Park Ranger, Chris Horkman
As a Panama City native, Chris Horkman spent his childhood summers fishing, surfing and camping at St. Andrew State Park. In 1997 he decided to join AmeriCorps with his mother, who always encouraged his love of the outdoors. After a year of volunteering with AmeriCorps, his mother proudly accepted a position as a Florida Park Ranger.
In 2004, Ranger Horkman joined Grayton Beach State Park as OPS and in 2006 was hired on at Topsail State Park as an official Florida State Park Ranger. After 10 years at Topsail, he decided to switch back to the park that gave him his start. Ranger Horkman, now in his 15th year with Florida State Parks, is back at Grayton Beach State Park.
Some favorites about his job include instructing surf fishing in the Gulf of Mexico and discussing the globally rare coastal dune lakes with park guests. Above all, Ranger Chris Horkman strives to help park guests have the most enjoyable time they can while visiting the real Florida.
