MWCD welcomes three new hires from ranger cadet program
MINERAL CITY (WJER) (Jan. 6, 2026) – The Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District has welcomed three new hires as part of its newly created Ranger Cadet Program, a workforce development initiative aimed at strengthening ranger staffing across its parks.
Adria Bergeron, the district’s director of marketing and communications, said the program enrolls cadets in an MWCD‑approved peace officer training academy. “They are employed by the MWCD while they are going through the academy, and upon completion they will work for the Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District,” she said.
Bergeron noted that with roughly 5 million guests visiting MWCD lakes each summer, rangers play a critical role in maintaining safety both on the water and throughout the campgrounds.
“Many different departments have faced a lack of rangers, and recruiting and retaining them has been challenging, so this was an attempt to combat that,” she said.
The first cadet group includes three hires who will be assigned to Pleasant Hill Park, Charles Mill Park and Tappan Lake Park.