I'm a Park Ranger Comic

The original double-page comic spread that was published in Scholastic's Choices May 2024 magazine issue.

Written by: Susanna Kaspar / NPS, as told by Ellen Song / Scholastic
Illustrations by: Rafael Alvarez / Scholastic

 

Who says Park Rangers can't also be superheroes?
Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River was delighted to work with Scholastic to develop this comic for the May 2024 issue of their Choices magazine. The short comic features our very own park ranger, Susanna "Susie" Kaspar, who has been working for the National Park Service for over ten years.
This comic was produced and developed by Scholastic, was written by Ellen Song with help from Susanna Kaspar, and was illustrated by Rafael Alvarez.

 

Full Alternative Text Description

Overall Description

A colorful children's comic over a 2-page magazine spread. At the top of the larger spread is a banner with the title of the comic "I'm a Park Ranger" in large text. Underneath the banner, text and panels are arranged against a white background. There are 5 total comic panels, an introductory text section on page 1, and an additional text box on page 1.

On page 1, underneath the title banner, a vertical column of text is on the left. This is text provides an introduction to Susanna Kaspar and the comic. To the right of this introductory text is the first comic panel. It is a rectangular shape, taller than it is wide, with a yellow text box at the top and the comic picture below. This first panel is larger the the subsequent panels, taking up two-thirds of the vertical space of page 1. On page 1, below the introductory text and the first comic panel, there is a horizontal text box spanning most of the bottom edge of page 1. It is titled "Susanna's Tips for Becoming a Park Ranger."

On page 2, the page has four comic panels, arranged in two rows of two panels each. These panels are each about two-thirds the height of the first comic panel on page 1 but are otherwise similar in general appearance and formatting. The only main difference being the text and cartoon in each comic panel differs from each other.

 

Page 1 - Title and Introductory Section

Title Banner Description

At the top of the larger 2-page spread is a teal banner with the title of the comic "I'm a Park Ranger" in large, forest-green text. Underneath the title is smaller text "By Susanna Kaspar as told to Ellen Song."

To the title's right is a square photo of Susanna Kaspar, who is the park ranger that is the focus of the comic. She is a woman in her thirties or forties with blond, shoulder-length straight hair. She wears the iconic park ranger flat hat, which is tan with a stiff, wide brim. She also wears a standard-issue grey park ranger collared shirt, gold nametag above her right breast-pocket, and golden park ranger badge above her left-breast pocket.

Introductory Section Text

SUSANNA KASPAR’S love of the great outdoors started when her parents took her on trips to state and national parks. As a teen, she knew she wanted a job that would let her spend as much time outside as possible. Today she’s a park ranger at the Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River. A park ranger is a government official who helps preserve and protect the natural resources at state and national parks. There are many types of rangers. Some handle the daily operations of parks, maintaining facilities and making repairs. Some enforce the laws of the park. Susanna’s job is to educate visitors and keep them safe. Do you want to be a park ranger too? Read on to learn more about the job.

 

Page 1 - Comic Panel 1

Panel 1 Description

Summary:

Comic book panel. Illustration of Susanna as a teenager sitting on riverbank while fishing. Text is in a yellow box at the top of the illustration.

Detailed Description:

Susanna sits on a brown tree stump on the bank of an azure-blue river. Susanna is a teenager with blue eyes and blond hair, slightly past her shoulders, and is wearing a pink ball cap, orange long-sleeve jacket, grey shorts, and shiny black wader boots. She is facing the river, but turns her face to the viewer with a smile. Her left land is up in a wave to the viewer, her right hand holds a pink fishing rod with a grey reel and white line. The line has already been cast in the river and makes slight ripples in the water.

In the foreground are various items in the grass of the riverbank, including a grey bucket of tan fish; a grey tackle box with different compartments, each with different colored baits and/or lures; and a brown woven picnic basket with a red and white gingham cloth, a thermos with a red cap, oranges, and green grapes.

Above Susanna’s head, a green dragonfly with light blue wings flies. In the river, to Susanna’s right is a tan rock with a green frog perched on top. To the right of the frog, a yellow butterfly floats above the water. A forest with leafy deciduous trees, bushes, and a lush undergrowth lines the riverbank, following the river on its left side and into the distance.

In the background, a person in a red lifejacket, short-sleeve shirt, and ball cap paddles in a red boat on the river. Behind him in the distance are grey, pointed mountains with white patches of snow against a blue sky. A flock of 10 birds is silhouetted against the sky.

Panel 1 Text

I’m originally from a suburb outside of Chicago, which is a big city. But as a kid, I spent a lot of time outdoors. I especially loved being near water, boating, and fishing.

 

Page 1 - Text Box: Susanna's Tips for Becoming a Park Ranger

Text Box Description

Rectangular text box, approximately four times wider than it is tall, spanning most of length of page 1. Text box is split into 4 columns, numbered 1 through 4. Each column has text under its number with one of Susanna’s tips. Box is a teal color with a dark forest-green banner at the top of teh box to make the title of the text box stand out.

Text Box Text

1. Make sure you enjoy being outdoors and talking to people.

2. Teens can volunteer at a national or state park. Search volunteer.gov for available positions.

3. Pursue a four-year degree. Most national park jobs require a college degree.

4. During and after college, search for seasonal work or internships.

 

Page 2 - Comic Panel 2

Panel 2 Description

Summary:

Comic book panel. Illustration of a mountain range with green foothills. A tiny silhouette of a person is on the foothills, labelled “Susie.” Text is in a yellow box at the top of the illustration.

Detailed Description:

Pale blue mountain range stands majestically in the background, against a blue sky with white clouds and the sun. The mountains are pointy, with 3 prominent peaks. Snow patches are visible. On the right, the side of the mountain facing away from the sun is a dark tan, in shadow. In front of the mountains are some smaller mountains, which are about half the height of the peak and less pointy, colored the same pale blue but also a lighter tan. In front of these smaller mountains are grassy green foothills. A tiny silhouette of a person is just barely visible on these foothills. A red map marker labels this person as “Susie.” In the foreground, dark green leaves frame the bottom border of the illustration.

Panel 2 Text

 In college, I majored in park and resource management. I also did two unpaid internships, including one at beautiful Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming.

 

Page 2 - Comic Panel 3

Panel 3 Description

Summary:

Comic book panel. Illustration of Susanna talking at the front of a classroom to students. She asks them “Does anyone know why bald eagles are a protected species?” Text is in a yellow box at the top of the illustration.

Detailed Description:

An adult Susanna stands at the front of a classroom. She gestures with her hands and a speech bubble has her say “Does anyone know why bald eagles are a protected species?” She wears an outfit reminiscent of a park ranger--a tan flat hat, a long-sleeve collared tan shirt, belt, and long dark pants. In front of Susanna are students sitting at wooden school-desks. 4 students in the front row are visible, and parts of 2 students in the second row. Desks are arranged in pairs, with students’ desks touching on their left/right sides. Students appear to be engaged, smiling at Susanna and with pen and paper in-hand, as if they are taking notes. An adult man, presumedly the students’ teacher, stands behind Susanna with his arms crossed. The wall behind Susanna and the teacher has a bald eagle photo on it. To her right is a bookshelf with colorful books and a miniature globe.

Panel 3 Text

As a park ranger, my job changes with the seasons. In the winter, I plan events and post on social media. I also visit schools to teach kids about the river and nearby wildlife.

 

Page 2 - Comic Panel 4

Panel 4 Description

Summary:

Comic book panel. Illustration of Susanna in a canoe speaking a pair of people swimming in the river. She says “Please wear your life jackets—The current can be strong!” Text is in a yellow box at the top of the illustration.

Detailed Description:

An adult Susanna sits in a red canoe in a blue river with white-tipped waves. Her back is to the viewer, instead looking upriver and facing a man and a woman. This couple are standing in the river with the water up to their chests. They wear expressions of surprise. Susanna is wearing her flat hat and an orange life-jacket, holding a paddle on top of her legs with one hand and giving a thumbs-up to the couple with the other. A speech bubble has her saying “Please wear your life jackets—the current can be strong!” Her canoe is labelled “Park Ranger.” In the background, one can see a grassy riverbank, which drops off several feet into the water, the slope to the water a steep tan stone. On the riverbank in the distance is a red A-frame camping tent nestled among trees against a blue sky.

Panel 4 Text

In the summer, the park gets more than 250,000 visitors. I paddle down the river, talking to visitors and helping them stay safe. I’ve even rescued people who were drowning!

 

Page 2 - Comic Panel 5

Panel 5 Description

Summary:

Comic book panel. Illustration of Susanna in canoe paddling alongside a family in an adjacent canoe. Fish are in the river water in front of them. The family and Susanna exchange a conversation about the fish. Text is in a yellow box at the top of the illustration.

Detailed Description:

Susanna paddles in a red canoe, labelled “park ranger” alongside a family in a yellow canoe. The family consists of a man, woman, and boy. They are all paddling in a blue river. Ahead of them in the river are a school of 8 tan fish with dark spots splashing on the water’s surface. The fish are large, the size of their canoe paddles’ fins. The fish have two fins on the bottom, two fins on their back, and a tail. The man is wearing a red life jacket, the woman is wearing an orange life jacket and has a canoe paddle in hand, and the boy is wearing a green life jacket. The man looks at Susanna and a speech bubble has the woman saying “Woah! What are all these fish doing?” Susanna, wearing an orange life jacket and her flat hat and holding a canoe paddle, says with a speech bubble “They swim here to lay their eggs!”

Panel 5 Text

I work from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and no two days are the same. One of the best parts of my job is seeing kids and adults appreciating the beauty of the river.

 

Background and Margins

Background graphics description

The primary elements of the comic, including the title banner, introductory text, text box on page 1, and all the comic panels are all against a large white rectangular box with a grass-green outline. Behind this focus area is a cartoon graphic background of silhouetted pine trees against mountains. The trees are a dark, forest green and the mountains are various shades of green-teal. The trees are located at the bottom edge of the page, and are closer to the viewer, while the mountains are behind the trees in multiple layers, each layer of mountains becoming a lighter shade of green-teal. The sky starts as a white on the horizon, against the last layer of mountains and shifts slightly darker into a light teal-green at the top of the magazine spread.

Text in margins

In the upper right hand corner of the magazine spread, on page 1, is a red circle with the text “On the Job.” The red dot is reminiscent of a red dot that blinks on and off when something is being recorded.

On the right edge of page 1, running up the right sides of the text box and first comic panel, is a line of small text that reads: "Shutterstock.com (Background); Courtesy of Susie Kaspar (Susanna Kaspar)."

At the bottom left of the magazine spread, on page 1, is the bolded page number of the magazine "20" and to the page number's immediate right is the title of the magazine and its issue: "SCHOLASTIC CHOICES [dot] May 2024." 

Underneath the fourth comic panel on page 2 is the text "Illustrations by Rafael Alvarez." 

At the bottom right of the magazine spread, on page 2, is the bolded page number of the magazine "21" and to the page number's immediate left is the title of the magazine and its issue: "SCHOLASTIC CHOICES [dot] May 2024."