What is a Ranger Scout?

ranger |ˈreɪn(d)ʒə|

noun

1 a keeper of a park, forest, or area of countryside.

2 a member of a body of armed men, in particular

• a mounted soldier.

• a commando or highly trained infantryman.

3 a person or thing that wanders or ranges over a particular area or domain : rangers of the mountains.

   This is a question that gets asked quite a lot. There are many characterizations of Rangers in history and the media. Here in Ireland there is confusion with the Irish Army Rangers.

   Coming from North America, I see another use of the name Ranger. The U.S. Army Rangers are another elite fighting force of infantrymen. When I went to the Ranger School in the US, I got to see first hand what the Ranger was all about. There is definitely a time and a place to have a Ranger Battalion sweeping in from the sky to seize an airfield or port.

   But these are not what I have in mind when I teach the Ranger Scout classes.

   In literature there are references to Rangers in the world of Dungeons and Dragons, Lord of the Rings, and other fantasy novels. Yes, I do believe that there is a lot to learn about Rangering from this source.
Here is what wikipedia says about Rangers:

Rangers are usually associated with the wisdom of nature. Rangers tend to be wise, cunning, and perceptive in addition to being skilled woodsmen. Many are skilled in stealth, wilderness survival, and tracking. Archery and swordplay are common to rangers, though there are many instances where rangers use a variety of weapons and skills.

   Here at IPNA we aim to bring in energies from each of these Ranger types. I believe that there are many different ways to approach Nature. Through Rangering one can immerse into the natural world and have experiences that are profound and exciting. What exactly does this mean?

I feel that there are levels of seeing Nature. There is nothing wrong with going into the woods with the idea of setting up your campsite, making a fire, having a lovely stew with hot coffee, work on some campcraft and then settling into your hammock for a restful night of sleep. I enjoy these activities quite often.   

   Why not go out and do all of these things but at the same time, be listening to what the birds are saying about your new campsite. Look for tracks, sign and scat in your area to see what and who has been here before you. When you burn wood, choose to break off a branch that opens up new trails or lets light into a new area that will allow plants to grow, birds to expand their domain and reduce the risk of forest fire.

   A Ranger does all of these things. When she is finished with her camping, the forest is better off because she was there. She cleans up her campsite and dissipates her ashes so that anyone who happens past her spot will never know that she was there. Even another Ranger!

   Therefore the skills of a Ranger include: Bushcraft living, Firemaking, Hunting, Finding wild edibles, Trapping, Herbal Lore, Silent movement, Animal knowledge, and most importantly Awareness.

   Stories go back hundreds of years on how uncanny the awareness and perception is of a Ranger. What does this mean for today's reality? Awareness can keep you and your clan safe. Perception is the ability to walk into any situation and know who is safe and who should be watched. It means that you should know what animals come by your home and how often. It means that if anything gets moved on your desk when you are away you immediately know when you return. It means that you know instantly if you feel someone watching you. Your senses are 'on' all the time.

   Rangering is not just about warriorship. We are the very last to pick up a sword or bow. It means that we are protectors, watchers, observers, caretakers, and teachers for the next seven generations.

   I am not trying to downplay warriorship. It is extremely important to have warriors in a community. Not fighters....warriors. A warrior is someone who will stand up for anyone oppressed. It is a black lady in 1959 who refuses to sit in the back of the bus. It is a mother who battles for the good of her children. It is a community that comes together to keep crime out of their neighborhood.

   When I speak of warriors I refer to the Yamabushi. These were Japanese warrior monks who patrolled the hillsides of feudal Japan to help communities as doctors, teachers, spiritual guides, and lastly in warfare.

   At IPNA the Ranger Scout programme embodies a balance between what I have learned in Ranger School and as a Green Beret. But these are really minor compared to the skills of the Tolkien Ranger and the ancient Apache Scout who spend time in the wilderness for the good of their people.

The Ranger Scout is a protector, caretaker,

Healer and warrior for their community.

More information can be found at www.ipna.ie.