Karianne Rivera

At Colt Creek State Park, Karianne Rivera leads the interpretation of park resources and a team of volunteers.

The mission of the Florida Park Service is "to provide resource-based recreation while preserving, interpreting, and restoring natural and cultural resources." What role do you play in this mission?

As a park services specialist, I act as the interpretive chairperson and volunteer coordinator at Colt Creek State Park. I develop and present educational programs for park visitors where I interpret the park's natural resources. I also recruit and manage volunteers in addition to my regular ranger duties of maintaining and protecting the park.

How does your heritage influence your experience in the outdoors?

To me, the Puerto Rican culture really values family time, and that time is normally spent outside barbecuing, swimming or playing games. Growing up, we regularly visited beaches and parks in both Florida and Puerto Rico. And of course, being from an island meant that we loved the beach and spring parks in Florida!

I spent my childhood visiting places like Hillsborough River State Park and Fort De Soto near Tampa, and when I went to El Yunque National Forest in Puerto Rico it left a lasting impression on me that inspired me to be a park ranger.

Any advice for Latinx who are interested in a career in conservation or recreation?

My advice for anyone who is interested in a career in the park service is to start by volunteering at your local state park! Becoming a volunteer is a great way to meet new people, learn some of the skills you'll need to become a ranger, and gain the experience to decide whether this career path is right for you.

Another good way to get started is by joining the Florida Conservation Corps, where you can work with volunteer management, educational programs, trail maintenance and resource management in the state parks. FLCC also provides monthly stipends, health insurance, education awards and sometimes on-site housing.