Roving Ranger is Ready to Roll

We recently launched the “Roving Ranger”, our new mobile visitor center for the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail (Chesapeake Trail). The vehicle is the size of a delivery truck and features large, beautiful scenes of the Chesapeake Bay on all sides. (Hint: think food truck, without the food but with lots of other great stuff)

Ranger Josh Montanari giving an interpretive talk to visitors to the Roving Ranger (Image courtesy: Peter Turcik / Chesapeake Conservancy)

The vehicle will appear at Chesapeake Trail locations and at public events and festivals related to the natural and cultural heritage of the Chesapeake Bay.  Keep an eye on Facebook, because we’ll be posting where the truck will be stationed.

Here are just a few things you can do at a Roving Ranger stop:

• Collect a National Park passport stamp
• Pick up a trail brochure and a Junior Ranger hat
• Participate in an interpretive ranger program
• Learn about new experiences on the Chesapeake Trail

“We’re excited to start connecting more people to the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail,” said NPS Superintendent Chuck Hunt. “The Roving Ranger gives families an opportunity to enjoy learning about American Indian communities and the history of the Chesapeake Bay and its rivers.”

A happy new Junior Ranger! (Image courtesy: Peter Turcik / Chesapeake Conservancy)

“We're taking the low cost concepts of the food truck phenomenon to accomplish the NPS mission,” says Joel Dunn, president of the Chesapeake Conservancy. “With this mobile visitor center we're able to meet people where they are and reach diverse communities with the hopes of fostering a new sense of stewardship and a desire to take care of our natural, historical, and cultural resources that make the region so unique."

For any questions or to schedule the Roving Ranger at your event, contact Michael Bowman.