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Department of Parks
Park Rangers Receive Training on Preserving Natural Resources
FRANKFORT, Ky. – The Park Rangers who serve Kentucky’s State Park system wear many different hats from public relations to law enforcement. Of course, one of their top priorities is preserving natural resources.
Twenty five Rangers from 15 state parks in Eastern Kentucky recently met at the Rural Law Enforcement Training Center in Hazard, Ky., to learn how to protect natural treasures through the “Leave No Trace” program.
Kentucky State Parks is a member of the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics (www.lnt.org). The seven principles of the program are: planning ahead and preparing, traveling and camping on durable surfaces, disposing of waste properly, leaving what you find, minimizing campfire impacts, respecting wildlife, and being considerate of other visitors.
The Rangers also received a refresher course on Kentucky’s resource protection laws, including the Kentucky Cave Conservation Act, state archeological protections statues, nature preserve and wildlife sanctuary protection statutes, and game laws.
“Most guests don’t knowingly violate the law or damage the environment,” said Joey Hoover, the director of the Rangers. “Through programs like these, we will be able to better educate the people who visit our parks.”
The Kentucky State Park System is composed of 52 state parks plus an interstate park shared with Virginia. The Department of Parks, an agency of the Commerce Cabinet, operates 17 resort parks with lodges -- more than any other state. Each year, Kentucky parks draw 7 million visitors and contribute $317 million to the economy. For more information on Kentucky parks, visit our Web site at http://www.parks.ky.gov
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