Mike Finley and the Turner Foundation and expertise from Mark Saferstein and the American Park Network. When respondents were asked “which of the following factors would encourage you to join an NPS employee support organization?” training programs were rated second highest.

ANPR is proud to announce at least two training programs — Situational Leadership and Introduction to Resource Stewardship — will be offered in conjunction with Ranger Rendezvous in Santa Fe this December.

ANPR’s survey found that leadership training was one of the higher-ranked factors in the respondents’ NPS jobs. If you are having difficulty successfully competing for work leader or supervisory jobs because you don’t have any experience or training in supervision, then understanding Situational Leadership is a good place to start building your résumé.

This 16-hour training course is a current, comprehensive and practical method for effectively managing and developing people, time and resources. The instructor, Art Eck, teaches from first-hand experience as an NPS supervisor and manager for more than 24 years. He retired as the deputy regional director for the Pacific West Region.

Some 80 percent of class participants over the past year gave his humorous, real-life style their highest rating for presentation, stimulation and learning; 88 of 90 participants said they would recommend the class to co-workers. Eck has been an NPS leadership instructor since 1986, and he has trained more than 3,000 national and state parks employees.

Participants will receive 16 hours of certified supervisory training. If you already are an NPS supervisor these hours count toward the required 40 hours of supervisory training per year. For more information on Eck’s work and all the courses he offers, go to arteck4mtc.com/default.aspx.

Also from ANPR’s survey, respondents said that protecting the environment was one of the top priorities of their NPS job and personal priorities. In the NPS protecting the environment means protecting natural and cultural resources found within the National Park System. Introduction to Resource Stewardship focuses employees and prospective employees on the natural and cultural resource stewardship mission of the NPS and on resource protection by employees.

It begins a discussion on the roles and responsibilities of all employees in carrying out the fundamental purpose of the agency. NPS history, strategic plan and goals, current management policies, principles and practices are covered through lectures, group discussions, case studies and field exercises.

If you are hoping to become a career NPS employee, it will help you be more competitive to understand some of the inner workings and priorities of the agency. If you are already a career NPS employee, understanding the agency you work in can have positive impacts on your career satisfaction and advancement.

Introduction to Resource Stewardship will be coordinated and instructed by a team from the Horace Albright Training Center led by Jeri Hall, NPS training manager for natural and cultural resources. This course is the first in a four-part curriculum that “projects a philosophy of protection and interdisciplinary collaboration for enhanced resource protection.” It is meant for employees in all disciplines, not just those with park ranger or resource manager in their job title. The subsequent courses can be completed as one’s career progresses.

In 2007 the Office of Personnel Management surveyed federal employees and found that NPS employees’ satisfaction with their training and development programs ranked 203rd of 222 federal agencies surveyed.

This issue of Ranger sheds light on the state of training in the NPS, why NPS employees seem to perceive their training programs less favorably than other federal employees, and what the NPS intends to do about it.

ANPR seeks a formal relationship with the NPS to attempt to rectify this perceived and/or real training deficiency. Please do your part to support this effort by registering yourself or someone you supervise for training during the Rendezvous. For additional information about the courses, visit this page:

— Scot McElveen