What is a Dark Ranger?
Dark Rangers are the sworn enemies of light pollution. Though they acknowledge that artificial light is a good thing (perhaps the greatest single accomplishment of our species), too much of a good thing can easily and suddenly become a TERRIBLE thing.
By the 3rd millennium,
the reckless use of artificial
light had nearly vanquished the
night. A formidable few rushed to
defend the last remaining sanctuaries of
natural darkness.
Armed with science, mythology, and a fierce love
for all things nocturnal came warrior poets who pushed
back against the light.
They were called Dark Rangers. And no one knew their names.
Park Rangers as Professional Dark Rangers
The Dark Ranger tradition began at Bryce Canyon National Park in 2000 but has spread to many other state and national parks. Here's a photo album featuring park rangers who double as Dark Rangers. If you're not in here BUT want to be, email me YOUR photo (with telescope) and info about what YOU do and where YOU work (and then maybe somebody, somewhere, someday will know YOUR name).
Can I Become a Dark Ranger Too?
Though professional Dark Rangers are often also park rangers, EVERYBODY can and should become honorary Dark Rangers. Join the ranks of these night sky advocates by liking the Dark Ranger Community Page on facebook. There's a great amount of work to be done in heightening global awareness to the importance of protecting natural darkness and warning against the evils of light pollution.
http://www.facebook.com/Iamthedarkranger
Dark Ranger Training/Workshops
The veteran Dark Rangers are always looking for the opportunity to recruit more professional Dark Rangers into the mission of preserving natural darkness and combating global climate change. Join us for a training course or workshop and YOU too will be on YOUR way to becoming a Professional Dark Ranger. In these courses you'll lean night sky specific presentation and public speaking techniques, telescope operation, star-hopping skills, and astronomy, mythology, scotobiology, and climate change content.
Next Scheduled Course: TBA.
If We can't come to YOU, will YOU come to us?Maybe?! If your organization would like to host one of these courses email The Dark Ranger know. He and if necessary, other Dark Rangers instructors can travel to your site and offer a 1-5 day course on a variety of related topics:
- Astronomy 101
- Telescope Operation
- How to give "stellar" constellation tours
- How to be interpretive while at the scopes
- Partnering with astronomy clubs
- Intermediate, Advanced, and "Does Mircosoft know it can do this?" PowerPoint skills
- All 100 and 200 level IDP modules www.nps.gov/idp/interp/
- Sound and Video editing quick and easy
- Handling Hecklers
- etc.