What a remarkable year it’s been for all of us. Let me open with a thank you to all of you who’ve contributed to the Virginia State Park experience, whether it’s been through your financial contributions, your labor or your administrative support, the parks simply wouldn’t be able to operate at the level they do were it not for your contributions.

In that spirit, DCR leadership is coordinating the #ThankARanger Campaign to recognize the monumental efforts of the boots on the grounds Virginia State Park Rangers who’ve truly gone above and beyond this year.

Whether it was managing unprecedented visitation levels; adapting to enhanced, and ever-changing, sanitization protocols; or maintaining the much needed recreational infrastructure every American benefited from this year, they’ve answered the call and got the job done all while short staffed and overworked.

What they’ve done to keep Virginia’s public lands open and accessible during this time merits higher recognition.

This is where you come in!

We are encouraging guests who’ve enjoyed the reprieve Virginia State Parks provided this year to record short, 20-30 second video thank yous and share them over their social media channels between Mon., Nov. 23 and Fri., Dec. 18.

These short videos could address the following:

• What does it mean to you to be able to visit a state park?
• What have you gotten out of/How have you benefited from visiting a state parks this year?
• What do you want to say to state parks rangers?

The Ask: Post your Thank You Videos Monday, Nov. 23

Help us launch this campaign by posting your thank you videos on Monday, November 23. Make sure to tag @VirginiaStateParks on Facebook and @vastateparks on Instagram with the hashtag #ThankARanger so we can track the posts.

Click here for an example video for your consideration. It was recorded on a mobile phone in a single take.

The Final Product:

At the end of the campaign, the DCR Public Communications Office will compile a final “Thank you Collage” released on Dec. 18 including some of the thank yous posted throughout the campaign. The video montage will be sharable as a final, resounding thank you to all the Virginia State Park Rangers for their selfless public service to cap off the year.

We realize the video format may be a barrier to some. Our final product of a short thank you video montage dictates that we will NEED video footage; however, you’re more than welcome to share photos and text expressing your gratitude! Your thanks will be appreciated regardless of what format it is, but remember, we will need video.

Any questions can be directed toward andrew.sporrer@dcr.virginia.gov.