Fort Scott: Baker's newest adventure with NPS
As part of a military family, Holly Baker, the new chief of interpretation and resource management at Fort Scott National Historic Site, lived in many diverse places, which created an urge to move.
"As a kid I lived in Louisiana, Germany, Arizona, Alaska, and Florida," Baker said.
The traveling "may have planted a seed for a career moving around with the National Park Service (NPS)," she said.
Since leaving home, Baker, 41, has lived in Oregon, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and now Kansas.
Baker received a bachelor's of science degree in biology.
"While earning a degree in biology at Florida State University, I discovered the field of interpretation and was hooked," she said. "My first job after graduating was teaching students about marine life through a traveling aquarium program with live starfish, sea urchins, and crabs."
She learned about a career in the National Park Service by going on a hike at age 20.
"I went on a ranger-guided hike in Rocky Mountain National Park and asked the ranger how she got her job," she said. "She explained a little about how to apply."
Her career with the National Park Service began 15 years ago.
"I volunteered for a non-profit partner organization, Glacier Institute at Glacier National Park, leading kids in outdoor recreation," Baker said. "They would do educational and field classes inside and around Glacier Park."
Baker joined the NPS in 1999 as a seasonal ranger at Grand Teton National Park.
"I led flower walks, geology talks, campfire programs, and generally got my fill of mountain hiking," she said. "After a few seasons, I headed to Bandelier National Monument in northern New Mexico. There I had a wonderful time learning about the ancestral Puebloan culture and people and got to enjoy the great cultural experiences of Santa Fe, which was close by. I especially enjoyed attending Pueblo feast days and visiting the Georgia O'Keeffe museum."
In 2007, she served as a lead front-line ranger and operations supervisor in interpretation at Zion National Park, Utah.
"The red cliffs and canyons of Zion National Park became home," she said. "I gained new professional experiences on-duty, like managing a large staff and busy visitor center, and had some unusual adventures off-duty, like rappelling down a narrow slot-canyon. After nine years I decided I was ready for a new adventure and a new challenge."
Baker started on Oct. 11 at FSNHS and her duties are varied.
"I will be overseeing visitor services educational programming and special events," she said. "New for me is the overseeing of some of the features of the park such as the historic character of the buildings and overseeing the restored natural prairie."
For Baker the best part of her job is "caring for America's treasurers and leaving a positive legacy for the next generation and also working with wonderful and talented people at the parks," she said.
Her challenge in Fort Scott is to learn all there is to know about FSNHS, she said.
"It's history and operations, in a very short period of time. Another challenge might be developing new programs that will engage folks who have been to the fort many times, but who, we hope, will return."
In her free time off duty she still seeks adventure.
"I enjoy learning new things, exploring cultural attractions, and traveling the world," she said. "I am very much looking forward to this next chapter in America's heartland. I am thrilled to be joining the team at Fort Scott."
Baker considers Denver, Colo., her hometown and her parents, brother, sister and their families live in Colorado.