Addy Falgoust, Park Guide

Among park rangers, there’s a running joke that we do a lot of pointing at things. From pointing out wildlife to pointing out the nearest bathroom, we’ve arguably mastered the art of pointing. But being a park ranger or park guide entails SO much more! Today’s guest, Park Guide Addy Falgoust, talks about her experiences teaching people about Yellowstone’s marvels and what it’s like to live and work in the park during winter.

View definitions and links discussed in this episode at go.nps.gov/WhatWeDoPodcast

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TRANSCRIPT:

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Ashton: From Yellowstone National Park. This is what we do. I'm Ashton Hooker.

Brett: And I'm Brett Raeburn.

Ashton: Hey, Brett.

Brett: Hey, Ashton. How's it going?

Ashton I'm good. How are you doing today?

Brett: I'm doing awesome. It's getting close to lunch, so my stomach might rumble a little bit here.

Ashton: Um, mine is seriously rumbling as well. I hope you can't hear it through the microphone.

Brett: Yeah, I have this big lunch box behind me. I'll try not to rummage in it too much. So, we'll see.

Ashton: Well, today we have Addy Falgoust who is a park guide here in Yellowstone. We're going to talk to her a little bit more about her job and what it's like. And so as a part guide, you know, if you're a visitor to Yellowstone, you might see them out and about either in the visitor center, roaming park trails, park-guided walks and talks, things like that. So along those same lines, we have the Junior Ranger program and it's pretty popular.

Brett: Yes, I've heard of it.

Ashton: It's in a bunch of different parks, Yellowstone as well. So my question for you, do you happen to know how many Junior Ranger badges are awarded here in Yellowstone?

Brett: Every year?

Ashton: Every year.

Brett: Number of Junior Ranger badges... so not just people who, like, get the books and don't go through to graduate?

Ashton: Correct.

Brett: I'm going to say... I'm trying to see if Miles would give me any hints here because he orders the badges. I think it's like I'm going to say 160,000.

Ashton: Oooh. Wow, That's more than I thought you're going to guess. But really, you're not too far off. So in the past couple of years, you know, we've had a few weird years with COVID and the flood and stuff, so it's been a little lower the past few years, but it's been about 50,000.

Brett: Okay. I'm like, So come on, Junior Rangers, step up.

Ashton: Yeah, Yeah.

Brett: But this year is going to be the year know 160,000.

Ashton: But in a normal year, it's about 50,000 to 100,000. So, you're not too far off.

Brett: That's that is a lot of Junior Rangers being sworn in.

Ashton: It's a lot more than I thought.

Brett: It's a lot of oath-takers.

Ashton: Yeah.

Brett: We're in good hands.

Ashton: Yes, we are. All the Junior Rangers out there. So, anyway, we're going to talk with Addy more about she does in the park. So, Addy, thanks for joining us.

Addy: Yeah, thanks for having me.

Ashton: How are you doing?

Addy: I'm doing well.

Ashton: Good, good. So, ready to dive in?

Addy: Absolutely.

Ashton: Okay. So how did you get your start with the National Park Service?

Addy: So I got my start in 2017 as an intern in Glacier Bay National Park.

Ashton: And that's in Alaska?

Addy: That's correct. Yeah. It often gets mistaken for a glacier in Montana. So often I do specify Glacier BAY in Alaska.

Brett: I heard that emphasis on BAY. Yeah.

Ashton: Cool. And so what drew you to that? Did you always know you wanted to be a park ranger?

Addy: So growing up, my family traveled to national parks. I think a lot of people in this career and they kind of, you know, was