World Ranger Day
Next: July 31, 2027
Thank the people who guard the wild.
The story
Where it comes from
World Ranger Day falls on the birthday of the International Ranger Federation, founded on 31 July 1992 in the Peak District National Park in England, when ranger associations from England and Wales, Scotland and the United States signed an agreement to support rangers worldwide. The first World Ranger Day was held in 2007, on the federation's fifteenth anniversary. It does two things: it celebrates the people who protect parks, wildlife and cultural heritage, and it remembers rangers killed or injured in the line of duty.
How it's celebrated
The federation, now with more than 160 member associations in seven regions, promotes the day with its charity partner, the Thin Green Line Foundation. Ranger associations pause to honour fallen colleagues and celebrate those still on the front line, and the federation shares a toolkit so that parks and supporters can tell rangers' stories. If you visit a park, thank the ranger at the gate, or send a card to someone who guards the outdoors for the rest of us.
Did you know
- Australian ranger Sean Willmore spent 14 months filming colleagues in 23 countries for his film The Thin Green Line, which premiered at more than 300 screenings on World Ranger Day 2007.
- For the occasion, Arnold Schwarzenegger, then Governor of California, proclaimed 31 July 2007 California State Park Ranger Day.
- Rangers from around the world meet at a World Ranger Congress, usually every three years; the 2019 congress was held in Nepal.
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