As many of you know I didn’t get my job as a Park Ranger at Grand Canyon back last summer due to yet a different government snafu than mentioned above. I’ve now been unemployed for over a year. That in itself is hard to take. In 2018, I mourned the loss of my job and best friend.
This year is different
I’m trying to get myself out there, into the world outside my four walls. Good place to start that, my local community of Yarnell. Last Thursday I volunteered for the first time at our Yarnell Regional Community Center thrift store. Hey, I know about second-hand stuff, how to work a cash register, and can even count back change. It was a fun five hours working with Rebecca, a friend and fellow photographer, chatting with locals, and even enjoyed a free lunch.
It doesn’t stop here
On Thursday, January 10th, at 2pm I will be presenting at the center, How the Grand Canyon was formed, complete with a slide program, but sadly no Park Ranger hat. Can’t wear uniform parts when not working for the service, sort of like being in the military but I’m guessing way more fun.
Because I usually present this talk along the rim having the canyon as a prop I had to create a slide program to help tell the story. Surprisingly, that took way over 40 hours of fun work. If you’re able, hope you’ll join me.
I am excited about sharing the canyon’s geologic history. I always hope it’s easier for people to love a place if they understand it better and can connect and become part of the story. Now if I could just figure out how to take this show on the road, and get paid for it. Yea, sorry, I’m still on that making an income thing.
And another thing
Last night I attended a free presentation by photographer and writer Colleen Miniuk-Sperry on Finding your Creative Voice at the Wickenburg Arts Club. We’ve been friends on Facebook for a little while and I admire her photography and her style. Colleen is exuberant, and crazy by her own description, sharing her story to find her creative voice was inspirational. She has one spot left in the Death Valley photography workshop in February that I would dearly love to attend. Yet being a Park Ranger but without the hat, also means no income and therefore the workshop is out of my budget.
Maybe someday, I can lead workshops myself and continue to be like a Park Ranger but without the hat.
Hope you can find the opportunity to talk about the Parks. I think you are one of the best interpreters I’ve heard and your engagement with your audience is outstanding
Thank you. I’m open to suggestions for speaking opportunities.
Find a themed hat, a shirt and jacket in the style/mode of the ranger service and design a patch to apply to the hat_shirt_jacket and start giving fee lectures.
It will help if you have also written a small guide to the subject matter your covering. Your profoundly expressive photographs should be the basis of the book and lectures.
What remains is targeting your offering. Corporate sales would have the higher remuneration, but there could be other avenues for getting business.
The comment window didn’t load again so I just used reply.
On the trail sitting on a stump taking in the snowy panoramic view of the encircling mountains of the Rogue River Valley wishing you tangible results in whatever direction you take.
Thank you for the grand ideas. Enjoy those Siskiyou Mts. Your reply is a comment.
Yavapai College “extension” is always looking for someone to teach community courses. We just got our catalog, and I think your course/courses would be a good fit. It would mean driving up to the Prescott campus, but the fee per participant might make that worthwhile. If you can find someone to operate a video camera, film your Yarnell presentation and edit it to show as a Portfolio piece. 🙂
Yes, I have already asked a friend to record the presentation. Good idea about the extension classes. Thank you.
I’m still sad you didn’t get your park ranger job again…I know you’re sadder, though. Your photos of the Grand Canyon are gorgeous, I’m sure your talk will be well-received. I don’t know if you’re a reader or perhaps you’ve read this book already but I’m reading it now and highly recommend it. Even more fascinating if one is an Arizonan. “Pure Land: A True Story of Three Lives, Three Cultures and the Search for Heaven on Earth” by Annette McGivney. Nicely written about the 2006 murder at the Havasupai Reservation.
Thank you for the lovely comment and recommendation.
It’s shameful, the shutdown. I’m so sorry for our US friends.
Yes it is, but so are many things in this country right now.
Hi Gaelyn – if I didn’t live over 1000 miles from Wickenburg I would be there on the 10th to hear your presentation on the Geology of the Grand Canyon, and see your photos. Best wishes on all your endeavors for this coming year ! I enjoy your blog and photos.
Thank you Gail. That’s a little too far to travel for a talk. I’m working on 2019.
A thought… Years (and years) ago we spent time at Los Cabelleros Guest Ranch in Wickenburg. There must be a LOT of guest ranches in the southwest within a fairly close radius of your base. Have you thought about contacting them? You could give talks about the GC, flora and fauna, photography, desert life, etc., You have a wealth of information under your proverbial hat. Create a media kit for yourself and pitch to the guest ranches. Maybe start with a minimal fee and a spot for your camper, or something along those lines. It would seemingly fit your lifestyle so well because the guest ranches are seasonal. I bet once you get your foot in the door at one or two of the ranches, the word would spread. Some food for though.
Thank you. Great ideas.
Take your presentation on the road! Perhaps there are natural history museums that would like to share your slide show. I’m sure this initial offering will be well received, your photos and experience will bring the slide-show to life.
On a local note Chicano Park (NHL) is open, but the restrooms are closed, the local barrio is collecting the trash.
Cabrillo NM is closed as is access to the tidepools.
The 3rd Monday Jan not just MLK Day, it is also the National Day of Service. A day I’ll consider assisting at one of our parks … or the beach if it’s nice 🙂
Thanks Jeff. I’m loving everybody’s ideas.
I am happy to hear locals are picking up the slack in many parks.
Sure wish I could be there to see you. Great to see so many suggestions. I wish I had a good one too. My brain seems like molasses lately. Not sure who said the best things in life are free but a lot of the nice enough things like classes and workshops and food and travel cost money. I may never forgive the north rim and whoever is in charge who clearly didn’t appreciate you.
Thanks Sherry. I wish you could be here too. I’m liking the ideas. Just knew others would think of things I hadn’t.
I’m looking forward to Tuesday. I’m also so glad you met Colleen. there’s a lot to be learned from her.
I hope you meant Thursday. I like her style.
Best of British! hope your talk goes well. It can’t fail with your splendid photography. I mourn the loss of a trip to the Grand Canyon which will probably never happen. you, however, have show its many faces to me. Once a ranger always a ranger. it’s in your blood, head and heart. go well Gaelyn.
Thank you for the compliment and moral support. Always nice to hear from folks I don’t know are reading. Sorry you’ve never gotten to the Grand Canyon and hope I get back for more pics maybe this summer. In the meantime, I’ll just pretend I’m there at tomorrow’s presentation.
Sounds like you are really on a roll and talking about things you know so well to other people will be fun I should think, even if not a great money earner. We both hope you will soon hear that you have a job for the coming season. Take care, Diane and Nigel
Tomorrow’s show is free but I’ll try to pitch it elsewhere for at least a nominal fee. With the government shut down, I won’t hear anything about summer until that’s over.
Hi Gaelyn, Firstly I am sorry you still have not been able to get the rangers job you wanted. However you never know something may turn up to suite your requirements for the time being. I see your blog followers have many suggestions which sound great . It’s difficult to say which would be the most suitable but your idea of lecturing about the geology of Grand Canyon sounds wonderful and as you know if I were near enough I would certainly be there. Is it possible to put your lecture online ? This would be fantastic along with your wonderful photo’s of the Canyon. Anyway good luck and best wishes with everything you do.
Thanks for the sympathy Rita. With the current government shutdown I won’t hear anything about jobs until it’s over. I like the suggestions given and will follow up on pitching my program elsewhere. I could put it online but don’t know if I will.
It’s so good to see you getting out there volunteering and doing the lecture. Would love to hear your talk about the geology of the canyon. I’m sure it will go over well, and maybe lead to some future bookings. Of all the ranger talks we’ve attended at various national parks over the years, your talk about the condors was the best we’ve seen. Hope you get some good news about summer employment once the shutdown is over.
Thanks for the Ranger compliment. Anytime you want to come up to Yarnell I’ll find a place to park you, with limited electric only and mostly level. If your park is interested, I’m for hire.
Having heard just one of your parks on the canyon, the local folks are in for a real treat!! Glad to see your new year starting out on a forward foot!
Thanks. I think it was the geology talk you were there for. I’m making 2019 happen!