USA National Park Service Ranger

This ranger was our guide when we cruised an Alaskan fjord this summer.
She did a fabulous job of finding the wildlife and explaining the history of the area.

Do you like to work outdoors? Do you like nature and animals? Then you may want to consider becoming a National Park Ranger. According to the National Park Service website there are job opportunities at "397 national parks and in partnership with communities across the country to preserve their history and create places for outdoor fun."

Playful otter greeted us on our cruise.

Eagle looking over the fishing possibilities.

Enjoying a sun bath.

These are a few of the photos of wildlife we spotted on our tour. The Park Service ranger was enthusiastic and full of information. She sounded as excited as we were when we saw the animals in this wild environment. She works as a seasonal  ranger during the high tourist time beginning in early summer until fall. Full-time permanent careers and internships are also available for rangers. Our ranger guide said she was proud to know that there is opportunity for career advancement in the National Park Service.

Rangers work in so many different kinds of jobs from archaeologists, gardeners, museum specialists, to police park rangers and more. Find out more at the National Park Service website.

Medical Doctor: Giselle Sholler

Free image courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Dr. Giselle Sholler loves children. That's why she works so hard to help them fight the cancer that ravages their bodies. She is a Pediatric Oncologist (a doctor who treats children with cancer) at the Helen DeVos Children's Hospital in Grand Rapids, Michigan. She and her co-workers are searching for a way to heal children and destroy the deadly cancer that takes over their bodies.

She meets with a boy or girl and their family to determine the best treatment to make the child well. Dr. Giselle and her team are developing the best medicines and treatments to knock out the cancer. Families from all around the country come to the hospital to give their child a chance to win against the cancers known as Neuroblastoma and Medulloblastoma.

Watch the video of Dr. Sholler to learn more about the Neuroblastoma cancer.




 

Introducing Girls Succeed!!

Today I am going to explain why I titled this blog Girls Succeed. I want to introduce you to the book of the same name, Girls Succeed: Stories Behind the Careers of Successful Women.

From 2003-2006 I spent summers working at a girls summer resident camp in Michigan,  Camp Newaygo. I enjoyed meeting and interacting with the campers and the counselors. So many smart, energetic girls with such wonderful futures ahead of them. I wondered in this new world of more career opportunities for women what choices would girls make. What plans do they dream for their future?

In 2006 I began the process of interviewing successful women about their careers and how their lives led to their decisions. I gathered all the interviews and put them together so girls can discover information about careers.

It has taken me this long to get it all together and to decide to publish the book as an interactive e-book, the technology which completes my vision as a way to deliver an interesting, worthwhile experience for the readers. After each interview there are links and resources for learning more about the woman and her career. So when the reader is connected to the internet, she can click on links for more information.

It is my hope the profiles with these savvy women will inspire and empower the girls to dream big dreams and to work hard to make their dreams come true.

Girls Succeed: Stories Behind the Careers of Successful Women will be released in October. Come back for more information as I step into this exciting new adventure in publishing. Grab your ticket and join me as I share this new beginning with you.

Salute to 9/11 Police, Fire, and EMT Personnel

Today we remember the destruction, devastation and loss of life that occurred on September 11, 2001. We salute the brave people who helped in that time of emergency--the firefighters, police, first responders, and EMT's.

Perhaps you are considering one of these careers. Learn all you can about the work and also examine if you have the desire to help people. Perhaps you are a future police officer, firefighter, Emergency Medical Technician. 

Thank you to all these pesonnel who help us and keep us safe!

Mackenzie Woodring, Gold Medalist in Cycling

The Summer Paralympics are this week in London, England. Athletes from all over the world compete in 20 sports and 500 events. The games are held in London using the same venues as the Olympic Games 2012. The highly skilled athletes who compete in the paralympic games have physical disabilities.

Mackenzie Woodring, athlete

Team USA members Mackenzie Woodring and  Karissa Whitsell won gold, silver and bronze medals in cycling in the 2008 Paralympics held in Beijing, China. Mackenzie and Karissa raced a tandem bicycle which seats two riders. Mackenzie was the pilot on this team because Karissa is blind/visually impaired. This team combines their athletic skills into a powerful duo to race competitors from many countries.

Mackenzie joined the U.S. Paralympics team to partner with Karissa. Not only did they medal three times at the Paralympics, they set a world record in cycling.

Mackenzie Woodring
I told Mackenzie I'd have to edit out the porta-potties in the back ground for the book,
 but she exclaimed,
 "Porta-potties are very important to racers!" So I left them in for this post. 

At this elite level of competition, Mackenzie has to keep training year round.  It is difficult for her to put in the ten to twenty hours of training each week because she also has a full time job as an engineer.  Ninety percent of the women who race need to work at another job.  The prize money for winning is not enough to depend on for a living.

 You can learn more about Mackenzie Woodring and her career in bicycle racing in the interactive e-book Girls Succeed: Stories Behind the Careers of Successful Women which will be released this fall. Check back regularly to the Girls Succeed blog to learn more about careers and remarkable women and for updates on the e-book.

For more information about Mackenzie and the Paralympics click on the sites below:

2012 London Paralympics Games

Paralympic Cycling

Mackenzie's Goals