My time as an NPS Ranger is filled with memories of meaningful moments, impactful programs, and inspiring people. It's remarkable how each positive interaction extends outward, benefiting families, friends, and communities, ultimately contributing to a better world. While many successful projects have made a difference, the Hawai’i Island Youth Ranger Internship Program stands out as the most challenging and rewarding of my career.
The idea for this program grew from my connection to the communities near the park. Having grown up in a similar environment in Washington, I saw the potential within these communities often limited by job opportunities, transportation issues, and economic hardship. Reflecting on my own experiences, I realized specific things could have greatly improved my circumstances earlier in life.
For instance, I had a significant fear of public speaking, yet I knew I needed a voice to make an impact. Because my parents' jobs lacked personal fulfillment and extra benefits, I didn’t realize that work could be enjoyable and meaningful, offering more than just a paycheck. Navigating my financial future involved a decade of trial, mostly error, and eventually luck.
These thoughts drove me to a clear mission: to show every young person starting out that they can overcome challenges and achieve their goals. This belief became the foundation of the Youth Ranger Program, aiming to reach as many high school students as possible with a message of hope and empowerment.
The support of my leader at the time, Jim Gale, was crucial to the program's success. His belief in giving staff Authority, Resources, and Responsibility (ARR) allowed me to create and manage my projects effectively. Mistakes were seen as learning opportunities, fostering my confidence to innovate. This led to initiatives like holding training at schools to solve transportation issues, providing stipends for travel home after training, and dedicating a full training session to financial literacy – vital knowledge for these young adults entering the workforce.
Key partnerships with Julia Neal from Pahala and Joan Rubin from the mainland US were also essential. Their initial request to the park for conservation career opportunities for Ka’u youth started our collaboration in 2009, leading to the program's beginning. Fortunately, a 2010 initiative focused on youth in parks provided the necessary funding. Over the years, Julia and Joan consistently offered valuable support, helping me through difficulties and offering encouragement. Looking back at 16 years of training and hiring, the importance of community involvement is clear.
Initially, my federal uniform created a barrier in the community. Students seemed wary and would try to avoid me, or ask if I was going to “arrest them.” Realizing this, I switched to wearing aloha attire, which created a more open atmosphere. Soon, I had recruited 15 enthusiastic Ka’u High School students, and with the flexibility and support of Principal Sharon Beck, we partnered with the school for a classroom and were ready to start.
I immediately recognized the intelligence and potential of the first group and treated the program like a college course, giving them ARR to take ownership of their learning. They could attend as they wished, manage their breaks, and be responsible for their outcomes. They thrived under this trust. After training, I hired 12 of them for summer jobs. Becoming federal employees in Park Ranger uniforms, just like their mentors, they engaged with visitors worldwide, sharing the importance of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park as an International Biosphere Reserve and World Heritage Site. They pushed their boundaries, leading tours, sharing Hawaiian culture and local knowledge, and showing how effective it was to have local youth serving in their park. Feedback from after-action focus groups with the students improved the program for the next year.
By the third year, the program’s success was obvious. Charles Thomas, the Pacific West Regional Youth Coordinator, recognized its impact and fully funded its expansion to the Puna district in addition to Ka’u. This allowed us to train 40 high school students and hire forty-five youths, including 15 college mentors who supported the younger employees. These college mentors were key in building a bridge to higher education and providing guidance, proving very successful.
In the fourth year, we reached into West Hawai’i and impacted youths around the entire island.
Although funding was challenging in later years, numerous organizations stepped in to keep the program going. Eventually, it became a signature program of the Washington Youth Office, which committed to partial annual funding. Generous contributions from Hawai’i Pacific Parks Association, Friends of Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park, Hawai’i Community Foundation, Omidyar Family Foundation, the US Army, National Parks Foundation, the Geist Foundation, and many private donors have been crucial in sustaining the program.
In total, over $2.6 million, mostly for student salaries, has directly benefited our island communities. The program has reached thousands of local high school students, trained 690 young people and provided paid positions to 355 youths.
Witnessing the positive changes in these young people through providing knowledge, opportunity, and support makes every obstacle I’ve faced worthwhile. The incredible youth of Hawaii Island deserve the best, and the Hawai’i Island Youth Ranger Internship Program is a significant step in that direction. I am deeply proud to have been part of it.
To learn more, contact Ranger McDaniel at 808-985-6015.
Learn about Hawaiʻi Pacific Park's connection to the program.
Learn about Friends of Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park connection to the program.
