“It’s a Balancing Act”: Tensions in Park Ranger Interpretive Communication

National parks are unique places that offer visitors opportunities for recreation and education; park rangers play a critical role in preserving and promoting them. This research focused on a single national park in the western United States to gain a deeper understanding of park rangers’ communication and roles. Interviews with participants revealed an ongoing dualism between recreation and preservation in the park, along with a contradiction for rangers to educate visitors while enforcing the park’s rules. These tensions are nested within the existential contradiction between human systems and natural systems, creating a tensional knot that impacts rangers and visitors alike. Discussion surrounding these results indicates the importance of addressing tensions in ways that are productive for rangers and the park.