As the fire season ends until the Fall, I've swapped Smokey Bear for Yogi Bear. Delighted to be a part of the Minnesota DNR Parks team for the summer season.
Who didn't have dreams of being a Park Ranger while watching Yogi Bear all those years ago? I certainly did. The perfect job, working in a park. Just dreams though.
Now, I am living that dream working as Parks and Trails Associate in Father Hennepin State Park.
Greeted daily by grazing deer and their fawns. Birds, chipmunks, squirrels nibbling on the feeder outside the window. A bald-headed eagle peering down at us checking in the campers or issuing permits, and a very real chance of bumping into a real-life Yogi picking up a pic-a-nic basket as we patrol the 320-acre park with 103 campsites sitting on the edge of the beautiful Mille Lacs Lake.
It's a popular park with over a mile long sandy beach, wooded trails, conifer bogs, fishing piers, boat ramps and more wildlife than you can ever imagine. We have Albino deer, painted and snapping turtles, both red and grey squirrels, and a variety of birds. Not to forget the abundance of fish in the lake including walleye, northern pike and bass.
You have to think of another word instead of "work" my friend said. She's always right!
Making the tough decision to move to the U.S. has probably been one of my best decisions in life so far. The opportunity to live the dream doesn't come around very often but when it does, it takes guts to make that first step and follow through.
Sure, Lady Luck had a lot to do with my opportunity but maybe, just maybe...
I'm smarter than the average bear!
