Job profile for a Lake Ranger
Lake Rangers patrol the lakes and enforce the byelaws. They patrol the bigger lakes, such as Windermere in the Lake District. This is the largest lake in England, as it is 10 and a half miles long
Rangers work long hours, sometimes up to 12 hours a day. Throughout the day, they spend a lot of time patrolling the lake making sure the lake is a safe place to be, as there can be up to 100,000 people on the lake on a busy day.
They control speeding on the lake. The speed limit is 10 nautical miles per hour on most of the lake, with some slower areas of 6 nautical miles per hour. This is because the lake gets very busy, and they need to ensure everyone is safe, and because fast boats cause more erosion, which pollutes the lake water.
They also check that all the boats on the lake are registered. And as they patrol they look out for people who may be struggling with their boat or in the water, and they will help them or rescue them.
What qualifications and experience do you need?
The position of Lake Ranger is one of the most popular within the National Parks. Many people apply for Lake Ranger jobs, however there are many qualifications needed. Lake rangers must know how to drive the boats, and have good knowledge of first aid in order to help people in emergencies. Many rangers have done volunteer work before they apply, or have previously worked in a position closely related to National Parks. People who have done all of these, and also worked with children or on water before will have a bigger chance of becoming a ranger.
