Arkansas Park Rangers Turn Hobby into Career
By Katelyn Allen on Monday, October 28, 2024
Sam Files knew from a young age that he was going to pursue a career in the outdoors. He attributes his love for nature to growing up watching Animal Planet TV stars like Steve Irwin, Jack Hanna, Jeff Corwin and the Kratt Brothers. Watching famous individuals bring awareness to endangered species and shed light on the beauty of wildlife inspired Sam to complete his bachelor’s degree in Recreation and Park Administration at Arkansas Tech University. Now, he’s living his dream as a park interpreter at Pinnacle Mountain in central Arkansas.
“No two days are the same; I never know what a day of work will hold,” Sam said, adding what he loves most about his job: “The people I get to meet, travelers from all over the world on their adventures. Helping to ignite a passion for the outdoors in others.”
Cathy Combs grew up camping in state parks and quickly developed an interest in the outdoors. During college, she found herself exploring trees and researching various types of reptiles. After completing her dual degree in secondary education and biology, Cathy decided to earn her master’s degree in biology too. Now, Cathy works as a superintendent of Lake Frierson State Park, located in northeast Arkansas. She spends most of her time leading interpretive programs and park maintenance.
“Things are always changing—with [each] seasons, new programs and the state continuously looking for new ways to connect people to what our state has to offer,” Cathy said. “The same is true for us in the field … It is an ideal career for those who want to continue to grow as a person and help others do the same.”
Although Sam and Cathy work in different state parks, they work towards the same goal: Making sure visitors have a wonderful experience while visiting and learning something new about Arkansas wildlife. They both encourage those who are interested in this field to volunteer at local parks, research local agencies involved in outdoor recreation and pursue summer internships.
“Most of the people in the outdoor recreation field are there because they are passionate about either the outdoors or about the resources at their specific employment location,” Sam said. “It’s a broad field, but there’s a lot of camaraderie, and it’s easy to get involved with other like-minded individuals to work with what you’re passionate about!”
