Park services specialist and former Girl Scout Scarlett A. Dunn works at Eden Gardens State Park in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida.
What inspired you to work in the parks and recreation field?
I've always loved being active and in the outdoors. Growing up, we spent summers in state parks throughout West Virginia and I would see park rangers and think "That's the coolest job. How do I get to do that every day?!"
Describe your job in the Florida Park Service. What are the favorite parts of your job?
I work as a park services specialist, so I get to do a little bit of everything. I enjoy natural resource management, such as taking care of plants and animals, recruiting volunteers to help our park, and creating interpretive programming for school groups and clubs. It's just like Girl Scouts!
How did your participation in Girl Scouts prepare you for your career?
Girl Scouts always encouraged us to get outdoors and be active. Scouts gave us an opportunity to learn new skills and put them into action, which is exactly what I've done working for the park service.
What advice would you offer to young women who want to pursue a career in parks and recreation?
I would encourage young ladies to continue to follow their passion and volunteer with the park service to see what working in the parks looks like on a day-to-day basis. Also, you'd be giving back to your community!
