How to Become a Park Ranger in South Dakota

Have you ever thought about a job that allows you to enjoy the outdoors?

Do you enjoy the thought of protecting state park visitors and the environment?

Being a Park Ranger in South Dakota can be a very satisfying occupation.

It has a high rate of job satisfaction, as well as providing a living wage.

Requirements to Become a Park Ranger in South Dakota

In South Dakota, the position of park ranger has become a Conservation Officer.

A candidate for a position must be 21 years of age.

Must have a valid driver’s license.

Must be or become a certified law enforcement officer in the State of South Dakota.

Must also attend a 15-week field program called the Conservation Officer Field Training Program.

Must complete an extensive department field training program for conservation officers.

Must pass qualifications in firearms and defensive tactics every six months.

Verbal communication skills are a must, as well as written skills.

Organization skills are needed.

Must be able to remain calm under stress.

Must have conservation skills and the ability to identify issues and animals.

Knowledge of how parks operate is a big plus.

Be comfortable dealing with the public one-on-one and delivering presentations to groups.

Applicants must supply a high school or college diploma and transcripts on request.

Must pass a background check and a physical examination.

Drug and psychological testing are also required.

Candidates must be willing to work a significant number of weekends.

Park Ranger Duties in South Dakota

Interact with visitors to the park, answering questions and giving directions.

Enforce park regulations as well as local, state, and federal laws.

Train staff and provide employee reviews.

Offer talks and demonstrations to park visitors and other interested groups.

Give tours and develop new programs to highlight conservation and other pertinent topics.

Land and wildlife management.

Must be able to operate a boat as well as other vehicles and equipment.

Do the necessary paperwork required.

Make rounds of the park on foot and in a vehicle to observe maintenance needs, wildlife, fish, and plants.

State Parks in South Dakota

Custer State Park

The history of Custer State Park dates back to 1912, when it was designated a state forest.

Just two years later, 36 bison were purchased for the park.

Then, 12 pronghorns were added.

In 1919, Custer was designated a state park.

Rocky Mountain Sheep were introduced in 1922.

The park spans 71,000 acres, including eight campgrounds and one horse camp.

The park also features four historic lodges that provide hotel rooms and cabins.

The yearly bison roundup is a visitor favorite.

In November, the park has a bison auction to manage the herd size.

The Black Hills Playhouse is a summer stock theater within the park.

Educational programs are offered to visitors during the summer.

Come to Custer State Park to enjoy hiking, scenic drives, birdwatching, fishing, canoeing, swimming, kayaking, snowboarding, and so much more.

LaFramboise Island Nature Area

LaFramboise Island Nature Area has 14.5 miles of trails for visitors to enjoy.

The Nature Area is in Pierre, SD, and runs alongside the Missouri River.

It is an island with forests and meadows, and was mentioned by Lewis and Clark as they passed through.

Visitors can partake in hiking, biking, fishing, birding, wildlife watching, and picnicking.

There is a boat launch and a fishing dock.

In the winter, it is open for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.

Lake Herman State Park

Located in Madison, SD, Lake Herman State Park offers all the activities you could want, as well as options to just relax.

Visitors can fish, boat, canoe, kayak, paddleboard, and swim in the lake.

Within the park, miles of trails for hiking, walking, or biking are available.

The park has a campground with electricity and showers.

Cabins for rent are also offered.

Horseshoe pits and a disc golf course are part of the fun.

Equipment rental is offered, including paddleboards and kayaks.

Other equipment is just checked out, including lawn games, horseshoes, and snowshoes.

Stargazing is one of the many activities you can enjoy at Herman Lake State Park.

Palisades State Park

Palisades State Park is carved out of the pink Sioux quartzite stone of this part of South Dakota.

Split Rock Creel flows through the park, and this is an area that is popular with photographers, campers, birders, and hikers.

Rock climbers take advantage of the 50-foot cliffs.

The park was recently expanded, and more expansion is scheduled for the future.

#1 Lake Area Technical College

Conservation Officer Certificate

This is a summer semester course that is only available to LATC Law Enforcement students and Certified Law Enforcement Officers.

Students get hands-on experience in conservation, park regulation, land management, and animal and plant identification.

Learning to operate and maintain park equipment.

The course is 12 credits and costs $2928.

Contact Information

• Address: 1201 Arrow Ave NE, Watertown, SD 57201, USA
• Phone: +1 605-882-5284
• Website: Visit School Website

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Schools Summary Table

	Rank	School
	#1	Lake Area Technical College

Park Ranger Salary in South Dakota

The salary for a Park Ranger in South Dakota is from $25,000 to $49,000.

The lower range of salaries is from $25,000 to $27,000.

The highest range of salaries is $46,000 to $49.000.

The median salary for Park Rangers in South Dakota is $37,000 to $41,000.

Park Ranger Salary by Metro Area in South Dakota

Find Park Ranger Career Guides by State

About Chelsea Wilson Chelsea Wilson is the Community Relations Manager for Washington University School of Law’s distance learning LLM degree program, which provides foreign trained attorneys with the opportunity to earn a Master of Laws degree from a top-tier American university from anywhere in the world.