While most people think of park rangers as people who are responsible for keeping parks and the people who visit them safe, their roles also include environmental education. Locally, park ranger Jared Brandt serves as the naturalist for French Creek State Park in Elverson and Marsh Creek State Park in Downingtown.

Brandt frequently conducts educational programming for the parks and is a regular guest speaker at the Boone Area Library in Birdsboro. He conducts in-house programs during the library's story time, and he hosts on-site programs at French Creek State Park, such as nature hikes and creek walks, where children search for creatures in the water.

The Community Courier recently asked Brandt about his role as park ranger and naturalist, which he began in 2019.

Community Courier: What are some of your job duties?

Brandt: As a naturalist for both French Creek and Marsh Creek state parks, I facilitate a host of programming, which includes outdoor recreation, like hiking, kayaking, paddleboarding, etc., as well as interpretive and historical programming, which helps connect visitors to the parks' resources. I also help with volunteer coordination. The volunteers at the parks are a pivotal entity.

Community Courier: What would people be surprised to learn about your job?

Brandt: How much programming we do with the local community and in the parks. It is always eye-opening to see how many people live near the parks and never visited them. We do a lot of events and programs in the parks.

Community Courier: What is your favorite part of the job?

Brandt: Connecting new visitors to the parks. Whether it's libraries, private groups, etc., it is always rewarding to be able to connect the resources at the parks to new visitors. Seeing visitors find a new trail, hobby or skill is the most rewarding part. Even more rewarding is seeing a first-time visitor return to the park.

Community Courier: What do you do in your spare time?

Brandt: Spend time with my wife and family. I enjoy traveling and finding new trails, birding locations and camping spots - if there is time.