When most New Yorkers go to work, they usually hop onto the bus or the train, and head to an office or a place among the bustle of the big city. But on the Greenbelt, Staten Island’s forest area, one man leads a very difference existence. Being a forest ranger is an atypical job, especially in a bustling metropolis like New York. But it is the calling of one man.
Gilbert Schweiger, or “Gil” as he is commonly known as, works as the Senior Ranger at William H. Pouch Scout Camp. For the past nine years, Schweiger has watched over the camp and the forest. With not one, but four trusty German Shepherds by his side, it’s Schweiger’s mission to make the camping experience as enjoyable and as enriching as he can. At 49 years old, Gil Schweiger is in charge of maintaining the grounds at Camp Pouch, whether that means planting more tress, picking up trash, or renovating camp sites. (more…)