For Park Ranger Gary Whittaker `16, learning is ‘a project that will never be done’

Clad in the iconic flat hat, gray shirt and badge, Whittaker spends his days giving guided tours, working at the visitor center and patrolling the two most visited areas of the park: The Pueblo Loop Trail and Tsankawi. And once a month, he gives evening ranger talks on topics such as land use, the role of the railroad in New Mexico and Spanish colonization and its impacts.

His love for research was born out of his time as a student at Barstow. 

“Barstow wasn’t making park rangers, but it was making thinkers — how to do research, how to think about sources,” Whittaker said. 

Whittaker came to Barstow as a sixth grader, and during his time as a Knight, he participated in theater, debate and golf, developed photos in the dark room and enjoyed art history class. 

His favorite activity was theater, and he remembers Bob Kohler, Director of Theatre, telling young thespians: “You are the only person there that knows the script.” Today, Whittaker tells “baby rangers” this to help calm them before they talk to visitors, and he credits Mr. Kohler with his public speaking skills. 

After Barstow, Whittaker attended Rhodes College in Memphis, Tennessee, where he majored in history. When he entered college, he was set on becoming an attorney, but after taking a political science class and participating in mock trial, Whittaker altered his plan. He realized that he liked talking to people, explaining things and writing research papers. In the history department, he also enjoyed the focus on public history.

“It’s always nice doing something with a direct impact,” Whittaker said. 

After college, Whittaker briefly held a job in politics but decided that it wasn’t for him. He moved to Wyoming and became a lift operator at a ski resort: “That was probably the most fun job I’ve ever had.” He worked 10 hours a day, but two of those hours he was paid to take a ski break. 

Whittaker recommends that Barstow alumni “do something cool and outside before you get stuck inside all the time.” 

While in Wyoming, Whittaker applied to the National Park Service. He started at Bandelier National Monument (where he works today), as a seasonal employee. Then, he received a permanent job offer at Zion National Park, where he worked for a year and got involved in search and rescue. When he had an opportunity to transfer back to Bandelier National Monument, Whittaker took it because he wanted a slower-paced environment and more time to interact with the visitors. He’s been at Bandelier since 2022. 

Whittaker said he loves being able to move around and be outside during the workday. 

“I think there’s a reason we have recess in schools,” he said. “Being able to get up, walk and interact with people outside is such a boost for me.” 

His favorite section of the park is Tsankwai (pronounced Sang Quwhee), where there are interesting petroglyphs and “great views of the Sangre de Christo mountains across the Rio Grande valley.” 

Whittaker has picked up and moved rattlesnakes, come within “spitting distance” of elk and “nearly had my car run off the road by a herd of particularly daring mule deer late one night.” Shockingly, the animal that has given him the most trouble is the Albert’s Squirrel. 

“I’d estimate more people are bitten by squirrels than tossed by bison or charged by elk in the entire National Park Service,” Whittaker said. 

In addition to his park ranger duties, Whittaker is also now working as an EMT and park firefighter. As an EMT, he often treats dehydration and altitude-related issues, and as a firefighter, he mostly helps with controlled burns. 

But his favorite part of the job is doing research for programs, because there’s always something new to learn.

“You have to be a lifelong learner to do well in this job,” Whittaker said. 

If you are planning to visit a national park anytime soon, Whittaker shared some tips. 

“Do your research beforehand. Follow the rules. Drink water, and have salty snacks. You will be better than 99% of park visitors if you do even three of those four things,” Whittaker said.

And if you are planning a visit to Bandelier National Monument, Whittaker said don’t hesitate to reach out to him in advance of your visit.