Always smiling with a great outlook and attitude and while Travis Wyman has many good qualities that make him a natural for a park ranger, when I think of him that is what comes to my mind, the very first thing. Also, the fact that his favorite show as a kid was Animal Planet might have been a clue to his future career choice.  

Travis Wyman at the King George High School Career Fair

One Park Ranger's Story

I met Travis when he first came to Westmoreland State Park to visit his father Jim Wyman. I got to know him a little better as he worked summers at the park. Jim, the Business Manager, and I shared an office along with Resource Specialist Paul Billings. Travis would pop in every now and then for work or just to say hi. He helped me many times with unloading or loading my work car in preparation for an event or community outreach program. Interestingly, our office was located in an old, somewhat, renovated cottage at the beach within view of the Potomac River. What a great place, that was before all the offices were moved into the new visitor center on the cliffs. Yes I seemed to have lucked out in the office area.  Now on to Travis.

Travis helping out YCC as a part-time maintenance ranger in 2014

The story of Travis is one of dedication and hard work. It’s a story of how the Virginia State Park’s Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) has inspired and change people’s lives. Of course Travis has caring parents that did a great job in raising him and guiding him along the way but it was his experience with YCC and working in the state park that helped him to decide his path in life. Inspiringly so, as it did with two other YCC’ers. One that is our very own Craig Seaver, the Virginia State Parks Director, imagine that! And the other is Cameron Lipscome, a full-time Law Enforcement Park Ranger at Powhatan State Park.

Travis Wyman told me "Working for Virginia State Parks at such a young age has helped me to grow into the man I am today. Having mentors like park managers Tony Widmer and Ken Benson as well as encouragement and tutelage from other park staff has made this path more of a passion than a career."

Let’s take a look at his journey:

2008 - 16 years old- 10^th Grade

             YCC Crew Member York River State Park

2009 - 17 years old – 11^th Grade

             Seasonal Maintenance Westmoreland State Park

2010 - 18 years old- 12^th Grade

            Graduated King George High School

            Seasonal Maintenance Westmoreland State Park

2011 - 2012 – 19 and 20 years old

            Frostburg State University

            Seasonal Maintenance Westmoreland State Park

2013- 21 years old

            Associates Degree Garrett College

            1500 Hour Employee Westmoreland State Park

            Maintenance, Boathouse and Contact Station

2014- 22 years old

            Hired Full-time Park Ranger Law Enforcement Shenandoah River State Park

2015- 23 years old

            May 21^st- Graduated Cardinal Criminal Justice Academy

                            Summer- Field Training

2016- 24 yrs. Old-

            Fully Certified Law Enforcement/ Conservation Police Officer/Park Ranger

            Currently at Shenandoah River State Park

His very proud (and rightly so) father had this to say "I am so glad Travis stuck with Virginia State Parks after school and got the opportunity to become a full-time ranger. My proudest moment was when he graduated from the Cardinal Criminal Justice Academy, not a simple task, and made the commitment at a difficult time for law enforcement. It was very encouraging and gratifying to hear him tell students at the career fair that he loved his job, a statement you don’t hear from a lot of working adults.”

York River State Park 2008 Youth Conservation Corps, can you find Travis? He is 3rd from the right on the bottom

Virginia State Park staff are obviously very dedicated and there is quite a bit of training we all have to go through, but I understand the law enforcement academy is not easy. Just the fact that candidates are away from their families living near campus for months on end is hard enough. The physical and mental challenges could put anyone to the test.

So let’s say a big thank you to all our Virginia State Park law enforcement staff for their dedication and perseverance. By the way, we have a new class graduating in June so you will be seeing them fresh out of the academy in state parks throughout Virginia. 

For more information on a career with Virginia State Parks click here. If you or someone you love would like to serve in the award winning Virginia State Park's Youth Conservation Corps please click here. For more information on your beautiful Virginia State Parks or to plan a visit click here, or call 1800-PARK (7275).