Protecting Paradise

Off the coast of Maryland and Virginia lies Assateague Island—a stretch of windswept dunes, quiet beaches, and grassy marshes where wild horses roam. Visitors come to camp, kayak, and more. But behind the scenes is a team working hard to keep the area safe and beautiful. Among them is park ranger Chris Gleason-Smuck. He’s spent more than 10 years caring for Maryland’s public lands.

Assateague Island lies off the coast of Maryland and Virginia. It features sand dunes, quiet beaches, and marshes where wild horses roam. Visitors come to camp, kayak, and more. But the area doesn’t stay safe and beautiful on its own. There’s a team working behind the scenes to keep it that way. Park ranger Chris Gleason-Smuck has cared for Maryland’s public lands for more than 10 years. One of his favorite posts was on Assateague.

Today Gleason-Smuck is a park ranger supervisor at North Point State Park and Hart-Miller Island State Park on Chesapeake Bay. His job includes everything from teaching visitors about the ecosystem to rescuing injured wildlife. “Park rangers protect both natural resources and visitors,” he says. “We remind people about trail safety, maintain park facilities, provide first aid, and more.”

Gleason-Smuck’s love for the outdoors began early. Growing up in Baltimore, Maryland, he spent weekends camping with his family and exploring nature through Boy Scouts. After college, he joined the Maryland Conservation Corps, a program that trains young people to manage natural resources. That led to his first park ranger job—and the start of a lifelong career.

Today Gleason-Smuck works at two different state parks along Chesapeake Bay. He teaches visitors about nature, rescues injured wildlife, and much more. “Park rangers protect both natural resources and visitors,” he says. “We remind people about trail safety, maintain park facilities, provide first aid, and more.”

Gleason-Smuck’s love for the outdoors began early. He grew up in Baltimore, Maryland. He spent weekends exploring nature and going camping with his family. After college, he joined the Maryland Conservation Corps. This program trains young people to take care of wild areas. That led to Gleason-Smuck’s first park ranger job—and a lifelong career.

One of his favorite posts was on Assateague Island, where he worked near the island’s famous wild horses. “People were always so excited to see them and learn about them,” he says. For Gleason-Smuck, the best part of the job is seeing people connect with nature.

“I like seeing families and kids away from screens and learning new skills—like building a fire or setting up a tent,” he says. “Every day brings something new, and that’s what makes being a park ranger so special.”

On Assateague, he worked near the island’s famous wild horses. “People were always so excited to see them and learn about them,” he says. The best part of the job is seeing people connect with nature, he adds.

“I like seeing families and kids away from screens and learning new skills—like building a fire or setting up a tent,” says Gleason-Smuck. “Every day brings something new. That’s what makes being a park ranger so special.”