John Kerr is living out his childhood dream as a National Park Service ranger, protecting precious natural places in the American West, flat hat included.

The Park Service recruits plenty of encore-stage volunteers, but as a 60-something, paid, part-time ranger at Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming, John is a rarity.

As the Park Service celebrates its centennial, and as more than 250 million visitors surge into the parks each year, John hopes that his encore will convince the Park Service to bring more experienced adults like him on staff.

Read John’s full story here. It’s the latest installment in our brand-new partnership with the Christian Science Monitor, highlighting the stories of people over 50 making a difference.

Published: March 31, 2016