Have You Ever Been Outdoors?

Once upon an time at the workplace in Colorado. At a large company I was working for with a lot of new employees to Colorado, some from other states and other countries. I would set up lunch-n-learns with experts. One of those sessions was with group of Forest Rangers. I think this is one of those careers that is overlooked because a lot of people don’t know what they do. To be fair, unless you are an avid outdoors person, you generally would think about the critical role they play. These folks do search and rescue, manage forest ecosystems, educate, protect, and firefighting. The point of the learn was to be prepared if hiking, skiing or taking in one of the many nature walks in the area.

Just like any other workplace, they struggle with challenging co-workers of the humankind. Given their line of work, the candidates should come with a series of skills, like hunting, fishing, camping, and survival ones as a baseline. This group was swapping stories, and this one has stayed with me, because of the ‘common sense’ piece. Let me start with my view of ‘common sense’; unless you grew up in an environment where common sense was explained or taught, then the concept is lost on some. Over generations the 'obvious' part has eroded away. We can debate this view and the definition of the phrase. 

Back to the story. A newly hired entry-level ranger was out with a Lead. Basic area, terrain review with animal and plant life, how often it's check and anything major to be aware of. The newbie was a talker. Talked about his survival, hunting, and camping skills. Was a know-it-all on all subjects. His family's history, vacations, and trainings.

Newbie began to tell a camping story. Very detailed, wanting to impress with his sharp mind and skills. He selected a perfect spot, already cleared and easily set up his tent. Right next to the water body, large open clearing with a worn-a-way path down to the water. He placed his tent by the water. He woke to sounds and his sleeping bag soaked, from the tided coming in. The sound outside were deer drinking from the water source. He continued that he was annoyed by the tide coming in.

He stopped showing up for work on the second week. Some individuals just terminate themselves. Individuals like him are in every workplace and generally don’t make it.