Fun in the Sun: Ranger Rendezvous 43 in Jacksonville Florida

Ranger Rendezvous has always been one of my favorite parts of being a member of ANPR. Attendees get to attend presentations about resource management, administration, NPS history, and law enforcement. We get to have conversations with NPS staff from seasonals to regional directors and sometimes, even the NPS Director (invited this year). And, when the hour is right, we get to swing by the hospitality suite to see what Nancy Ward brought to drink!

As this year’s RR manager, I’m happy to say that all of this and much more is already in the works for Ranger Rendezvous 43 in Jacksonville, Florida! This October 14 through 19, we’ll be meeting at the Lexington Hotel on the banks of the St. Johns River. Situated in the heart of downtown Jacksonville, our venue is less than an hour’s drive from NPS sites at the 348 year old Castillo de San Marcos, Timucuan Ecological & Historic Preserve, and from historic St. Augustine.

Next to the hotel, you can enjoy the Jacksonville Riverwalk, an in-house bar and restaurant (breakfast and parking are included with your room), and easy access to the nearby San Marco neighborhood. The hotel is also less than a mile from the city’s Science and History Museum, Museum of Contemporary Art, and Space Gallery, in case you want a quick change of pace.

At Rendezvous, you can expect to pick from several supplementary training sessions, to participate in our ever popular raffle, and, as a unique attraction this year, attend the 25th anniversary celebration of the Harry Yount Award! I’ll be sharing more details about all of these activities in the summer issue of Ranger, but, for now, I wanted to make sure you save the dates so we’ll see you in Jacksonville this October 14 through 19!