Historically, rangers welcomed visitors by maintaining a consistent positive presence.  They interacted with the public by offering engaging activities.  They patrolled backcountry trails that were only accessible by foot, bicycle or horseback.  They were able to raise the level of awareness and stewardship in our public lands, including national forests, national parks, state parks, county parks and city parks. 

Our Trail Ranger Interpretive Program (T.R.I.P.) ambassadors are welcoming visitors to some of the most popular trails in Southern California, including Black Star Canyon, Icehouse Canyon, Walnut Creek and Dana Point.  Easily recognized by our distinctive NFY uniforms, we stand ready to assist you with your trail experience!

Our team members are trained to:

• welcome visitors
• offer natural and cultural history information, including plant & wildlife identification
• provide directions to natural and cultural landmarks
• remove litter and graffiti
• conduct biological surveys, patrols and trail maintenance
• assist with miscellaneous tasks related to the visitor experience

Ranger Naturalists or Interpretive Rangers, the iconic ambassadors of our public lands, have all but disappeared from many of our most popular trail destinations due to severe budget cuts, privatization of natural resources and prioritization towards law enforcement and wildfire protection.