Ceres native Colleen Bathe retired Saturday from the National Park Service after 36 years of service.

Colleen was a chief ranger for 14 years at Sequoia Kings Canyon National Park where she was Chief of Interpretation, Education, and Volunteers. She previously worked in Death Valley National Park, Bryce Canyon, Devils Post Pile, and Yosemite.

The daughter of longtime Ceres residents Tom and Virginia Bathe, Colleen attended Ceres schools from kindergarten through high school graduating from Ceres High School in 1979.

Colleen’s love for the national parks began when she attended a National Girl Scout Camp in Ten Sleep, Wyoming when she was in junior high school. After attending Modesto Junior College and Chico State College majoring in Parks and Recreation, she began working as a seasonal employee for the NPS prior to becoming a full-time employee of the system. She was responsible for many impactful projects here such as starting the shuttle program and the living history program. She loved sharing the magic of the parks with visitors and inspiring young people to pursue careers in the National Park Service.