Ranger Alexis Chase

For Park Ranger Alexis Chase, every day at Huntington Beach State Park is an opportunity to serve, learn, and protect one of South Carolina’s most beloved coastal landscapes. With six and a half years of experience, Alexis has grown into a versatile ranger whose passion for conservation and public service shines through in every aspect of her work.

Alexis grew up in Granite Falls, North Carolina, “halfway between Asheville and Charlotte,” as she puts it, but the real roots of her love for nature took hold with her grandparents. “We spent a lot of time camping, boating, fishing, jet skiing, bird watching… If it was outside, you could guarantee that we did it!” That early exposure set the stage for a lifelong dedication to the natural world.

Education came early for Alexis, who attended a high school where students could earn college credit. By the time she graduated, she held two associate degrees and later earned two bachelor’s degrees from Coastal Carolina University -- one in marine science and one in biology, with an emphasis in conservation, ecology, and evolution.

Originally, Alexis imagined a future in research. “Most kids dream of being famous by being a movie star or a pop star. I always wanted to make a discovery and win a Nobel Prize.” But when she realized she loved fieldwork far more than hours spent analyzing data in a lab, she began looking for other ways to turn her passion into a career.

That exploration led her to the South Carolina State Park Service. “Honestly, I just happened to stumble into the job and didn’t really know what I was getting into,” she says. “I love how every day is different and presents a new challenge.”

She started her ranger career at Huntington Beach State Park and has been there ever since.

Alexis does a little bit of everything. Her duties span from visitor-facing tasks to behind-the-scenes planning and maintenance:

“I have lots of different job duties, including booking weddings, planning festivals, creating workdays for our Friends of Huntington Beach group, designing signage throughout the park, mentoring assistant rangers, patrolling the beach, repairing boardwalks, and LOTS of landscaping.”

But the unpredictability of each day is part of what she loves most. “I love that every day is different. While there are some things that we must do every day, such as clear campsites and open the gift shop, you never know if you are going to have to close the park, fix a water leak, or address a visitor concern.”

Park rangers often move from routine tasks to unexpected challenges in a matter of minutes. Whether it’s managing crowds on a busy beach day, assisting with stranded vehicles, supporting emergency responders, or helping keep visitors safe during difficult situations, the job requires flexibility, calm thinking, and a tremendous amount of heart.

Alexis says it best: “A lot of times our job is not fun and can be stressful, but being able to laugh about it with people who understand is really important.” That camaraderie is what helps the team navigate everything from small hiccups to high-pressure moments while continuing to give visitors the best experience possible.

Despite the tough moments and the wide range of situations rangers must handle, Alexis wholeheartedly recommends the career to others. “I regularly hear people say they always wanted to be a park ranger… I would encourage people to try it! There is no better time than the present.” She adds, “I would say don’t get discouraged. Before I was in my position, I interviewed a lot with no success, and I was very close to giving up. I would hear from people who were interviewing me, or my friends, at the park, ‘You will get a promotion one day! Don’t give up!’ and of course at the time I was thinking, easier said than done, but now I honestly think that is true.”

Representation also matters deeply to her. She loves talking to Girl Scout groups and helping young people, especially young girls, see themselves in the green and gray. “When I was growing up, I mainly saw men park rangers... so it was hard to imagine myself in that position. I would love for some little girl to see me as the inspiration I didn’t get to have."

Alexis isn’t an Ultimate Outsider yet, but she’s looking forward to visiting Rose Hill or Redcliffe Plantation. “At Huntington, we have a very unusual historic home, as Archer modeled the house after Morrish architecture… I would love to look at other historic houses in the State Park Service,” she says.

When asked to sum up her work in one phrase, Alexis jokingly calls herself the “Volunteer coordinator, sign master, and Queen of the Castle.” With her passion, dedication, and sense of humor, the title perfectly captures the many hats she wears every day. 

Thank you, Alexis, for your dedication to the South Carolina State Park Service! Think you might be interested in a job with the South Carolina State Park Service? Click here to see our current full-time job openings or reach out to a park near you for part-time opportunities!

December 2025