RANGERS TRAINING PROGRAM

Robert 0. Pohl, the outgoing president of the Association and Superintendent of Parks and Memorials for the Department of Parks and Memorials, State of Illinois, has announced a new training program for Park Rangers and Assistant Rangers.

The program was offered at the Nike Site of Pere Marquette State Park, near Grafton and it presented such topics as:

Public Safety and Security Equipment Use
Sanitation and Public Health
Planning and Park Development
Field Problems
Inter-divisional Relationships
Park Administration
Present and Future Public Recreation Needs
Fire Control
Personnel Regulations
Forestry, Erosion and Turf Control
First Aid

Director William Rutherford in his inspirational manner addressed the group on the aims and objectives of the Department. A final written examination climaxed these sessions.

This is one of the first of a series of new uses planned for the Nike Site of the park. This training program was held in January and February. A new air pollution monitoring station will be established by the University of Illinois and a conservation education program will be offered to minority groups by the Office of 'Human Resources.

State Park Attendance

Over-all attendance at state parks has increased 171% during the past eight years, and camping attendance has increased 276% during the same period. This points out the necessity for increasing the size of existing state parks as well as developing campgrounds within the parks, promoting additional camp ground facilities along expressways and encouraging private campground development. Keeping up with the demands for camping space cannot be met by the state park system alone and efforts should be directed toward developing superior campgrounds for regular patrons of the state parks and not transient users.

Bill Rutherford

By the time this article appears it will be a well publicized fact that Director Rutherford has been promoted to coordinate efforts in environmental quality. Mr. Rutherford in a very fast moving year has made a great contribution to parks and recreation in Illinois that merits the recognition he has received.

Illinois Parks 50 March/ April 1970