Park Leaders Show: Recent Episodes
Jody Maberry
Park Leaders connects the wisdom of Park Managers, leaders in the park system, and thought leaders of the business world with up and coming park leaders. This is the show for Park Rangers, Park Managers, and leaders who want to have an impact. Join host Jody Maberry as he talks to park leaders from all over the world.
"When you truly love a place, you do whatever it takes to protect it, even if it takes a decade."
Notable Moments
00:01:04 Meeting Rodrigo and Jose 00:02:03 Rodrigo shares how a simple question sparked conservation 00:07:15 Jose explains fighting the first hydroelectric project 00:20:54 What happens after the land is protected 00:32:04 The significance of the ancient Alerce tree
Jody Maberry recounts his unforgettable trip to Chile’s Cochamó Valley, especially meeting Rodrigo Condeza and Jose Claro. Together, they have spent over a decade fighting to stop hydroelectric dams and irresponsible development in Pucheguin. Their efforts highlight the power of dedication and community-led conservation. Listen to hear about their battles, the unique Alerce trees, historic trails, and the vision for balancing wilderness protection with community livelihood and responsible tourism.
Read the blog for more from this episode.
Episode Resources Puelo Patagonia: puelopatagonia.cl
Conserva Pucheguin Project: conservapucheguin.org
Connect with Jody
www.parkleaders.com
https://parkleaders.com/about/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theparkleaders/
"The only way you're going to save the world is with a damn good story."
Notable Moments
02:13 – Jeff’s origin story: how a zoo letter changed his life
04:47 – Radical collaboration and partnerships across conservation groups 06:31 – Story of Pueblo Patagonia and local leadership in Chile
13:16 – Big change starts with one local champion
17:26 – Why storytelling is essential to conservation success
24:16 – Gabon’s 30x30x30x30 model and protecting rivers, too
26:14 – Partnering with Disney for the Lion Recovery Fund
33:18 – Jody’s zoo and creek story: early sparks of passion
37:52 – Jeff’s advice for new park leaders: seek diverse experiences, tell good stories
What if the future of conservation hinged less on policy and more on storytelling?
Conservation doesn’t start with land. It starts with people. And it lasts because of the stories we carry forward. In this episode, Jody Maberry talks with Jeff Parrish, Global Managing Director at The Nature Conservancy. Jeff shares how global conservation success starts with local champions, radical collaboration, and the power of storytelling. From protecting ancient forests in Chile to elephants in Gabon, Jeff emphasizes that people are the heart of conservation, not policy. He highlights partnerships with Disney and grassroots leaders, and reminds us that whether you're a donor or a ranger, your story matters.
Read the blog and make sure to take a listen to hear more on how stories connect people to conservation.
Episode Resources
The Nature Conservancy
About Jeff
Connect with Park Leaders Show www.parkleaders.com
https://parkleaders.com/about/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theparkleaders/
“A win in conservation is temporary. You’ll fight for it again. A loss is permanent.” Notable Moments
[00:01:03] – Why politics and public land are inseparable
[00:04:37] – The impact of the Antiquities Act on land policy
[00:06:57] – South Carolina’s bipartisan approach to land conservation
[00:10:31] – Western vs. Eastern perceptions of public land ownership
[00:15:11] – Economic and social value of protected lands
[00:21:13] – The difference between temporary wins and permanent losses
[00:26:40] – Why every acre counts, from Yellowstone to your local county park
Jody Maberry and Phil Gaines explore the often-overlooked political realities of public land management. They examine how geography, history, and growth shape public land debates differently across regions, especially in the East vs. the West. From the Antiquities Act to state and federal tensions, they reflect on why effective leadership requires understanding policy and public sentiment. Phil shares South Carolina’s strategic approach, and both emphasize that conservation is about legacy—not just land. This episode encourages park leaders to engage in meaningful conversations, beyond politics, to protect the places that define our country.
Read my blog for more about the politics of public lands.
Resources www.parkleaders.com
https://parkleaders.com/about/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theparkleaders/
“Parks protect the land, but just as importantly, they protect the stories that shaped our nation.” There are a number of ways parks can contribute to the United States’ 250th anniversary. From South Carolina’s rich revolutionary history to the roles western parks can play, this conversation highlights how parks serve as stewards of history, not just nature. Phil joins to share his involvement with state commissions and the American Battlefield Trust, offering ideas for programming, preservation, and storytelling.
Read the blog for more from this episode.
Notable Moments
[02:30] Phil’s work with commissions and battlefield preservation
[04:02] Lexington and Concord: the shot heard around the world
[06:29] Parks' role in preserving and retelling history
[09:30] Revolutionary stories from South Carolina
[11:30] Creating commissions across the U.S.
[13:00] The opportunity for storytelling and youth engagement
[17:11] Andrew Jackson’s teenage war story
[20:48] Importance of land preservation
[21:51] How every state can contribute to the celebration
Resources www.parkleaders.com
https://parkleaders.com/about/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theparkleaders/
"I'm going to do something that's connected to the national parks or our or a state park near me so that I can use my knowledge and see the real world impact it has. And that way, I never am stuck in class asking, why is this important? Why on earth do I have to learn this?"
Notable Moments
03:02 Parks' Enhanced Virtual Learning Programs
05:30 The Value of Learning About Distant Places
12:39 Bridging Classrooms and Public Lands
17:53 Engaging Park Rangers as Educators
24:08 Enhancing Park Visitor Experience
26:14 Park Principles for Classroom Management
Connect with James Order the Book The National Park Classroom
www.nationalparkclassroom.com
Resources www.parkleaders.com
https://parkleaders.com/about/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theparkleaders/
Every park holds stories waiting to be told. James Fester, an educator and former interpreter with California State Parks and the National Park Service, returns to discuss the ever-evolving connection between national parks and education.
Read the blog for more on the ways that parks have been successfully integrated into classrooms and the powerful outcomes of such collaborations.
"We've designed the bathroom to be agnostic to the environment in which it goes. There are certainly other operational considerations the further out you go, but there's really no fundamental limitation as to where we put a throne."
Bathrooms in parks are rarely the focus of innovation, but I was eager to dive into this unexplored territory with guests Jessica Heinzelmann and Fletcher Wilson from Throne Labs. Together, they are revolutionizing bathrooms, transforming them from mundane necessities into seamless, data-driven experiences for park visitors. Read the blog for more from this episode about how they are helping rethink park restrooms.
Notable Moments
06:21 Rethinking Bathroom Infrastructure
08:04 User-Driven Feedback Systems to Ensure Cleanliness
11:16 Addressing the Needs of Women and Families
15:57 Creating a Quick, Hassle-Free Bathroom Solutions
20:20 Smart Bathrooms Enhance Experience and Opportunities
22:29 Automated Park Lockdown System
Connect with ThroneLabs
ThroneLabs.com
LinkedIn Jessica Heinzelman
LinkedIn Fletcher Wilson
Connect with Jody
www.jodymaberry.com
About Jody - https://jodymaberry.com/about-jody-maberry/
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sugarjmaberry
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jodymaberry/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/sugarjmaberry/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jodymaberry
"You have to be ready because change is constant, and you have to be able to adapt and adjust."
As the retired director of South Carolina State Parks and a current professor at Clemson University, Phil Gaines has wisdom on navigating administrative changes in park systems that is invaluable. He joined me to break down the often tumultuous times when new administrations take office. Transitions can be tough. Read the blog to hear how more on our conversation about strategic planning and adapting to new leadership in the park system.
Resources www.parkleaders.com
https://parkleaders.com/about/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theparkleaders/
"Nothing gets done without partners. And in fact, it's way more fun when you get to do it with other people."
Philanthropy is a powerful tool that often goes unnoticed in the world of park management. I have the privilege of diving deep into this with Sarah Unz, Vice President of Community Partnerships at the National Park Foundation, and Ryan McClure, Executive Director of Gateway Arch Park Foundation and Board Chair of the Friends Alliance. Read the blog for more on creating world-class experiences and preserving our natural treasures for future generations.
Notable Moments 00:00 Reimagining the Arch Experience
03:49 Embracing Environmental Partnerships
08:17 "National Park Friends Alliance Collaboration"
12:58 "Philanthropy's Role in National Parks"
14:30 Urban Parks: Unique Role & Philanthropy
19:13 Historic Courthouse Renovation Art Project
23:32 "Parks Fundraising Campaign Launch"
26:09 Proud National Park Campaign Collaboration
Resources
Gateway Arch Park Project
National Park Foundation
Friends Alliance
www.parkleaders.com
https://parkleaders.com/about/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theparkleaders/
"They've done studies observing children in a park. They issue the more organized places like a like a soccer field or basketball court, but the kids always end up on the edges where the trees or the brush is just messing around." Childhood adventures in nature can shape a lifetime of curiosity and exploration. That’s why I was thrilled to chat with Chris Anderson, creator of "OutSCIder," an initiative bringing educational videos about national parks into classrooms. Through his work, Chris is ensuring the next generation doesn’t just learn about nature but forms lasting bonds with it. Read the blog for more on how OutSCIder is helping kids find a passion for exploration and conservation.
Connect with Chris Anderson https://www.outscider.org/
YouTube Channel OutSCIder
Instagram OutSCIder
Resources www.parkleaders.com
https://parkleaders.com/about/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theparkleaders/
"After 43 years of doing this, some things didn't sound accurate to me. So I started researching this in in order to to put together a program to go out and really explain what the history of these places are and what is fact and what is fiction."
When was the last time you thought about the history behind our public lands? It's more intricate than many realize. One person that knows that is a veteran leader in the world of parks, Walt Dabney.
Walt joined us fresh from the 47th annual Ranger Rendezvous. This event started back in 1977 and continues to bring park rangers together. His presentation on the history and future of public lands was incredibly compelling. Do yourself a favor and take the time to watch it on YouTube.
Walt unpacked the historical context of how America's public lands came to be, from the Louisiana Purchase and Treaty of Paris to the impacts of the Mexican War. He explained how the lens of history is crucial to understanding current debates, particularly the contentious issue of transferring federal lands to state control.
One of the major points Walt made was the looming risk if states like Utah successfully demand federal land transfers. Managing these lands is no small feat, with wildfire costs alone hitting $119 million in 2018. If states can't afford to manage these lands, we risk seeing them sold off and lost forever.
Walt, who once led Texas State Parks and served decades in the National Park Service, brings the wisdom of his extensive career to the forefront. His ongoing educational outreach highlights the importance of public engagement. His key message is clear: we must understand and appreciate public lands' history to safeguard their future.
Resources www.parkleaders.com
https://parkleaders.com/about/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theparkleaders/
"Signs don't do much. It's the educational programs where you're actually talking to people that are the most effective in changing behaviors." Notable Moments
00:42 Prescott's volunteer-driven, unique park ranger system.
03:26 Code enforcement change to interpretation.
07:07 Leave No Trace signs to improve local campsites.
11:48 Enhance accessibility and safety to attract families.
15:38 Launching a Junior Ranger program
18:06 Nature Ninos partner is developing a local STEM activity center.
20:53 ADA trails improve park accessibility.
Sean Underhill is a park ranger from Prescott, Arizona helping get city-level park programs up and running. He shares insights into their extensive volunteer efforts and a new ranger program that is building a bridge between parks and local communities. The implementation of a city level Junior Ranger program is one great example of the innovative initiatives they are working on.
Read the blog for more of the takeaways from my conversation with Sean.
Resources www.parkleaders.com
https://parkleaders.com/about/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theparkleaders/
"We honor our profession and we're proud of what we do to remember those that we lost." Park Rangers often dedicate their life to the preservation of nature. There is another side of the work that is less known; Uncovering the forgotten stories of those who paid the ultimate price. My conversation with Jeff Ohlfs, retired chief ranger of Joshua Tree National Park, explored the often-overlooked sacrifices of park rangers worldwide. Read more about his work in the blog.
Resources
Association of National Park Rangers
Park Rangers Association of California
www.parkleaders.com
https://parkleaders.com/about/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theparkleaders/
"As a helper, as a as a compassionate individual, you can get compassion fatigue, physical fatigue, and emotional fatigue because it is devastating."
Resources www.parkleaders.com
https://parkleaders.com/about/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theparkleaders/
"By bringing varied backgrounds into conservation careers, we are ensuring our parks represent all of America." Connect with Doug
Email Doug Mitchell
Glacier National Park Conservancy
Resources www.parkleaders.com
https://parkleaders.com/about/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theparkleaders/
In Glacier National Park, the journey to reintroduce bison is a great example of the power of perseverance and learning from failure. The collaborative effort between the US Federal Government, US Fish and Wildlife Service, Glacier Park leaders, and the Blackfeet Nation was a key marker in the project’s success.
This journey wasn't straightforward thought. Read more about it here on my blog.
"I've never been there early enough to see the sunrise, but I've been there late enough to see the sunset. And it does have a really pretty sunset."
Notable Moments
02:04 Common Questions from Visitors
06:33 Importance of Seasonal Training
08:02 Day in the Life of a Park Employee
10:12 Family adventures with bears.
Resources www.parkleaders.com
https://parkleaders.com/about/
It's not every day you get to hear from someone about their experience working at the park they group up in. However, that is exactly what my daughter, Gretel, spent her summer doing at Fort Flagler State Park. I couldn't be more grateful to have her joining Phil Gaines and I to share her insights into what makes Fort Flagler so special.
Take a listen or read about it by visiting my blog.
"The small stuff is where you create that memory or you create an impression that never leaves them. Attention to those little details really matter."
Attention to details isn't just a small matter; it can transform the experience of park visitors. In the latest episode of the Park Leaders Show, Phil Gaines returns for a conversation about why the small stuff is crucial in parks and conservation. Paying close attention to the seemingly little things can make a monumental difference to visitors.
Notable Takeaways:
- Small Stuff Matters: Whether it's ensuring cobweb-free restrooms or aligned signs, paying attention to small details reflects how well the entire park is managed. This attention can significantly affect visitors' perceptions and experiences.
- Creating a Culture of Care: Consistent attention to minor details not only maintains cleanliness but also instills a culture of discipline and care among park staff. This can be infectious and elevate the whole team's commitment.
- Visitor Perspective is Essential: Regularly experiencing the park from a visitor's viewpoint can help identify areas needing attention. This practice ensures parks remain welcoming and beautiful, staying true to their purpose of creating lasting memories.
Don't wait for special visits from higher-ups to spruce up your park. Adopt the mantra: "Don't get ready; be ready." Every visitor deserves the same exceptional experience!
Take a listen to episode 303 to hear more strategies for park rangers and managers to view their parks through the eyes of visitors. It shouldn't be a surprise that visitors care that you maintain a high standard of cleanliness and care. They are always paying attention to details, so don't miss out on more ways that your attention to detail can make a big difference in parks.
Resources www.parkleaders.com
https://parkleaders.com/about/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theparkleaders/
"We need to inspire people, especially young people, with innovation. That is how we can change the world in a positive way. Connect with Viktor Glice website
Viktor's Website
Viktor on Instagram
Resources www.parkleaders.com
https://parkleaders.com/about/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theparkleaders/
Viktor Meier is the cofounder and CEO of Glice®, a revolutionary company that has developed synthetic ice for a more sustainable ice skating experience. This conversation sheds light on how Glice® rinks are being used globally, from cold climates in Iceland to the sunny beaches of the Maldives, enabling ice skating in places and times previously thought impossible.
Viktor grew up in Switzerland surrounded by nature. His commitment to conserving our environment was deeply influenced by the Chernobyl disaster. His journey from diplomat-in-training to eco-innovator is truly inspiring.
Highlights from the episode:
- Viktor’s Journey:
How growing up in Switzerland and witnessing the Chernobyl disaster inspired Viktor’s lifelong commitment to conservation and innovation. * About Glice:
The fascinating story behind Glice®, a synthetic ice that offers the feel and glide of real ice with zero energy and water usage. * Impact on Parks:
Discover how Glice® enables park systems in varying climates to introduce new recreational activities sustainably. * Learning Opportunities:
How parks can use Glice® to educate the public on sustainability and innovation. * Future Prospects:
The potential growth in sports and recreational activities in regions traditionally unable to support ice rinks.
Viktor’s vision doesn't stop at recreation. He believes innovation is our best path toward a sustainable future. By showing kids these advancements, we inspire the next generation to tackle climate change creatively.
Whether you are a park ranger, manager, or an advocate for the environment, this episode is packed with inspiration and practical wisdom. Learn how integrating innovative products like Glice® can attract a new audience to your parks while promoting sustainable practices and conservation. Take a listen now to hear Viktor's advice on authenticity, humility, and the importance of learning and innovation.
Resources www.parkleaders.com
https://parkleaders.com/about/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theparkleaders/
George Melendez Wright was a trailblazer in conservation and wildlife management whose work continues to influence our national parks system today. Jerry Emory, an esteemed author and conservationist, has written an insightful biography, "George Melendez Wright, the Fight for Wildlife and Wilderness in the National Parks." In this episode, Jerry delves deep into the life and legacy of George Melendez Wright, a pioneering figure in the National Park Service. Our discussion touched on Wright's groundbreaking work, his relentless spirit, and the critical influence of his mentors.
This episode highlights:
- Legacy of Innovation: George Wright introduced science-based wildlife management in national parks, advocating against harmful practices like feeding garbage to bears and developing a recovery program for the trumpeter swan.
- Resilience and Dedication:Wright's ability to overcome cultural resistance within the National Park Service, fueled by his intellect and personality, serves as an inspiring example for current and aspiring park leaders.
- Importance of Mentorship: The role of Wright's mentors, including Joseph Grinnell, was foundational to his approach in wildlife conservation. Surrounding yourself with supportive and knowledgeable mentors can significantly shape one's career and impact.
This conversation is a fascinating journey into the history of conservation and the profound impact one individual can have on the protection and preservation of our natural heritage.
Whether you're an aspiring park leader or a seasoned park ranger, this episode is packed with insights, historical context, and inspiring stories that highlight the challenges and rewards of working in national parks. So, sit back and get ready to be inspired by the lasting legacy of George Melendez Wright on today's episode of the Park Leaders Show!
"If you look back over the last 100 years of significant events in America's parks, state, national, local, that, you know, on that list of the top 10 or 15 things that's that's changed the way we manage parks is, how we did the pandemic." Resources www.parkleaders.com
https://parkleaders.com/about/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theparkleaders/
We just celebrated a major milestone—300 episodes of the Park Leaders Show! This episode felt like a great opportunity for Phil Gains and I to reflect on what has changed in parks over the last decade and look towards the future. It's been an incredible journey of connecting with park managers, leaders, and thought leaders, and we're grateful for every listener who has been part of this adventure.
In this episode we talk about the evolution of our beloved parks. Some of biggest shifts came from the unexpected twists the pandemic brought. Here are three more takeaways from our conversation:
- Rising Visitation & Sustainability: Parks have seen a significant uptick in visitors, raising both excitement and sustainability concerns. How do we welcome more people while preserving our natural resources?
- Pandemic Impact & Innovation: The global pandemic has drastically changed park operations and management, leading to an increase in online interpretation and programming. We've had to adapt quickly, but the silver lining is the new ways we're connecting with our communities.
- Growth in Park Leadership: Over the past decade, we've witnessed advancements in workforce sophistication, visitor demographics, and the myriad challenges faced by park leaders. The Park Leaders Show has been there every step, evolving to discuss these critical changes.
A special shoutout to Phil Gaines for being such a significant part of this journey and to all our incredible guests and listeners. Starting this podcast was a way to merge my love for parks with business leadership concepts. It's been an absolute pleasure to make it happen. I look forward to continuing to bring you these conversations, including more on-location interviews and expand international park conversations. Let the adventure continue!
Resources www.parkleaders.com
https://parkleaders.com/about/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theparkleaders/
Resources www.parkleaders.com
https://parkleaders.com/about/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theparkleaders/
"The welcome station is where you are telling a visitor what to expect during the rest of their time with you." Key Moments
05:58 First Impressions Matter at Parks
10:41 The Importance of Welcome Station Staff
16:34 Understanding Role vs. Purpose
19:06 Optimizing Park Efficiency
21:41 Importance of Face Time with Park Rangers
24:57 Pre-Shift Meetings at Welcome stations
Resources www.parkleaders.com
https://parkleaders.com/about/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theparkleaders/
How to Have an Effective Welcome Station
One of the most crucial touchpoints in any park experience is the welcome station. Welcome stations are not just a checjpoint or stops as you enter a park. They are an opportunity to make a memorable start to a visitor’s journey. Welcome stations are the first impression visitors get of a park. During our conversation, Phil Gaines and I explain how knowledgeable, engaged staff can make or break that experience.
Imagine arriving at a state park and being greeted by a ranger who’s genuinely enthusiastic and well-informed. That’s what we’re aiming for. This kind of interaction shapes visitors' experiences. Effective welcome stations aren't just about giving directions. They're about managing capacity, educating visitors on rules, and representing the entire park system. Proper training and communication are key.
Pre-shift meetings are crucial to ensure consistent experiences for customers and students at the welcome station. They equip welcome station staff with the latest info, ensuring safety, efficiency, and courtesy. Disney does it, and so should parks.
It's not just about creating a role for a welcome station employee; it’s about their purpose. Creating positive interactions and being the friendly face of the park sets the tone for an unforgettable visit. Make sure to listen to this conversation between Phil and I for more ways to have an effective welcome station.
"Parks can be a great antidote to social isolation and mental health struggles. Yet the only way to do that effectively is to invest in our parks and make sure that the experience that people have when they go is positive and supportive of those health outcomes."
Key Moments
05:31 The Impact of Local Parks on Personal Growth
08:39 NRPA's origin and evolution, partnership with parks.
11:39 Protecting Natural Spaces for Future Generations
13:33 NRPA Resources and Geographical Connection
16:44 The Importance of Parks and Recreation for Community Health
21:49 Health and Tourism Being Vital for Community Welfare.
26:17 Partnerships Supporting Parks and Recreation.
Resources
www.parkleaders.com
https://parkleaders.com/about/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theparkleaders/
While on my way to the National Association of State Park Directors conference in Lake Tahoe, I happened to share a ride with Kristine Stratton, the president and CEO of the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA). Her friendly nature sparked a conversation where we discovered our shared passion for the challenges and opportunities that parks present across various states. It only seemed right to have her join for a conversation.
In this episode, Kristine shares her journey, from an outdoorsy upbringing in Maine and a career in public broadcasting to her influential role in environmental policy and now at NRPA. The NRPA is instrumental in supporting local parks and recreation nationwide, providing essential resources, advocacy, and professional development for over 164,000 full-time park professionals and millions of volunteers.
During our conversation Kristine and I discuss the impact of parks on community health, economic growth, and the well-being of residents, as well as the pivotal role of the NRPA in fostering connections and driving progress in the field. She also shares insights into the NRPA's initiatives, such as their professional development programs, federal grants, and significant legislative advocacy work.
Make sure to listen to this episode to learn more about the invaluable work of the NRPA and the profound difference well-supported parks can make in our communities. You do not want to miss Kristine's inspiring stories and her call to action for park leaders to utilize NRPA's vast resources to enhance their impact.
If you’re a park leader, make sure to tap into NRPA’s member platform for training and guidance. Grow with their resources and connect with peers.
"The general public is not impressed with how much you know. They're impressed with how much you've inspired them to know more about the places they visit."
Key Moments
02:04 Creating Park Experiences for New Visitors
07:10 The Challenge of Information Overload in the Digital Era
10:35 Historical Communication and Public Engagement
16:02 Inspire Learning through Augmented Reality Historical Storytelling
18:08 Instant Information Access on Learning
21:19 Contact for creating park experiences or highlights.
Resources www.parkleaders.com
https://parkleaders.com/about/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theparkleaders/
Creating Experiences for Normal People
The deep knowledge of park leaders is invaluable. However, when we want to create experiences for the everyday visitor it is important to recognize that simplicity resonates with the general public. We can add to their experience by offering narratives and relatable stories that build their interest in the history. Even better is when it encourages them to further explore the land.
Too many park guests feel lost in a sea of too much information at an exhibit. Park leaders have the unique role of balancing their wealth of knowledge with creating intrigue of the great outdoors. As Phil says, "park people are not normal people." and how we can embrace this difference to enrich the experiences of our everyday visitors. "Normal" may be subjective, but the joy of discovering the wonder of parks is universal. A park adventure shouldn't feel like a history exam. It's about creating a connection that turns mere data into memorable stories. This is how parks capture hearts and provoke minds.
Ever heard of the Horn Works in Charleston? No? Phil Gaines shares about turning a 10x10 foot relic into a journey through time. Imagine seeing a revolution-era fort pop up among modern buildings using augmented reality. That's where technology marches alongside history in the parks, showing us that innovation and tradition can walk hand in hand. It's an opportunity to dive into the past without getting lost!
It is inevitable that people will spend time googling historical facts after a park visit. Visiting parks sparks curiosity in the minds of the next generation. For many younger visitors, a monument speaks louder than textbooks. Parks are more than terrain; they're a testament to human history. Next time you visit a park, look beyond the scenery. Search for the story, find the connection, and dive into the curiosity and wonder the experience brings.
While park staff may not be your everyday Joe, the experiences they curate should resonate with anyone stepping off the bus, ready for adventure. Make sure to listen to listen to this episode for more on ways park leaders are working on making the next 250 years of park history as engaging as the first.
"We have to do more things with younger people to make sure they know what a cool industry we are and that there are so many different job opportunities that aren't just front line." Key Moments 04:35 Tourism Synergy and Collaboration
08:37 Empowering Youth to Make a Positive Impact
14:50 Revitalizing Urban Parks and Workforce Development.
19:03 Building Partnerships for Environmental Conservation
20:26 Historic Site Preservation
23:50 Community Support in the Tourism Industry
28:06 Promoting Career Diversity to Youth
Resources www.parkleaders.com
https://parkleaders.com/about/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theparkleaders/
Volunteer Projects to Enhance Tourism
The dedication of park professionals is undeniable, espeically when they are all together in one place. At the annual in-service for Michigan State Park, I had the opportunity to meet a number of people doing amazing things, including Patty Janes, a professor and founder of Michigan Cares For Tourism. Her organization brings together tourism experts to revitalize Michigan's historic and cultural park attractions. The more we talk the more clear is becomes that impact of volunteer work on local tourism provides a blueprint for successful community involvement. Volunteerism is a tourism booster. Patty has championed this cause through Michigan Cares For Tourism by organizing volunteer events that tackle the maintenance backlog in state parks. These events, such as an adopt-a-forest program, are vital for park conservation. They also enhance the visitor experience by improving facilities and creating a cleaner environment. The impressive result of these efforts is an estimated $1.2 million in labor and supplies saved for the state. She knew the profound economic impact of volunteer-driven tourism projects, and it is most certainly paying off. Collaboration is the linchpin of success in these community projects. The synergy between Michigan Cares For Tourism and a diverse set of organizations such as Pure Michigan and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources has been a key force. These partnerships facilitate initiatives such as the transportation of volunteers via donated motor coaches and the structuring of professional communication. This approach underlines the potential of joint efforts to get sustainable results. All while creating a more vibrant tourism industry. Educating and involving the younger generation in tourism is a must. Patty continuously works with high schoolers and early professionals to bring awareness to career opportunities within the tourism sector. This helps highlight the field's career potential while insprining future stewards of Michigan's natural gems. It also encourages the fresh flow of ideas and innovation, ensuring the longevity of the industry. Make sure to listen to this episode for more of Patty Janes’ insights and opportunities. Whether you’re a business professional with an eye for community impact or simply a lover of parks, this episode is full of ideas on the intersection of volunteerism and tourism.
"A good new part director has a vision. And and if you want to make a difference and leave your mark, you have to have vision of where you want to take your agency in the next year, in the next 3 years, and in the next 5 years." Key Moments
06:53 Recognize the need to act as leader.
11:39 Watch what you say, people are listening.
13:38 Build on core values, ethics, and vision.
18:28 New directors often overwhelmed, need readiness training.
21:35 Stay close to service, vision, motivate.
25:38 Seek smarter team members for success.
Resources www.parkleaders.com
https://parkleaders.com/about/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theparkleaders/
The Role of a Park Director
Successful leaders have a clear vision and understand the impact of communication. in order to drive it forward. Phil Gaines returns for a great conversation on the role of a park director, though anyone in a leadership role can benefit from what we discussed. When someone has a vision, it will only come to fruition if they make decisions with confidence to empower their team while staying close to your point of service
3 key takeaways from our conversation:
- Vision and Communication: Successful leaders have a vision and can effectively communicate it to their team. This sets the path for the team's success and establishes a sense of urgency.
- Empowerment: Effective leaders must empower their team members with the knowledge and tools needed for success and be ready to support them as they work toward achieving the shared vision.
- Accountability and Decision Making: Leaders need to be okay with being held accountable and must be willing to make tough decisions. They should be focused on moving the team forward strategically and not recklessly, with a strong sense of urgency.
This episode gives a great perspective on the intricacies of leading a park, while also offering valuable wisdom for leadership roles in various organizational settings. This episode is a must listen, whether you aim to rise to the position of a Park Director, or aspire to grow in your current leadership position.
“Go sit on a rock in your favorite spot somewhere and do a very serious self-assessment. What am I good at? What am I not good at? What do I like to do? What do I don't like to do? And if you don't want to be out there in the lead, if you don't want to be out there taking some risk, if you don't want to get up in front of audiences, don't put yourself in that position."
Key Moments
01:45 Starting a Career in Parks and Recreation
06:37 Ranger Experience in Yosemite
10:31 Toxic Work Environments
13:57 Conservation Efforts in Protected Areas
14:45 Environmental Protection by National Park Service Personnel
19:01 Leadership Accountability and Self-Assessment
25:35 Importance of Reputation in Career Success
Walt's Presentations on YouTube
A History of America's Public Lands | Texas Parks and Wildlife Education Channel
History of US Public Lands Canyonlands Natural History Association
Conversation on Public Lands with Walt Dabney | Coalition to Protect America's Nation
Resources www.parkleaders.com
https://parkleaders.com/about/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theparkleaders/
Leadership is a Choice
As a park leader it is necessary to be willing to take risks and make difficult decisions. One person that is no stranger to that is Walt Dabney, retired director of Texas State Parks. Walt has left a mark on the parks and conservation landscape, making him quite a legend in the industry.
During our conversation Walt shares stories from his extraordinary career. From his deep-rooted connection to the outdoors in Texas, to his unexpected journey through the National Park Service and his pivotal role in challenging decisions that would impact the future of our public lands. He even took on the military to stand up to mining interests. Walt's unwavering commitment to safeguarding our parks serves as a powerful lesson in resilience, determination, and the true meaning of leadership.
This episode explores:
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The bold moves and pivotal decisions that shaped Walt's career
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The importance of taking a stand and putting yourself at risk for what you believe in
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Key strategies for effective leadership, including decision-making, self-assessment, and fostering respect and trust
Being a leader means balancing approachability with managerial authority. Leaders should be ready to embrace bold moves. Throughout Walt’s career, he had to make bold decisions, take on challenging assignments, and stands up for what he believes in. It is also important to recognize when the role you’re in isn’t what you thought you wanted or turns out to not allow you to do the things you are good at. Even if you don't enjoy your current role, be diligent, supportive, and efficient in your work, as this will impact your reputation and future career opportunities.
This episode is full of valuable lessons from Walt's experiences and leadership philosophy. It is a must listen for park leaders and enthusiasts. There is no doubt you’ll want to hear more, so many sure you keep an eye out for the documentary, "History of America's Public Lands.” This documentary will further expand your knowledge of the history and relevance of public lands in the United States.
“People can't fall in love with your park if they're lost."
Key Moments
03:49 Law enforcement rangers use interpretation to influence.
07:05 Expanding park interpretive products for diverse experiences.
09:56 Framework for visitor experience in parks and its application across different contexts.
13:53 Problem-solving strategies for adaptation.
19:08 ROI of interpretive programs for park rangers.
21:54 The challenges of parks to increase diversity amid visitor influx.
23:14 Diversity and inclusion in State Parks for better representation.
Connect with Ky The Visitor Experience website
Ky Harkey on LinkedIn
Resources www.parkleaders.com
https://parkleaders.com/about/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theparkleaders/
Finding the Return on Investment in Interpretation
Interpretation plays a vital role in attracting, entertaining, and educating diverse users. One person with a lot of experience in this area is Ky Harkey, former director of interpretation for Texas State Parks and now founder of The Visitor Experience. His expertise in interpretation and visitor experience helps park leaders improve the relevance and inclusivity of their programs and services. During our conversation Ky shares some of the ways we can enhance the visitor experience, increase diversity in visitorship, and create a more engaging and impactful park environment for everyone.
Key Takeaways from this conversation:
- Interpretation & Business: The concept of "entrepreneurial park rangers" reflects the need for the park industry to approach management and services as a business. This will help them effectively solve the challenges and drive impact.
- Stewardship Staircase: The framework of the "staircase of the visitor experience" encompasses the 5 core services along the Staircase to Stewardship. It provides a strategic way to guide visitors towards stewardship and reflects the diversity of the communities the parks serve.
- Diversity in Visitorship: Interpretation plays a vital role in attracting and engaging diverse users by sharing under-told stories of natural and cultural history, providing relevance, and fostering connections leading to moments of impact.
Make sure you listen to the full episode to gain insights into the visitor experience and the influence of interpretation in shaping the future of parks. To learn more about Ky’s work and get access to a self-assessment tool to evaluate your visitor services, visit thevisitorexperience.org. Consider ways you can embrace the transformative power of interpretation and entrepreneurial innovation to grow the experiences that have a positive impact of parks and conservation.
"Part of the narrative that we find ourselves in is talking about creating areas that are protected for people, not from people." Key Moments
02:57 Conservation and Community Participation
05:29 Rethinking Conservation Strategies
14:57 Conservation Training in Latin America
17:22 International Conservation Collaboration
22:05 Importance of Nature on Human Health
23:54 Global Tourism Program Facilitates Cross-Cultural Exchange and Learning.
27:13 Global Conservation Efforts
Connect with Ryan LinkedIn Ryan Finchum
Warner College of Natural Resources
Resources www.parkleaders.com
https://parkleaders.com/about/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theparkleaders/
Managing Protected Areas
Ryan Finchum is the co-director of the Center For Protected Area Management at Colorado State University and a seasoned expert working with the US Forest Service international programs. He joins for a conversation diving deep into the world of protected areas. We explore the crucial decisions that shape our national parks and conservation efforts, and how past mistakes can light the way for future success. From missteps like feeding bears in dumps to the construction dilemmas faced by park roads. Ryan shares some of the vital lessons learned and the international collaborations that aim to bolster our global stewardship efforts.
Key Takeaways:
- Lessons From History and Colleagues: Understanding the mistakes of the past, and the knowledge exchange on a global scale, is vital for forward movement in protected area management.
- Career Opportunities in Conservation: Ryan underscores the multitudinous pathways for careers within protected land spaces - an inspirational note for the upcoming generation of conservationists to think beyond traditional roles.
- Community Inclusion & Support: The core of Ryan's message lies in creating inclusive protected areas for and by the community, emphasizing that their successful management hinges on community involvement and support.
Don't miss this conversation on the nuances of managing protected areas, ranger training, sustainability. It's not just about protecting land, but also about nurturing relationships with those who inhabit it.
"If you're going to be really good at it, you're passionate about it. You believe that you're doing something that's bigger than just collecting a paycheck."
Key Moments
02:05 Inspiration for a Career in Park Rangers
06:13 Evolving Qualifications for Park Rangers
08:39 The Importance of Passion in Career Choices
21:38 Evolution of Park Rangers and Park Management
31:44 Job Application Strategies and Power of Networking
45:11 The Importance of Work-Life Balance in the Great Outdoors
47:54 Unexpected Challenges of Environmental Awareness
53:28 College Involvement, Professional Associations, and the Future of Park Rangers
Resources www.parkleaders.com
https://parkleaders.com/about/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theparkleaders/
Answering Questions About Being a Park Ranger
Being a park ranger is about more than just trees and trails. Phil Gaines and I both believe it is about the people you meet and the relationships you nurture in this close-knit community. There is never a dull moment when park rangers come together to swap tales from the trails. And while there is certainly a share of wildlife encounters and serene sunsets, there’s so much more to the job. That is why we decided to take the time to dig deeper into the park ranger experience.
Networking is essential even in the most remote locations. It's like linking trails with people. Networking is a natural pathway to opportunity. By connecting with a friend I found myself being introdced to the National Park Service director. These are the connections that turn park-goers into park stewards, proving it's not just the trees that stand tall together; it's us rangers too.
Sure, being a ranger means living the park life (literally), but that doesn't mean personal life takes a back trail. It can be a balancing act, like a bighorn sheep on a rocky ridge. It's about finding a sweet spot so your personal time doesn't get lost in the woods. Whether it’s managing family life within park boundaries or carving out time for self-care, it is important to make sure you take time to also care for yourself.
Times are changing, and so is the role of the park ranger. There has been a cultural shift from the traditional ranger persona to a wave of fresh faces eager to influence and innovate. There is a wave of new recruits who bring new ideas and are ready to grow. The new generation isn't settling for the status quo. They want to contribute, to be part of decisions that shape their parks. And they need leaders who will listen.
Parks serve as more than just plots of land; they're a sanctuary for both wildlife and the human spirit. Becoming a park ranger is as much about loving the parks as protecting them. It’s about being ready for anything—from guiding lost visitors to handling wildlife and preserving natural habitats. A park ranger's career isn't easy. The outdoor office has its challenges, but your contribution is timeless. Rangers shape memories, protect history, and make our parks a home for all.
Whether you're looking to start your career or just love the great outdoors, make sure to listen to this episode, “Answering Questions About Being a Park Ranger”, for first-hand answers about being a park ranger.
"Sometimes we forget, or perhaps even take for granted, the significant role that we may be we may be playing in this legacy that we call parks." Episode HIghlights 01:07 Significance of national parks and our role in preserving parks.
04:53 Organic Act of 1916 shaped National Park Service.
06:49 Lack of agreement among states led to individual state park systems.
10:05 Need to actively preserve and utilize information for future generations.
16:08 Challenge of storing, organizing, and preserving photos and videos.
21:41 Document and archive significant historical events proactively.
25:05 Capture memories and impact of park experiences for future reference.
Resources www.parkleaders.com
https://parkleaders.com/about/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theparkleaders/
Document History
It is incredibly important to preserve the historical legacy of our national and state parks. There is a need to capture significant events, natural disasters, and park facilities for our future understanding. Phil Gaines joins this episode to talk about the importance of documenting history in parks, including strategic archiving of photos and videos.
There is a need for a strategic approach to maintain historical records amidst the era of social media, emphasizing the importance of cataloging and archiving photos and stories. Some of the ways this can be done are by creating procedures for archiving significant events, conducting year-end reviews, and documenting landscape changes over time. It is also important for individuals to recognize the impact they are making on the park system and to be deliberate in their documentation efforts. No effort is too small.
From significant events to natural disasters and park facilities, impact of photography and digital archiving is crucial. These moments shape the narrative of our parks and help us appreciate their evolution. Some of the ways this can be done are to create procedures for archiving significant events, conduct year-end reviews, and document the change in landscapes over time. It's all about capturing the essence of our parks for posterity.
Take a listen to the full episode to gain a deeper understanding of the importance of documenting park history. Share your thoughts with Phil and I to continue the conversation about preserving the legacy of our parks.
“If you offer something specific, not only are you offering to help, but that shows that you see them as a person and that you're recognizing their specific needs rather than just generalized to the general population."
Episode Highlights
03:39 Creating a podcast about parks and the opportunities that come from it.
09:02 Recommendations can be reliable and chance encounters facilitate connections.
10:15 Being open to opportunities and making connections has led to getting great podcast guests.
15:28 Leaders should prioritize personal responsibilities over their public service roles.
17:53 Park rangers are prioritizing their roles.
22:17 Putting people first leads to park love.
27:41 Advice for outdoor leaders: equip, inspire, and succeed.
32:04 Be specific when offering help to others.
Resources www.parkleaders.com
https://parkleaders.com/about/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theparkleaders/
Last episode, we did an interview with Chris Lee. In this episode, we're going to Flip it a bit. I'm going to share the episode of Chris's Parks and Restoration podcast where Chris Interviews me. I'm not so sure I've ever done that on the park leader show. If I have, it's been a while. It was a great conversation, and I look forward to sharing it with you.
During our conversation we talk about the importance of putting people first in parks. As park leaders, it's crucial to prioritize the well-being of our staff and visitors. The best leaders in the public sector, particularly in parks, prioritize serving their staff first. By creating a supportive and empowering environment for our teams, we can foster a love for the park and enhance their desire to connect others to it.
The power of connection is undeniable. Networking and building meaningful relationships play a significant role in the success of park leadership. Through connections with professionals, we gain recommendations for guests on the show, while also broadening our knowledge and understanding of industry trends and disruptions.
Whether in the workplace or personal life, offering specific help is more effective than a general offer. By taking the time to understand someone's unique needs and offering tailored assistance, we show that we truly care and are invested in their success.
If you're a park leader or passionate about parks and conservation, I highly recommend listening to this episode. It's packed with insights, anecdotes, and practical advice that can help drive positive change in the industry. Let's continue to prioritize people and create exceptional experiences in our parks.
“those little tidbits of information really help park and conservation leaders be better in their jobs, be better stewards of the resources, and just be better community leaders." – Chris Lee
Episode Highlights
[00:02:21] Importance of local parks and conservation efforts.
[00:03:53] Parks offer a strong community presence and finding solace in nature.
[00:08:01] Park rangers connect people to experiences with the outdoors.
[00:11:59] Always strive to improve leadership skills.
00:13:12] Focus on team culture.
[00:17:33] Understand your purpose to find fulfilling work in the parks.
Connect with Chris Lee
Parks and Restoration Podcast
Resources
www.parkleaders.com
https://parkleaders.com/about/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theparkleaders/
The Impact of Local Conservation
Local conservation efforts have a lasting impact on communities and individuals. Chris Lee, the executive director of Des Moines County Conservation, joins for a conversation on the important role of conservation in local communities. Chris also hosts his own podcast called "Parks and Restoration”. During our conversation he shares about his journey from growing up in the small town of Burlington, Iowa to leading the county's conservation department.
The unique benefits of local parks and conservation efforts often go unnoticed. These efforts play a critical role in connecting people to the outdoors, fostering a love for nature, and even influencing decision-making in the future. They also touch on the importance of local park rangers in being the face of conservation and how they can empower communities to get involved in conservation initiatives.
Listen to the full episode to learn more about the role of local parks and the inspiration they can provide for conservation on a larger scale. Let's work together to make a difference, starting in our own backyards.
"When your mother was not setting expectation properly and yet was keeping you accountable, it felt unfair. You remember that. So take those learnings and apply them in the workforce..." – Valerie Cockerell
The skills and experiences of motherhood translate into essential and effective leadership skills. Valerie Cockerell started to find similarities between the challenges of managing a park to the struggles of parenting. Throughout our conversation, she emphasizes the valuable skills mothers acquire through managing a household, such as time management, conflict resolution, and crisis management. Her own experiences as both a mother and a leader within a global company have shaped her perspective on leadership.
Feedback should be seen as a gift for growth or an opportunity to become better in our roles. Valerie emphasizes the distinction between judging character and changing behavior. She points out that many emerging leaders lack proper training, which can lead to difficulties for both them and their teams. That's where Valerie's book, “Manage Like a Mother”, comes in. It offers practical advice on various leadership competencies, all which have are inspired by the amazing qualities of mothers.
Valerie believes that men can learn from the naturally honed leadership skills of mothers. Once that value is recognized it is important to promote more women, especially mothers, into leadership positions. There have been positive changes in the park industry, with more moms and women taking on influential roles as park rangers. Recognizing and valuing the diverse skills of mothers can lead to a more inclusive and nurturing workplace environment.
Mothers have a special way of influencing and teaching people to do something in a way that people then want to do because they see value in it. This is also a strength of great leaders. When employees are guided by that type of leadership it ensures that even when the leader is not present, tasks are still performed. The team understands their importance and contribution to the overall objective.
Make sure to take a listen to this unique perspective on leadership and the parallels with motherhood. Let us know what stood out to you in this conversation and how you see it influencing your park leadership. Join the conversation on this topic using #ManageLikeaMother.
Connect with Valerie: Order the book - Manage Like a Mother
Email - valerie@cockerellconsulting.com.
LinkedIn - Connect with Valerie
Resources www.parkleaders.com
https://parkleaders.com/about/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theparkleaders/
Episode Highlights
[00:02:20] Childhood memories foraging for mushrooms in France bring appreciation for American national parks.
[00:05:40] "Beautiful parks, crowded with people, but nostalgic."
[00:10:12] Limited leadership training leads to difficult leadership.
[00:15:24] Feedback is a gift for improvement.
[00:18:15] Being a manager is difficult without training, much like parenting.
[00:20:31] Men need to recognize and advocate for leadership skills they see in women.
[00:23:49] Motherhood is like leading a team; influence is key.
[00:27:52] Don't rush, learn and seek guidance.
"... they don't have to make conservation their top priority. So you combine those 2, and they are really doing some innovative things around camping."
The increasing demand for camping in natural parks has impacted the future of camping. Companies are taking notice and working to proactively prepare for this growing interest. During this conversation, Donald Forgione joins to talk about camping trends and innovations and how it's evolving to meet the growing demand.
There continues to a growing interest around camping in natural, state, and national parks. Industry leaders like KOA, Winnebago, and Airstream are collaborating to cater to this growing trend. Some less common camping concepts Donald and I discuss include urban and rooftop campgrounds. The camping landscape is ever evolving, and parks need to be able to anticipate the interests of their visitors.
Something that should never be overlooked is the importance of inclusivity and ensuring access to parks for all individuals, irrespective of their background or camping equipment. Educational programs, such as the ones offered at the conference I recently attended, offer fantastic opportunities to get a better perspective on camping trends. Guest speakers, researchers, and professors share their expertise in a way that paints a better picture of what to expect and how they can support one another.
Government entities can learn from the innovative approaches of private entities in camping and parks. In return, they can be a great resource providing unique offerings like dark skies and immersion in natural resources. Much like the collaborative and supportive nature of the conference, directors, support staff, assistant directors, and field operations people should make the time to gather with the intent to share ideas and learn from one another.
Make sure to listen to this episode for a unique perspective around the future of camping and the remarkable work of the National Association of State Park Directors. If you aren’t a park leader, it’s still a great conversation that will likely inspire you to explore the great outdoors.
Resources
www.parkleaders.com
https://parkleaders.com/about/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theparkleaders/
Episode Highlights
[00:07:40] Innovative ways build back better, environmentally.
[00:12:43] Future campsites: natural, state, national parks.
[00:16:11] Government camping invites private sector, offers more.
[00:19:58] Marginalized communities, expensive campers, variety of amperage.
[00:26:25] National Association of State Park Directors (NASPD), also known as America's State Parks, hosts conferences, brings in experts, and provides training.
"What you're doing is making a difference not only for this generation, but if you do it right, it's making a difference for future generations."
Phil Gaines and I had the chance to record an episode together while attending the 2023 State Park Director's Conference at the Mormon State Historic Site in Genoa, Nevada. It was the perfect opportunity to discuss our experiences at the conference, with Phil sharing his unique perspective as a former park director now representing Clemson University.
There are so many highlights from this conference that one episode may not be enough. For example, our session on disruptive renovation is a topic we are going to need to explore in a future episode. There are challenges in parks nationwide, with the top concern being recruitment and retention of employees. In this ever-changing world, parks have to find ways to stay relevant and stay ahead of the game. Some have tapped into the power of artificial intelligence to elevate the visitor experience.
We can’t overlook the significance of the conference being at Mormon Station, the first settlement in Nevada, and the California Trail that passed through Genoa. This leads to a conversation on the importance of preserving stories and land in parks. There is a need for adaptation and planning to sustain these treasures for future generations.
Throughout the episode, we reflect on the efforts to manage and accommodate the increasing number of visitors to these popular destinations. This conference did a great job doing its part with a fantastic exhibitor area. The space was filled with vendors showcasing innovative ideas to support parks, recreation, and conservation.
Make sure to listen to our recap of the 2023 State Park Director's Conference. Phil and I provide insights into the challenges, triumphs, and inspiring innovations within the park industry.
Resources www.parkleaders.com
https://parkleaders.com/about/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theparkleaders/
Capacity is a big challenge for this generation, especially post-pandemic. We need to rethink how we get people into these special places while preserving their natural beauty and ensuring a meaningful and enjoyable experience. - Phil Gaines
As national park attendance continues to increase, managing visitor numbers has become crucial. The pressure is on park officials to accommodate the influx, while ensuring a quality and safe experience for all. As a seasoned park ranger, Phil Gaines understands the importance of preserving the natural beauty and integrity of parks. He joins for a conversation about managing the capacity dilemma, because since the pandemic there has been an ongoing influx of visitors.
Despite the challenges, workers have made notable efforts keeping the parks clean and the trails well-marked. However, as we dig into this even deeper it is quite disheartening to recognize the potential impact of overcrowding on the park's environment. There are a number of concerns in the parks such as increasing erosion and crumbling of the asphalt due to overuse. The behavior of visitors has also created dilemmas that were once considered less common. Too many are acting recklessly by taking selfies with bison or venturing too close to boiling geysers. While it is wonderful knowing people are exploring parks, it is important to acknowledge the reality of dealing with the increased interest in parks. People have now discovered their value, so we have to find a way to preserve it.
Take a listen to this episode as Phil and I talk about recent trips that really brought to light the challenges that popular parks face in managing their capacity. This is a topic that needs more attention so make sure to share this episode with others.
Resources www.parkleaders.com
https://parkleaders.com/about/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theparkleaders/
Episode Highlights
00:02:22 - Visiting Glacier National Park and Yellowstone,
00:06:28 - Adjusting to Increased Attendance
00:08:26 - Challenges of Managing Crowds
00:11:57 - Employee Recruitment and Park Operations
00:14:12 - The Importance of Connecting with Nature
00:15:34 - The Dilemma of Crowds in Parks
00:17:23 - Capacity Issues and Spectacular Locations
00:21:45 - The Impact of Individual Behavior
00:26:21 - Balancing Visitor Access and Preservation
00:29:15 - The Impact of People Discovering Parks
"The more interaction you have with nature, the healthier you are mentally and physically." - Dan Biederman
Dan Biederman is an expert in urban redevelopment, who discovered a profound love for the outdoors at a young age. He dreamed of becoming a forest ranger, but lacked the scientific background. Instead, he found himself as a systems consultant in the heart of midtown Manhattan. A chance encounter with Bryant Park, a neglected public park in New York City, led him to his true calling; transforming neglected parks into community assets. His work showcases the potential for positive change in urban spaces.
If you aren't familiar with it's history, Bryant Park was once a dangerous and underutilized space. Dan combined his knowledge of business and politics and undertook the task of transforming the space. Today, Bryant Park stands as a testament to his vision of a vibrant space among the concrete jungle. That area has become a beloved sanctuary for New Yorkers and is considered one of the best small parks in the world.
Dan emphasizes the importance of involving the community in the planning process of redevelopment. By listening to their preferences and needs, developers can create a programming plan that attracts people to the park. During our conversation he shares his experiences and insights into the process and impact of urban park redevelopment when revitalizing neglected public spaces. We also discuss the numerous benefits of urban parks, such as improved mental and physical health and the creation of social spaces.
Dan's success in revitalizing neglected public spaces serves as inspiration for those looking to make a positive difference in their own communities. From Seattle to San Francisco, he continues his mission, revitalizing urban parks, and fostering a sense of community in the heart of the city. This is a valuable conversation for anyone interested in urban planning and community development.
Connect with Dan Biederman
Biederman Redevelopment Ventures
Resources www.parkleaders.com
https://parkleaders.com/about/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theparkleaders/
Episode Highlights
00:00:38 - History with the Outdoors
00:02:46 - Urban Redevelopment
00:04:59 - Community Impact
00:08:27 - Personal Benefits of Parks
00:15:42 - Parks in Need of Redevelopment
00:17:28 - Favorite Hiking Spots
00:18:37 - Glacier National Park
00:19:24 - Advice for Making an Impact
00:20:29 - Where to Find More Information
"I really wanted to tell the truth behind the beautiful scenery."
In a world of rugged landscapes and unpredictable elements, park rangers and first responders face challenges that test their limits. Sometimes that work can include critical tasks such as searching for missing hikers. Andrea Lankford is a former National Park Service ranger who joins to share her insights on the importance of firefighting and law enforcement in parks.
Andrea's love for the outdoors lead her to study Forestry and Wildlife management at the University of Tennessee. She volunteered for the Forest Service for one summer and ended up going to the Seasonal Law Enforcement Academy in Silva, North Carolina. From there she was hired at Cape Padres National Seashore as seasonal law enforcement park rangers with the National Park Service. She fell in love with the job and ended up working for the Park Service for over a decade.
The opportunity to work in national parks like Zion, Yosemite, and the Grand Canyon, had Andrea face the thin line between natural beauty and danger. She witnessed the harsh reality of nature and the risks that came with her role. Her experiences were not just about enforcing laws but also dealing with injuries, deaths, and missing persons. These intense experiences inspired Andrea to give voice to the heroic efforts of park rangers.
After years of serving as a park ranger, Andrea found herself drawn to the unanswered mysteries of missing hikers. The uncanny disappearances of three hikers on the Pacific Crest Trail piqued her interest. Using investigative skills honed over the years, she offered her expertise pro bono to the grieving families. Andrea’s experiences as a ranger proved invaluable. The resilience, people skills, and problem-solving abilities she gained were put to use in unexpected ways, proving the versatility and value of her background.
As a park ranger, she won several awards for her work as a criminal investigator and she implemented the "Heat Kills. Hike Smart" public education program credited with preventing heat-related deaths at the Grand Canyon—a program that continues to save lives today.
Andrea is equally passionate about using her influence to raise significant discussions around missing hikers and effective search and rescue strategies. Her storytelling seamlessly fuses personal experiences with professional insights. After you listen to this episode, make sure to buy her book Ranger Confidential. It is Andrea's first book that takes you behind the scenes of being a park ranger and shares captivating stories from her time in the National Park Service.
Resources www.parkleaders.com
https://parkleaders.com/about/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theparkleaders/
Connect with Andrea
Andrea's Website
Buy the Book Ranger Confidential
Episode Highlights
00:00:28 - Becoming a Park Ranger
00:01:09 - Career as a Park Ranger
00:03:35 - Investigation as a Park Ranger
00:14:40 - Importance of Empathy for Park Rangers and First Responders
00:15:44 - The Impact of Social Media on Search and Rescue
00:20:34 - Collaboration with Non-Government Entities in Search and Rescue
00:22:21 - The Use of Technology in Search and Rescue
"The exposure that assistant managers have to total park operations is tremendous."
Managing a park isn't a one-person job. It's a combination of efforts from different individuals with the role of the assistant park manager quite significant. Phil Gaines and I explore the hidden challenges and crucial responsibilities they have. An assistant park manager has to understand how that park operates as a business to fully fulfill their role. Join our conversation about the wild world of park management, where the scent of adventure intertwines with the thrill of responsibility.
In this episode, you will:
- Discover the integral role an assistant park manager plays in maintaining the park's harmony and sustainability
- Realize the significance of establishing a strong relationship between the park manager and assistant manager for optimal park operations
- Uncover the complexities of an assistant park manager's duties and the strategies to navigate these challenges effectively
- Grasp the essence of the assistant park manager's contribution in decision-making and problem-solving scenarios
- Understand the value of the assistant park manager role as a pivotal stepping stone for emerging leaders in the park industry
Being an assistant park manager requires a unique dance, balancing leadership and needs, from park guests, the frontline, and the higher-ups. If you're interested in pursuing a career in park management, make sure to listen to this episode. It's a great conversation that will highlight the value in the assistant park manager to develop your skills and knowledge.
Resources www.parkleaders.com
https://parkleaders.com/about/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theparkleaders/
"Focus on common objectives and goals, you can get to where you want to be without being divisive."
When people first enter the world of park management, they don't expect to be involved in politics. Yet, as time goes on it's not uncommon to find yourself at the center of political discussions on issues like land use and resource management. It is important to focus on governance rather than personal politics. Politics affects everyone in parks, from park rangers to directors.
Parks are deeply intertwined with politics at every level. The higher up in the system, the more one has to understand who they work for. Phil and I have found that it is best to navigate these situations by focusing on the core values of stewardship and service. It is important to stay true to your core values as a park person and have a strong ethical background. Compromise is critical when dealing with people of different ideas. It is also important to not lose sight of the primary responsibility – the preservation of the parks under your care.
As a park ranger, the focus should be on the protection of the property, not personal politics. It is important to build a good reputation and character to be able to influence decisions and advocate for the park's protection. By building strong relationships and a reputation for integrity you will be able to work effectively with politicians, advocating for the best interest of the parks and the people they serve.
Resources
www.parkleaders.com
https://parkleaders.com/about/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theparkleaders/
Episode Highlights
00:00:02 - The Politics of Parks
00:03:30 - Getting Involved in Politics
00:06:09 - Compromise and Common Goals
00:09:40 - Politics in Parks at Different Levels
00:15:02 - Importance of Separating Politics and Governance
00:17:24 - Personal politics vs. governance
00:19:21 - Understanding Director's Role
00:20:27 - Navigating Decisions
00:21:32 - Climate Change
"The customer is rarely right, but they're always the customer."
Phil Gaines joins to discuss the surge in misbehavior among park visitors after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. There are a number of factors that could have caused this increase. One is the increase in new visitors who were not familiar with the park's rules and regulations. Like many places, there also seemed to be a lack of customer service focus among staff. Both of those combined creates the inherent difficulty in managing large crowds.
This episode gives great reminders as to the importance of educating visitors about park etiquette. I love Phil's proactive approach to addressing potential issues. What ways are you addressing the concerns with visitor behavior before they have a chance to escalate?
In this episode, we discuss:
- factors behind increased misbehavior in parks during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- the significance of educating visitors about park rules and regulations.
- responsibilities of park leaders in ensuring clean facilities and a positive visitor experience.
- how to embrace a ranger-first mentality and proactive approach to address misbehavior in park settings.
- how to separate personal emotions from work and concentrate on finding solutions
Instead of letting misbehavior among visitors ruin the park experience, take a proactive approach that could change the game for parks everywhere. Take a listen to this episode for ideas on how to take back control of the experience in parks.
Resources www.parkleaders.com
https://parkleaders.com/about/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theparkleaders/
Episode Highlights
00:02:21 - Increase in Misbehavior in Parks 00:06:08 - Tips for Dealing with Bad Behavior 00:10:25 - Importance of Presence 00:13:08 - Handling Bad Behavior 00:14:43 - Ranger First Mentality 00:16:21 - Advantages of Non-Law Enforcement for Education 00:19:06 - Don't Take It Personal 00:21:19 - Customer Expectations
In this episode of the Park Leaders Show I am joined by Donald Forgione, retired director of Florida state parks. Now I also get to welcome him as the host of the podcast, Tailgate Talks.
Donald's diverse skillset made him a valuable asset among park professionals. As he shared his experiences and knowledge with others, he discovered a common thread among park rangers: they all possessed a deep sense of service and duty. With his podcast, Donald is going to be able to help even more people that are navigating the challenges of park management and the importance of ongoing learning and development.
In this episode, you will:
- Recognize the crucial role of maintenance in effective parks management
- Tackle the difficult task of finding and retaining top-quality seasonal employees
- Appreciate the worth of third-party analysts in fostering productive dialogues
- Discover the wide-ranging skill sets of various park professionals
- Embrace the significance of continually evolving both personally and professionally
The episode provides valuable insights for park management professionals seeking to improve their maintenance and staffing policies. Donald continues to display an unwavering commitment to preserving the beauty of parks and their natural wonders.
If you enjoy this episode, share it with someone else. Then make sure to continue to learn from Donald's curiosity and passion for parks by subscribing to his new podcast, Tailgate Talks. He takes on topics such as partnerships, wildlife management, forestry, and even interviewing techniques, proving that there is always more to learn in the world of park professionals.
Connect with Donald
https://tailgate-talks.com/
Resources www.parkleaders.com
https://parkleaders.com/about/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theparkleaders/
Episode Highlights
00:00:02 - Introduction, 00:02:19 - Starting a Podcast 00:06:41 - Comparing Beginnings and Practice 00:09:45 - Tailgate Talks 00:11:47 - Park Professionals 00:13:54 - Importance of Maintenance and Third-Party Involvement 00:15:52 - Working with Park People 00:17:05 - Future Episodes of Tailgate Talks 00:18:30 - Feedback and Guest Suggestions
"If you educate and train your employees on the very front end, it makes for so much better summer season."
Spring is here and the parks are already starting to get busy with visitors. That is why it is important that you get your park ready for summer well in advance of their arrival.
Part of taking the time to get the park ready includes making sure all the employees are trained and educated for a busy season. Iif you don't do the little things to prepare, the season could prove to be unmanageable and unfulfilling. Documenting your process and experience each year is critical to future success. The crew this year may not be there next year. How then will you tackle this monumental task of getting the parks ready?
In this episode we talk about why it is important to:
- Implement strategies to prepare parks for the summer season based on past experiences.
- Recognize the significance of proper training and education for park employees to enhance their efficiency.
- Streamline park management by understanding how to document and optimize maintenance processes.
- Discover ways to adapt your park management practices to the reduced downtime in today's fast-paced world.
- Leverage the power of community involvement for the greater cause of park conservation and preservation.
- It can be difficult for park managers to know how to best prepare for the busy season. From outdated strategies to ineffective solutions, there are plenty of things that could make anyone overwhelmed. That is why Phil Gaines is back to share valuable lessons from his experiences to help you create proactive preparation strategies.
"Act, don't react."
Episode Highlights: 00:01:13 - Phil recommends beginning preparation for the summer season at the end of the previous summer by listing what worked and what didn't work. 00:05:53 - Setting the stage for employees to get ready for the summer season includes working on attitude and atmosphere by making sure employees have a positive mindset and are ready to deal with crowds and demands. 00:07:01 - Document all processes and procedures for getting the park ready for the summer, create a list of maintenance items, and check all equipment. Ride along with maintenance staff and park rangers to see what they see and hear what they talk about. 00:09:54 - Writing out the script of what a visitor's experience should be, including driving into the park, going through the welcome station, registering for camping, setting up at the campsite, and other activities. This can help train staff and ensure standards are met. 00:13:35 - Park leaders need to see their park through the eyes of a visitor to manage and exceed their expectations. 00:14:18 - In a post-pandemic world, shoulder seasons have reduced. There is less downtime to catch up and get ready for the season, and preparing for the summer season starts in the spring. 00:15:57 - The week before and after Easter is one of the busiest weeks of the year in South Carolina and other warm weather climates. The grass is green, and people are coming to visit. This is a beautiful time of the year to get out into parks and enjoy the scenery. 00:18:03 - Documenting processes and procedures using technology such as videos and photos can help park rangers remember what to do and train others. It also helps document park history throughout the year and respond to situations better than writing on a yellow legal pad.
Resources www.parkleaders.com
https://parkleaders.com/about/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theparkleaders/
Resources www.parkleaders.com
https://parkleaders.com/about/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theparkleaders/
On this episode of the Park Leaders Show, guest co-host, Phil Gaines, returns to discuss the ways parks can manage seasonal staff shortages.
While park careers have their perks, the challenge of filling them is increasing in today’s climate. As Phil explains, recruiters are not only struggling to compete with other industry compensations but also to confirm interest from a remote audience. Since many park positions require onsite involvement, finding the right candidate can be arduous pending qualifications and willingness to relocate.
What then is the solution? While there’s no one-size, fit-all fix, in theory, scouts must embrace unorthodox means to reach their talent pool. From analytically driven social media job postings to community involvement, park recruiters must be willing to establish relationships from teachers and school children to parents and business leaders.
Resources www.parkleaders.com
https://parkleaders.com/about/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theparkleaders/
This episode Jody welcomes guest Daniel Selmi to discuss the rise of environmental law.
Resources www.parkleaders.com
https://parkleaders.com/about/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theparkleaders/
On this episode of Park Leaders Show Donald Forgione joins to discuss some of the biggest issues in parks in 2023.
Resources www.parkleaders.com
https://parkleaders.com/about/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theparkleaders/
On this episode of the Park Leaders Show, Lori Modde, Founder & Managing Director of Lorick Management, joins the show discuss the balance of tourism and community development.
As a community and economic development expert with over 25 years of experience, Lori has long been an advocate for national parks in Australia. Having started out as a marketing manager in the tourism industry, Lori’s business, Lorick Management, has worked on campaigns to encourage diversity and health within tourism since the mid 2000’s.
Despite the pandemic, Lori believes the return to normality will require more commercial intentionality to not only motivate park participation but explore the financial benefits of promotion. For more information about Lori’s work, visit her website at https://womenintourism.com.
Resources
www.parkleaders.com
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theparkleaders/
On this episode of the Park Leaders Show, co-host, Phil Gaines, returns to discuss public lands with special guest and nationally recognized historian, Clay Jenkinson.
As an expert on Theodore Roosevelt’s life and presidency, Clay unpacks the dynamics surrounding Roosevelt’s exploration and conservation efforts. He also dissects the generational differences concerning the expectations of parks. For instance, when one talks about spiritual significance, Roosevelt’s definition is arguably more sacred than the modern-day interpretations due to how people perceive reverence and what constitutes a rejuvenation of the human spirit.
Either way, to be a better American, Clay suggests people understand what made this country what it is and advises park leaders to define public lands to include better technology for maximal engagement. While Roosevelt and his peers were compelled to pioneer accessibility, if the current populace is to appreciate iconic landmarks, there must be pathways for them to embrace that accessibility.
Resources
www.parkleaders.com
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theparkleaders/
On this episode of the Park Leaders Show, guest co-host, Phil Gaines, returns to discuss standard awareness in parks.
Based on true stories, Jody and Phil discuss how parks should handle their facilities during financial hardships. Since one of the most important buildings in the park is the bathroom, park rangers must take care of maintenance matters in a timely fashion to retain credibility and morale.
As Phil suggests, dare to ask yourself, ‘What message do I want to send? What standards do I want the public to notice?’ Whatever the answer, if you permit it, you promote it. You may base decisions solely on finances and budget cuts, but if quality control becomes a casualty, all sides lose in the long run.
Resources
www.parkleaders.com
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theparkleaders/
On this episode of the Park Leaders Show, guest co-host, Phil Gaines, returns to discuss the life and legacy of Gifford Pinchot.
As a top 10 influencer on Phil’s park and conservation list, Pinchot, often heralded as the Father of American conservation, left an impressionable legacy on national parks. Not only did he professionalize forest management but established the modern definition of conservation as a “wise use” approach to public land. In his words, stewardship was regarding “the greatest good for the greatest number in the long run.”
A peer of Teddy Roosevelt, Pinchot founded the Society of American Foresters in 1900 to preserve public lands and prevent exploitation. Having served as the first chief of the U.S. Forest Service, Pinchot also tripled the nation's forest reserves using his conservation definition to maintain long-term health of state resources.
Resources
www.parkleaders.com
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theparkleaders/
On this episode of the Park Leaders Show, guest co-host, Phil Gaines, returns to discuss the importance of operating with a sense of urgency.
While urgency is often discussed as a function of time, as Phil explains, the term for park rangers should be viewed through intentionality. Like business leaders, park rangers should not reduce urgency to deadlines but enhance it through deliberation. More specifically, they must know their goals, be able to define pathways, and make differences within time restraints.
Per Phil’s experiences, operating with a sense of urgency is not about speed but action. Accordingly, if you understand urgency in a healthy way, chances are you’ll be able to move organizations forward and inspire your teams along the way.
Resources
www.parkleaders.com
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theparkleaders/
On this episode of Park Leaders Show Phil Gaines joins me to talk about the changes in the recreation experience over the last few years. With the increase in crowds a ranger is a part of the park experience, possibly now more than ever.
After a recent trip to Glacier National Park I noticed that there are a lot of people in our parks. It seems that the pandemic awoke something in people that helps them realize parks are where you go to recharge and rejuvenate.
While many people visit state parks to feel connected to nature, as Phil explains, the park ranger is an integral part of the experience. Like Mickey Mouse at Disney World, the park ranger is more than a friendly face but an icon of park visitation.
Accordingly, as leaders of conservation and preservation, rangers should consider themselves just as much a part of the park landscape as the terrain and wildlife. Although attractions have their place, park leaders should not undermine their role amidst the little things. After all, what rangers say and how they interact with people can go a long way in defining a positive moment for the visitor.
Resources
www.parkleaders.com
https://parkleaders.com/about/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theparkleaders/
On this episode of the Park Leaders Show, guest Victor Bjelajac, Superintendent of California State Parks, joins the show to discuss the best ways to build tribal relationships.
With 14 tribes represented in his district, Victor is passionate about integrating different perspectives and worldviews from diverse backgrounds. Having recently overseen the first tribe operating a visitor center within a state park system, Victor hopes to inspire more parks to build relationships with local tribes and include them in leadership positions.
Granted, this is easier said than done given parks have a history of inadvertently marginalizing tribal voices through ignorance and negligence. Still, through influence and awareness, Victor hopes more park leaders will facilitate a trusting relationship with tribes by listening and engaging them in community events.
Resources
www.parkleaders.com
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theparkleaders/
On this episode of the Park Leaders Show, guest co-host, Phil Gaines, returns to discuss influencers of conservation.
From Theodore Roosevelt, Rachel Carson, Aldo Leopold, Steven Mather, and John Muir to Gifford Pinchot, Henry David Thoreau, Horace Albright, George Hartzog, Bob Stanton, and Fran Mainella. the list of American park heroes is lengthier than we might think.
Still, while the vocations of these individuals cover a wide spectrum, as Phil explains, the common denominator among them is legacy. Despite pursuits ranging from politics and advocacy to liberal arts and poetry, the key objective for these influencers came down to awareness and sustaining momentum and movement together.
As Teddy Roosevelt once said, “There’s no bigger cause in our country today than conservation” - a reality ringing true today as much as it did over a hundred years ago.
Resources
www.parkleaders.com
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theparkleaders/
On this episode of the Park Leaders Show, guest co-host, Phil Gaines, returns to discuss customer service for maintenance staff.
While many parks have training programs for new staff, developing cultures of customer care is a better alternative. As Phil explains, the key comes down to training versus education. With training, you’re conditioning personnel to behave within specified parameters; with education, you’re inspiring a team to focus on mission and purpose.
Granted, the difference may seem minor; however, the ramifications from operations and infrastructure to advocacy and retention can be significant.
Resources
www.parkleaders.com
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theparkleaders/
On this episode of the Park Leaders Show, special guest Sara Milbourne, Park Ranger at Rocky Gap State Park, joins the show to discuss park leadership.
A Maryland Park Service Ranger and interpreter for almost two decades, Sara has a reputation for management and team building. Having pioneered dog-friendly initiatives and programs such as ‘Healthy Parks, Healthy People', Sara’s passion extends beyond maintenance and preservation into environmental justice and cultural experiences.
As she explains, supporting a team to do meaningful means creating opportunities to connect with marginalized communities. After all, the wonder of states parks should be enjoyed by everyone. Why not train aspiring rangers to spread the word in creative ways?
Resources
www.parkleaders.com
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theparkleaders/
On this episode of the Park Leaders Show, guest co-host, Phil Gaines, returns to discuss the autonomy of state parks.
Back in the 1960s and 1970s, decision-making in state parks was centralized at headquarters resulting in cookie-cutter approaches to management; however, as Phil explains, recent trends have empowered authority at the local level. Since each park is unique, each state park should have the authority to make quick, high-impact decisions.
While headquarters should have a role in influencing outcomes, Phil believes if people on-site at field and regional levels are equipped to facilitate resolutions, state parks will benefit more in the long run.
Resources
www.parkleaders.com
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theparkleaders/
On this episode of the Park Leaders Show, guests Jonathan and Destry Jarvis, join the show to discuss their book, National Parks Forever: Fifty Years of Fighting and a Case for Independence.
Fusing experience with non-fiction, Jonathan and Destry unpack five decades of political tension involving state parks. Since 1972, conflicting perspectives in the Department of the Interior have hindered the role of the National Park Service. While some have contended the NPS should promote preservation and conservation, others have prioritized the economy, even privatization.
As the book explains, the history of Congress decisions and administration appointees have compromised the NPS’s ability to manage parks. Still, despite clashing opinions regarding park leadership, resources, and protective best practices, hope remains that parks can one day operate with more autonomy and independence.
To purchase the book, check out Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/National-Parks-Forever-Fighting-Independence/dp/0226819086.
Resources
www.parkleaders.com
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theparkleaders/
On this episode of the Park Leaders Show, guest co-host, Phil Gaines, returns to discuss why parks should be financially sufficient.
While a complex topic in execution, the bottom line for a park’s financial structure is simple: Each state park should be sufficient to maintain operating expenses including maintenance and personnel. As Phil explains, this implies independence in terms of need provision for visitors and staff and controlling the destiny of the park.
Granted, any state park would benefit from a more business-minded approach to money management. The key for parks, however, is to accomplish this authentically by not sacrificing purpose in the name of business.
Resources
www.parkleaders.com
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theparkleaders/
On this episode of the Park Leaders Show, guest co-host, Phil Gaines, returns to discuss his final experience at the State Park Leadership School.
Started by the National Association of Park Directors in 2005, Phil unpacks his role with the school in finding instructors, inspiring attendance, and delivering content. Since each state has different guidelines and regulations, Phil explains why the school is now a two-year program focused on overarching leadership principles and best practices.
Although Phil’s involvement with the school is officially over, he hopes the strong camaraderie and culture will continue with the school in the years to come.
For more information, visit https://www.stateparks.org/professional-development/state-park-leadership-school/.
Resources
www.parkleaders.com
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theparkleaders/
On this episode of the Park Leaders Show, Park Supervisor, Rowdy Perry, joins the show to discuss his love and appreciation for state parks.
As a former ranger turned supervisor for the Michigan Department of Nature Resources, Rowdy unpacks the attendance rise in his state, the psychological safety parks bring, and how park leaders should perceive their jobs.
Per his experience, while park employees get paid in sunsets, the reason behind the work comes back to people and providing them resources to boost morale and appreciate their part in making the world an environmentally friendly place.
Resources
www.parkleaders.com
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theparkleaders/
On this episode of the Park Leaders Show, Ben Novak, Lead Scientist at Revive & Restore, rejoins the show to share recent conservation success stories. While intended consequences may seem like a vague term, in the context of environment preservation, this often refers to the calculated controlling of species and habitats to sustain life. In select state parks, the reintroduction of wolves into the wild is a prime example of what’s working. In other areas, the reintegration of turkeys into gaming circles and projects like Passion for Pigeons are also having an impact.
As Ben explains, Revive & Restore hopes to spread conservation awareness to audiences to ensure people understand the factors that benefit near-extinct species and surrounding ecosystems.
For more information, visit https://reviverestore.org/.
Resources:
www.parkleaders.com
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theparkleaders/
On this episode of the Park Leaders Show, guest co-host, Host of the “Build a Winning Team” podcast, and former COO of Story Brand, joins the show to discuss his story and definition of success. A man of many hats, Tim Schurrer talks about the value of humility within a teamwork setting. Per his experiences, corporate success is often defined by a selfless culture where roles are prioritized above the spotlight. By cultivating an environment of validation, team members can derive contentment from their role and encourage others within their arenas of influence.
While Tim worries about young people wanting to be instant influencers, his message is clear: Stop chasing the spotlight and embrace your role without forsaking what matters.
Resources:
www.parkleaders.com
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theparkleaders/
On this episode of the Park Leaders Show, guest co-host, Phil Gaines, returns to discuss new economic trends within park management.
In the wake of the pandemic, park visitors have increased around the country. Yet, while the uptick in retention has been a silver lining, the population boom has led to new opportunities. As more tourists visit state parks, the more demand has taxed its resources.
Accordingly, this has prompted some park rangers to enforce new fees and limits for trail and campground access. As Phil explains, the decision is not based on generating revenue but on managing capacity and sustaining resources. By preserving park property, rangers can take new initiatives in sustaining improved visitor experiences.
Resources:
www.parkleaders.com
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theparkleaders/
On this episode of the Park Leaders Show, special guest, Michelle Baker, former Director of Disney Institute, and business leader at Disney Cruise Line, joins the show to discuss ways to build a better park culture.
As Michelle explains, the emerging generation of park leaders and visitors have a deep desire to leave a lasting impact. From recreation to labor, the theme among rangers and tourists today is to live and work on purpose. Yet, for some starting out in the industry, the ‘how to’ on improving culture can be arduous when blending past and present ideologies.
The key, Michelle adds, often comes down to managers prioritizing collaboration in addition to teamwork. While the differences can seem subtle, as long as park personnel integrates top-to-bottom voices within their decision-making process, better work cultures will ultimately ensue.
Resources:
www.parkleaders.com
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theparkleaders/
On this episode of the Park Leaders Show, guest co-host, Phil Gaines, returns to discuss the proper title for park visitors.
As Phil explains, while there’s a transactional element involving visitors, they aren’t best described as customers or guests due to service intent. Since state and national parks are for the public, the goal for park leaders should be to retain tourists over time as opposed to making money in the moment. Accordingly, one could say the best investments for parks are cyclical due to the value of presence over product.
In closing, Phil and Jody agree while visitors have a customer orientation, it's far better to note them as visitors than other monikers based on the purpose of services provided to them.
Resources
www.parkleaders.com
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theparkleaders/
On this episode of the Park Leaders Show, guest co-host, Phil Gaines, returns to discuss popular themes and topics from today’s tourists.
Having spoken at several park ranger conferences in recent weeks, Phil notes the common denominators of frequently asked questions. The most common threads? Visitor retention and voluntary compliance.
As Phil explains, while many park fans are curious about increased visitation and staffing struggles, the motivations for these inquiries are similar. With more people searching for morale within their work, the spillover mentality into park visits is changing the landscape of park leadership and management.
The question: How long will these trends continue and what can rangers do about them in the short term?
Resources:
www.parkleaders.com
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theparkleaders/
On this episode of the Park Leaders Show, guest co-host, Phil Gaines, returns to discuss popular themes and topics from today’s tourists.
Having spoken at several park ranger conferences in recent weeks, Phil notes the common denominators of frequently asked questions. The most common threads? Visitor retention and voluntary compliance.
As Phil explains, while many park fans are curious about increased visitation and staffing struggles, the motivations for these inquiries are similar. With more people searching for morale within their work, the spillover mentality into park visits is changing the landscape of park leadership and management.
The question: How long will these trends continue and what can rangers do about them in the short term?
Resources:
www.parkleaders.com
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theparkleaders/
On this episode of the Park Leaders Show, guest co-host, Phil Gaines, returns on-site at Zion National Park to discuss the complexities of maintaining large-scale state parks.
From capacity management to resource protection, encouraging tourism and preservation in tandem can be a difficult task. Sprinkle in today’s social issues and the recipe for park leadership can get tricky in a hurry; however, as Phil charges, as long as rangers are committed to perceiving their parks through the eyes of a visitor, they’ll in term become better managers of the experiences they promote.
While infrastructures are essential, these cannot be improved long-term with park leaders dedicated to adding value to local communities. Accordingly, Phil recommends rangers not only engage visitors as they enter but ignite a sense of wonder as they participate.
Resources:
www.parkleaders.com
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theparkleaders/
On this episode of the Park Leaders Show, guest co-host, Phil Gaines, returns to discuss ways leaders can focus on professional growth during this pandemic era.
While personal growth centers on passion, experience, and knowledge base, as Phil explains, the key to professional growth boils down to legacy. Despite competition being a commercial necessity, to mature professionally, one must consider what making a difference looks like. For some, upward mobility is essential to this reality; for others, simply maximizing an opportunity is enough to advance their goals.
Regardless of setting and surroundings, dare to question how you can leave things better than you found them. By doing this, you will ultimately progress down the road of professional development.
Resources:
www.parkleaders.com
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theparkleaders/
On this episode of the Park Leaders Show, guest Scott Durham, former superintendent of West Virginia State Parks, joins the show to discuss the origin of the “Ranger First” mantra.
As Durham explains, with park ranger set as a universal term, the “Ranger First” philosophy was established to clarify authoritative influence and promote voluntary compliance. Since its inception, benefits have emerged specifically through community-oriented policing and accountability among rangers and superintendents.
Essentially, the term “Ranger First” is more than a banner but also an umbrella attitude centered on developing healthy park operations and visitor behavior. Durham hopes this approach will continue to integrate ranger visibility into higher education, ingenuity, and compliance at large.
Resources:
www.parkleaders.com
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theparkleaders/
Phil Gaines returns to discuss ways park leaders can focus on personal growth during this pandemic era.
While COVID-19 has altered many park programs, on a personal level, the effects have varied among rangers. Even as visitation rates have increased in recent months, so tends to complacency, especially for leaders accustomed to former rhythms.
Yet, as Phil explains, if you’re an influencer hoping to mature in this season, you must refuse to be easily satisfied. Rather than stick to the predictable routines, dare to see where your passions can take you and explore avenues for learning.
For instance, you may want to seek a mentor who can impart part of their knowledge base and experience. You may want to carve out weekly reading time to discover new content and resources. Whatever plans you set, integrate new pursuits into the places you have become most idle. From there, if you find any to be successful, flex them into daily or weekly practice.
Resources
www.parkleaders.com
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theparkleaders/
On this episode of the Parks Leaders Show, the Ingles family joins in to discuss their passion for state parks.
As road warriors, the Ingles have a fresh perspective on park trends and patterns. With the recent increase in park visitation, De and John note emerging issues in national parks such as overcrowding and conservation communication and provide solutions on what rangers can do in the short term.
Additionally, to help parks in their preservation efforts, the Ingles hope their passion project, Wild Routed, can inspire visitors to appreciate the maintaining of historic landscapes through their unique merchandising.
For more information, please visit their website.
Resources
Website: https://wildrouted.com/
Connect:
www.parkleaders.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theparkleaders/
Linkedin for De: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cmykgirl
Linkedin for John: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johningles
On this episode of the Park Leaders Show, guest co-host, Phil Gaines, returns to discuss ways park leaders can recalibrate their careers amidst the pandemic.
In this Covid-19 era, customer service has suffered across multiple industries such as national and state parks. Despite new efforts to attract tourists, limited staff, restricted hours, and dwindling attendance have combined to hinder performance across multiple locations.
Yet, as Phil explains in this episode, while disruptions increase during desperate times, so should the adaptive innovations. If organizations want to expand their reach, they must consider new approaches to providing value and service.
Accordingly, in the weeks ahead, Phil and I will break down how we can professionally mature in today's hostile working environment. While the roadmaps may vary, forward progress will come as long we know our goals, celebrate victories, and learn from our mistakes. It's just a matter of time.
Resources
www.parkleaders.com
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theparkleaders/
On this episode of the Park Leaders Show, guest co-host, Phil Gaines, returns to discuss ways park leaders can recalibrate their careers amidst the pandemic.
In this Covid-19 era, customer service has suffered across multiple industries such as national and state parks. Despite new efforts to attract tourists, limited staff, restricted hours, and dwindling attendance have combined to hinder performance across multiple locations.
Yet, as Phil explains in this episode, while disruptions increase during desperate times, so should the adaptive innovations. If organizations want to expand their reach, they must consider new approaches to providing value and service.
Accordingly, in the weeks ahead, Phil and I will break down how we can professionally mature in today's hostile working environment. While the roadmaps may vary, forward progress will come as long we know our goals, celebrate victories, and learn from our mistakes. It's just a matter of time.
Resources
www.parkleaders.com
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theparkleaders/
Matthew Luhn joins the show to discuss using Pixar-style storytelling for interpretation.
As discussed in previous interviews, interpreters are some of the best storytellers on the planet. Especially when integrating science, the opportunity to engage park visitors through interactive engagement has never been greater.
According to Matthew, the value of stories, in part, is their ability to tie a critical message to the story itself. For instance, if you want to encourage an audience to be prepared in a certain way, integrating modern-day technology and animation can be a powerful tool to promote questions and inquiry.
Connect:
www.parkleaders.com
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theparkleaders/
On this episode of the Park Leaders Show, guest co-host, Phil Gaines, returns to discuss the relationship between interpretation and cultural challenges.
In present times, more and more park rangers are having to adapt their language to political correctness. Especially after a year like 2020, to preserve retention, state and national park leaders are reanalyzing how they communicate history to the next generation of visitors.
However, as Phil and I discuss in this episode, interpretation is also affecting the oral history of issues like climate change. The question is: How do park rangers provoke people into deeper thinking without overstepping with a right or left-wing agenda?
Connect:
www.parkleaders.com
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theparkleaders/
On this episode of the Park Leaders Show, guest co-host, Phil Gaines, returns to discuss the relationship between interpretation and cultural challenges.
In present times, more and more park rangers are having to adapt their language to political correctness. Especially after a year like 2020, to preserve retention, state and national park leaders are reanalyzing how they communicate history to the next generation of visitors.
However, as Phil and I discuss in this episode, interpretation is also affecting the oral history of issues like climate change. The question is: How do park rangers provoke people into deeper thinking without overstepping with a right or left-wing agenda?
Connect:
www.parkleaders.com
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theparkleaders/
Kyle Wagner, former Travel Editor for the Denver Post, joins the show to discuss her state and national park endeavors.
A current freelance editor and writer, Kyle explains her heart for exploration and goal to visit every Colorado State Park. With a mission to visit every national park, Kyle hopes her followers can draw inspiration from her favorite landmarks and historic sites.
Kyle also shares her top five Colorado state parks and some of the most embarrassing questions raised by her readers.
Resources:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/kylewagnerworld
Connect:
www.parkleaders.com
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theparkleaders/
On this episode of the Park Leaders Show, guests, James Ledgerwood, superintendent of Chimney Rock State Park, Mary Yeager Gale, Chairman of the Board for Chimney Rock Management, and Emily Blackwell, Project Manager at Stewart, join the show to discuss access at Chimney Rock State Park.
Known for its renowned elevator access and outcroppings trails, Chimney Rock State Park has seen an evolution of improvement since 2011. While many last decades would struggle to summit its peak, changes to trail quality and access have encouraged new interest and retention alike. Now, whether you are a thrill-seeker, a student, a senior, or disabled, there's a way for you to enjoy some of the best scenic views in North Carolina.
Despite the cost and effort, James, Mary, and Emily are hopeful positive momentum will continue as a new generation of parkgoers discover the spectacles Chimney Rock State Park has to offer.
Connect:
www.parkleaders.com
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On this episode of the Park Leaders Show, guest Brad Krey returns to discuss interpretative services and digital access to parks.
As education evolves into a social distance science, the same reality is impacting today’s parks. According to Brad, there’s not only a concern to teach a new generation about natural resources but build influential relationships through technology. In an ideal world, more teachers consider state parks as a platform for natural resource education.
From there, by utilizing blended digital access, a learning technique that builds environmental awareness through distance education, teachers and park rangers alike can engage in meaningful conversation in and outside the classroom.
Connect:
www.parkleaders.com
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theparkleaders/
On this episode of the Park Leaders Show, guest co-host, Phil Gaines, returns to discuss park retention with COVID-19 impacts beginning to fade.
After 15 months of social distancing, parks, like most enterprises, are slowly returning to normality. Accordingly, Phil asks two critical questions:
1) How do we get back to normal?
2) How do we educate and engage in what we want them to learn?
As Phil and Jody discuss, state parks should embrace the opportunity to provide more resources, from kiosks to online, where new visitors can engage new information. More initiatives can emerge with less focus on health preservation by focusing on customer service, new activities, and client feedback.
Overall, the time has never been better for state park service models to step up. For state parks, why not accept the call to lead the way?
Connect:
www.parkleaders.com
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theparkleaders/
On this episode of the Park Leaders Show, Alan Spears, Senior Director of Cultural Resources for the National Parks Conservation Association, joins the show to discuss civil discourse in state parks.
In a politically charged era, the struggle to promote diversity is real. Tensions are high, feelings are fragile, and confrontations are ignitable if not handled appropriately. Yet, as Alan explains, state parks can play a part in healing cultural and racial divisions. Not only can parks commemorate national pride through select monuments and landmarks but also serve as refuges for civil discourse where people can engage in culturally sensitive conversations.
As he suggests, if park rangers and interpreters work together to encourage inclusivity, then the strain of social stress will lessen.
Connect:
www.parkleaders.com
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On this episode of the Park Leaders Show, Jackson Lake State Senior Park Director Amy Brandenburg joins the show to discuss becoming dark-sky certified.
Having helped her Morgan County state park achieve dark-sky certified status in September 2020, Amy explains the requirements of obtaining the designation. As she points out, the accreditation process can be exhausting for parks pursuing similar endeavors. For starters, park rangers must not only file an extended application but revise their park’s resources to meet light pollution regulations.
Despite the hard work, Amy is hopeful new tourism trends will continue in 2021 and beyond. As a charge for other state parks, Amy advises rangers to think outside the box to maximize their resources, protect the environment and inspire attendance.
Connect:
www.parkleaders.com
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On this special episode of the Park Leaders Show, the Logsdon family joins the show to discuss iguanas and working with families as camp hosts.
As a family on the go, the Logsdon live an abnormal life; however, while their mobile, small-home lifestyle has been perceived unorthodox by some, the learning, volunteer, and mentoring opportunities have well made up for it. According to Nathan, more young families should consider camp hosting as a realistic venture. Even in shoulder seasons, camp hosts can reap resume building leads and reach a broader group of people as they learn more about nature and culture in state parks.
Resources:
Website: mamasaysnamaste.com
E-mail: ashley@mamasaysnamaste.com
Connect:
www.parkleaders.com
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theparkleaders/
On this episode of the Park Leaders Show, biologist, Gina Zwicky, joins the show to discuss her passion for frogs.
Charming, charismatic, and ecologically intriguing, Gina explains how frogs inspired her career as well as her side hustles. Currently serving as a park service volunteer, Gina also discusses why she enjoys taking people on interpretative nature hikes and what people can do to improve their interactions.
For instance, while frogs are suffering due to human activity, by connecting with nature through interpretation and community science programs, people can enhance the quality of frogs as they participate in ecological monitoring.
Resources:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/GinaGoesOutside
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ginagoesoutside/
Connect:
www.parkleaders.com
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theparkleaders/
On this episode of the Park Leaders Show, guest co-host Phil Gaines, and Milward Simpson, Executor Director for the National Association of Interpretation, returns to discuss interpreters at parks.
While most interpretative services foster outdoor natural hobbies and interests, as Milward and Phil explain, the success of visitation must also reflect in data and revenue. As many parker ranges aspire, forming life-long connections with guests is an intellectual and financial end-goal; however, this shouldn’t deter park leaders from capturing data and viewing revenue generation outside program figures.
Furthermore, to improve interpretative services at the park, rangers should consider virtual programming, training, even podcasts in the implementation of audience expansion. Although technology can never replace experiential learning, the use of interpretation improvisation can help reach the next generation.
Connect:
www.parkleaders.com
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Andrea Ketchmark, executive director of the North Country Trail Association, joins the show to discuss chapter-based organizations and the working relationship between agencies and associations.
As the pioneer of a nonprofit organization that coordinates volunteer trail builders and chapters in eight states, Andrea’s role entails project implantation, navigation and safety communications, and grant writing. However, of all her responsibilities, perhaps the greatest challenge involves working with agencies.
Per her experience, while the working relationship between association and agency can be complex, Andrea encourages emerging leaders to start with a shared vision. Before you set off to achieve anything, establish a unifier and take time to have conversations and build trust. By staying consistent with these virtues, an organization can maintain a positive impact in its community.
Connect:
www.parkleaders.com
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theparkleaders/
Phil Gaines, returns to discuss ways park rangers can help outside conservationists.
While rules and procedures are necessary for national park success, as Phil explains, integrating external voices into collaboration and activation is critical. Often, those in uniform want help from those not in uniform but within their terms and parameters. The question is: How can park rangers help non-rangers advocate national resources and wildlife without overyielding?
As Jody and Phil conclude, though the challenge of defining roles can be difficult, it’s well worth the effort in making parks a better place.
Connect:
www.parkleaders.com
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theparkleaders/
On this episode of the Park Leaders Show, new director of Indiana State Parks, Terry Coleman, joins the show to discuss his story and the importance of long-term resource decisions.
Having served as deputy director of state parks since 2014, Terry has been operating as interim state parks director since August. With skills in long-term resource decision-making, Terry explains how he achieved the position and why strategic planning is critical during short administrations. Per his experiences, stewarding relationships and teamwork not only fuels quality effort but strategic planning.
As a charge to the next generation of park leaders, Terry advises knowing the prize and maintaining focus. If you can do this for yourself and help others do the same, no question, you’ll be effective in what leadership role you pursue.
Connect:
www.parkleaders.com
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theparkleaders/
On this episode of the Park Leaders Show, guest cohost, Phil Gaines, returns to discuss his philosophy on multi-tasking.
While most assume multi-tasking is a strength, as Jody and Phil explain, there are better ways to be productive. For instance, with park management, the focus for a ranger should not be to execute multiple responsibilities simultaneously but strategically prioritize through empowerment, compartmentalization, and planning.
In this way, rangers can be the best managers they can be, tending smaller circles as the big ones take care of themselves.
Connect:
www.parkleaders.com
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theparkleaders/
Milward Simpson, Executor Director for the National Association of Interpretation and former park ranger, joins the show to discuss the power of interpretation.
With a diverse career portfolio, Milward shares how his park ranger experience helped prepare him for his current job at NAI. As he explains, while each role, from the artistic director of a theme park to the administrator of a state historic preservation agency, improved his skills as an administrator in conservation arenas, the key to his success has always been his work ethic and appreciation for cultural heritage.
Fittingly, as a final charge, Milward encourages the emerging generation to take their education seriously and to consider the interpretation field if you have a knack for communications, technology, maintenance, and personnel management.
Connect:
www.parkleaders.com
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theparkleaders/
On this episode of the Park Leaders Show, Doug Peacock joins the show to discuss his latest project, Save The Yellowstone Grizzly.
A long-time naturalist, Doug founded STYG in 2016 to advocate safety and recovery of grizzlies south of Canada. As he explains, the removal of grizzly bears in Yellowstone National Park should be a national priority following the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s March 2016 delisting announcement. With the agency’s dismissal of climate change and relocation urgency, Doug hopes the nonprofit will score legal victories as they seek to preserve the welfare of grizzly bears in Yellowstone and similar national parks.
Connect:
www.parkleaders.com
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theparkleaders/
On this episode of the Park Leaders Show, David Van Cleve, joins the show to discuss locational stability in a park ranger career.
As David shares in his book, ‘A Greatness of Spirit: Tales of Extraordinary Rangers at the Heart of California's State Park System’, few rangers stay the course within one state park; however, for those who do, they carry unique perspectives worth exploring.
For instance, as regional managers and supervisors, rangers who stay in one park throughout their tenure have the opportunity to impact thousands of students within the same community. Through educational influence, these rangers can model high standards of excellence and promote cultural heritage for their park systems.
Resources:
A Greatness of Spirit: https://www.amazon.com/Greatness-Spirit-Extraordinary-Rangers-Californias-ebook/dp/B07HJHP2PQ
Connect:
www.parkleaders.com
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theparkleaders/
On this episode of the Park Leaders Show, Phil Francis joins Jody and Phil Gaines to discuss working with support groups.
A retired superintendent of the Blue Ridge Parkway, Francis explains how friends groups can help maintain accountability among park rangers and leaders. For instance, through networking, advocacy, and project development, friends groups can call on experienced members to speak for resources and park mission whether it involves testifying before Congress or writing letters to editors.
As Francis elaborates, the goal of friends groups is to resolve local and political issues, manage state and federal projects, and cultivate relationships. If a national park wants to prioritize this endeavor, park managers must not only understand nonprofit requirements but understand the budgets and social value behind their projects.
Connect:
www.parkleaders.com
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theparkleaders/
Ben Novak, the lead scientist of the biotechnology nonprofit Revive & Restore, joins the show to discuss his historic breakthrough.
A conservation activist, Ben shares the story of Elizabeth Ann, a black-footed ferret, recently cloned as part of a project with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Revive & Restore, and the San Diego Zoo. With a passion for saving endangered species, Ben plans to reintroduce similar species to their habitats through artificial insemination as a genetic rescue model.
Having spearheading this scientific milestone, Ben hopes the pandemic can be a wake-up call for the next generation to take risks with their goals. Like him in his early career, emerging leaders may encounter negative feedback in their quest for positive change; however, this doesn’t mean they should give up. Instead, Ben charges young people to stay the course as fresh ideas, like the bioethics of cloning and preservation, become more culturally accepted.
Connect:
www.parkleaders.com
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theparkleaders/
In this episode of the Park Leaders Show, Matt Holloway, a former ranger at Glacier National park, and his 11-year-old daughter, Harper, joins the show to discuss their epic hiking adventure.
After hiking 160 miles of the Pacific Northwest Trail Reroute in 19 days, Matt and Harper share their motivations and takeaways from the experience. While part of their inspiration was to deter hunter activism, the primary objective was to raise conservation awareness for grizzly bears. By hiking the trail, Matt and Harper hope their ground truth observations can help park rangers consider rerouting the trail in a way that will preserve grizzly bear habitation.
Connect:
www.parkleaders.com
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theparkleaders/
Phil Gaines, retired Director of South Carolina State Parks, returns to discuss how COVID-19 is impacting park visitation and user groups.
While the pandemic has reduced the number of new visitors in national parks, there are still some encouraging trends for park rangers. For instance, while bottom-line attendance may be down, certain demographics like women, youth, and seniors are making more frequent trips to parks.
As Phil explains, though more time is needed to monitor these trends, such patterns are worth statistical analysis as new markets often lead to new activities. Additionally, when you consider disruptive innovations and social media, the stage is set for new crazes to emerge. Like mountain biking, geocaching, and Instagram hotspots the past decade, there will be new rages at some point; hence, why rangers should not be discouraged about temporary retention and focus more on the voice of their audience.
Resources:
One of Us: https://www.amazon.com/One-Us-Biologists-Among-Bears/dp/1525548514
Connect:
www.parkleaders.com
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theparkleaders/
Phil Gaines, the semi-regular guest host, returns to discuss annual performance reviews.
While some employers view annual reviews as obligations, the truth is these evaluations are critical to an organization's success. As Phil explains, the best annual performance reviews involve checkmarks throughout the year to maintain consistency. To evaluate performance correctly, supervisors should gauge progress on monthly to quarterly intervals using surveys or 1:1 meetings. Furthermore, annual performance reviews should not only distinguish performance issues versus disciplinary issues but promote open dialogue dedicated to vocational growth.
However you approach performance evaluation, remember to distribute feedback and encourage learning opportunities regularly. In this way, you will motivate your team members to accomplish their goals with maximum efficiency.
Connect:
www.parkleaders.com
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theparkleaders/
Barrie Gilbert, a bear biologist and author of ‘One of Us: A Biologist’s Walk Among Bears’, joins the show to discuss his research and resources.
Having survived a near-fatal attack by a bear in 1977 In Yellowstone Park, Gilbert has devoted his career to wildlife discovery. For over four decades, Gilbert’s scientific inquiries have inspired a new generation to study bear behavior and habitation preservation. Ultimately, his work has changed the narrative concerning the perception of grizzlies in national parks.
As for his book, “One of Us” examines the integrity of hunting as well as the years Gilbert spent in Yosemite studying black bears. To him, if the public concept of bears is to improve, we must replace the Louis and Clark mindset for one seeking to enhance their environment. Only then can we promote safe practices regarding the man and bear relationship.
Resources:
One of Us: https://www.amazon.com/One-Us-Biologists-Among-Bears/dp/1525548514
Connect:
www.parkleaders.com
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theparkleaders/
In this episode of the Park Leaders Show, Phil Gaines, retired Director of South Carolina State Parks, returns to discuss how parks can maximize their winter seasons.
For most parks, tourism is high in the summer, low in the winter. As visitation decreases during the cold months, the opportunities for special projects increase. The question is: How do parks best utilize their downtime to avoid lost time?
As Phil explains, while winter work projects vary upon location and climate, the bottom lines are the same. If a park ranger wants to prepare for the spring, they must promote rest for staff, document processes, focus on planning, and fix infrastructures critical to volume.
Connect:
www.parkleaders.com
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theparkleaders/
Phil Gaines, retired Director of South Carolina State Parks, returns to discuss strong park culture.
While some say culture is how you do things, the truth is discovering culture goes much deeper. For instance, when a new park ranger obtains a new role, they instantly inherit a culture. In some cases, the culture may be unhealthy; in others, it may be rich in tradition.
Whatever the situation, knowing the formal structure and informal influencers is critical to quality management. As Phil explains, though rangers may serve as the primary authority, all staff members can leave an impact on a park and its programs. Accordingly, if rangers commit themselves to know their personnel and the people they influence, the more they’ll discover the ‘why’ of their culture.
Connect:
www.parkleaders.com
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theparkleaders/
Rick Bass, an acclaimed author, and native of Yak Valley discuss challenges affecting national parks and the importance of sharing experiences.
From climate change to conservation conflicts, Rick explains why we should pass stories of environmental struggles to future generations. In his mind, the obligation to preserve history and raise awareness are community values and expressions of courage. If one seeks to inspire influence, one must be willing not only to lend a voice but share the whole story.
As Rick continues, one of the ways he has done this is through his book, Traveling Feast. In the book, Rick focuses his premise on connecting generations through benevolence – the idea of sharing what you love at the core of generosity. The more life seems to converge, the more opportunities we have to expound upon the hope that we know.
Resources:
The Traveling Feast by Rick Bass
Connect:
www.parkleaders.com
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theparkleaders/
Phil Gaines, retired Director of South Carolina State Parks, returns to discuss what it means to be a well-rounded ranger.
As Phil explains, the expectations for rangers have evolved considerably in recent decades. During the ’60s, ’70s, and ’80s, the idea was a ranger should know how to build homes and service plumbing and electrical units; however, nowadays, rangers carry more generalist roles.
For instance, while rangers can act as technicians, it would be better for them to hire contractors and specialists to ensure every facet of park management operates effectively. In this way, rangers can focus on their strengths while focusing more on their strengths and delegating opportunities.
Connect:
www.parkleaders.com
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theparkleaders/
In this episode of the Park Leaders Show, Phil Gaines, retired Director of South Carolina State Parks, returns to discuss the funnier side of visitor reviews.
While some low-star reviews are unwarranted, as Jody and Phil explain, they can also provide a unique perspective. Sometimes, a new visitor question or a trite online review can reflect ignorance, even humor; however, the key is considering the context.
For instance, when a tourist says an outrageous comment, rather than write it off, appraise their viewpoint, take it for what it is, and focus on offering a quality experience. In this way, you can accurately process the feedback regardless of presentation.
Connect:
www.parkleaders.com
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Today on the ‘Park Leaders Show’, Phil Gaines, retired Director of South Carolina State Parks, returns to discuss the value of interpretive services.
As Phil notes, many parks are applying budget cuts to interpretive services and discontinuing in-person programming due to COVID-19; however, while the physical returns have dwindled, the online returns have been surprisingly high.
While interactive platforming is a helpful tool, as Phil explains, if a park wants to maintain its interpretive services, it must justify them through analytics validating their impact and champion them through product development and resource management. In any situation, for interpretive services to have legislative support, a park must be able to demonstrate communal impact and how that impact can yield financial returns to sustain future programs.
Connect:
www.parkleaders.com
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theparkleaders/
On today’s episode of the ‘Park Leaders Show’, Cam Sholly, Superintendent of Yellowstone National Park, joins the show to discuss prioritizing park responsibilities. Of these umbrella priorities, Cam explains five in particular: workforce development, strengthening ecosystems and cultural resources, resource accessibility and park experience, investing in infrastructures, and building coalitions and partnerships. In all endeavors, Cam emphasizes the importance of adaptability, positivity, and teamwork not only in managing priorities but people along the way. Connect:
www.parkleaders.com
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theparkleaders/
Today Reggie Williams, ex-NFL linebacker, former Disney executive, and social reformer, returns to discuss how inclusion should look in state parks.
When we talk about popular tourist attractions, we often think inclusion is exclusive to participants after they’ve engaged. Popular among park leaders is the idea once the gates open, their staff should be ready to serve those who enter.
While this notion is partially true, as Reggie and I explain, inclusive is a two-way exchange that starts with pre-entry outreach and equality. In order to include, parks must not only integrate tourist suggestions into their marketing but express a commitment to serve ahead of confirmed interest.
As Reggie concludes, a park best serves its customers by prioritizing their voice. If a park team actively seeks to hear what potential customers are saying, no question they will leave a greater impact in their community.
Resources:
Resilient by Nature: Reflections from a Life of Winning On and Off the Football Field by Reggie Williams
Connect:
www.parkleaders.com
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theparkleaders/
Today, on the ‘Park Leaders Show’, Phil Gaines returns to discuss new takes on the park visitor experience.
Per recent travels, Phil unpacks some lessons learned having toured local parks as a visitor. One principle he stresses is good leaders view the park experience through the eyes of the visitor. To facilitate a positive environment, a park ranger would best serve tourists working through their lens as opposed to a checklist. Likewise, the ranger would allow staff to contribute feedback on how systems can improve.
Additionally, Phil suggests a litmus test in the sense every park ranger should invite their families and friends to visit their parks. The goal, he says, is to mature perspective before revising processes and programs. If park rangers can learn through their loved ones, the takeaways are more likely to be applied to the customer’s advantage.
Connect with Jody:
www.parkleaders.com
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theparkleaders/
Phil Gains is back with me and today’s episode is the first in a series on interviewing to be a park ranger. This topic was suggested five years ago by Cassidy, a new ranger, and it is a loaded topic. We are unpacking Cassidy’s experience, as well as sharing our own experience as leaders in the Parks system.
We explore seven topics today; information that will be valuable no matter where you are on your journey as a park’s employee. We dig into the importance of being adaptable, having a degree or a military background, and how every day is an interview, to name a few.
Every day is an opportunity to be preparing yourself for the future. How you dress, conduct yourself and invest in learning and understanding a potential position will make a difference and set you apart from others who think a 45-minute interview is the lynchpin of their future.
Connect with Jody:
www.parkleaders.com
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theparkleaders/
Questions for future episodes? Email: jody@parkleaders.com
Today guest favorite, Phil Gaines, returns to discuss the park ranger’s role in customer service.
When a tourist visits a national park, seeing a park ranger can be the equivalent of finding Mickey Mouse at Disney World. Especially for newcomers, there’s often a sense of awe built into the experience whenever a park ranger shows up.
As such, Phil encourages park leaders not only to be mindful of their daily priorities but to see themselves as part of the story visitors share. After all, for the customer, their stay is their time to soak in the best sights and sounds nature has to offer. Why not ensure they receive the best service as part of the attraction they came to see?
Dan Bortner, the recently promoted Director of Indiana Department of Natural Resources, joins me today.
With 15 years as a State Parks Director, Dan has transitioned into overseeing not only all of Indiana’s State Parks but the regulatory aspects beyond land holdings as well. At every level of leadership within parks, being surrounded by the best talent you can afford can make or break the culture. Forming the right team, regardless of “qualifications,” will build a sustainable infrastructure.
In the current environment, as the rest of the world closed down, people rediscovered the joy of outdoor spaces, and all they have to offer. The impact that state parks have on mental health and the economy has come to the forefront. As Park Leaders, understanding the role that State Parks play in the big picture is paramount. Having a desire and intentionally working toward leaving a legacy is what long-term conservation is all about. Leaving our parks better than we found them is essential to us as leaders. Walking the line of preservation and innovation is a fine line to walk.
Episode Resources
The Business Side of Parks - https://parkleaders.com/the-business-side-of-parks/
Submit questions and topics to jody@parkleaders.com
Phil Gains, my semi-regular co-host, is with me once again; and today, we are tackling a listener’s question.
Special thanks to Sean Bonage for submitting this episode’s question. Sean asks, “What do you think are some of the most critical topics that you think need addressing that could help inspire a graduate student in their effort to better public land experiences for park visitors?”
As we answer Sean’s question, we consider the importance of not relying on the traditional use of public lands. How do we stay relevant when everything around us is changing? Taking the current climate into consideration, more than ever, we need to be listening to our stakeholders, our citizens, and expanding our understanding of our visitors. We also explore advocacy and access to parks and the necessity of educating many first-time visitors in the arena of conservation and personal responsibility.
Diversity of recreation and overall inclusion is challenging us as park leaders to redefine how parks are used and how we approach all groups. Intentionally expanding our pool of viewpoints is imperative; and this trickles into how we care for our workers and their overall health. Lastly, we are unpacking the pros and cons of pulling back the veil on decision making during tough times and how to grow customers into advocates.
Episode Resources
Submit questions and topics to jody@parkleaders.com
Today, Mark Caughlin, district manager for Horsetooth Reservoir and park ranger for the Larimer Country Resources department, joins us to discuss his career pathway.
Working within the Colorado county system, Mark explains how his jobs have been impacted by the Fort Collins population boom as well as the coronavirus. He also talks about his responsibilities with Park Law Enforcement Association and how he hopes to inspire more park ranger training programs around the country.
Mark also talks about resource protection and mentorship as cornerstones to excellence in the park ranger industry.
On this special episode of the Park Leaders Show, Phil Gaines returns to discuss how the podcast has evolved the past six years.
After debuting in April 2014, the Park Leaders Show continues to pursue its niche in educating park rangers on the value of leadership. As Jody explains, there have been many lessons learned during the podcast’s run, but the reward has been well worth the investment.
To conclude the show, Jody and Phil revisit their most frequently asked question, “What advice do you have for an up and coming park ranger who wants to leave an impact?”
In this episode of the Park Leaders Show, Phil Gaines joins me again as my semi-regular guest host. Today, we are diving deep on employee motivation and how we, as leaders, can help to sustain it, even in trying times.
The current landscape of our nation can feel like it is one thing after another. In these times, it is necessary to keep a pulse on our team and provide motivation. In seasons as we find ourselves in, even the most motivated employees can be struggling.
Often we view money as the key motivator, but on its own, it can fall short. Motivation, by definition, is temporary; culture is what carries through. As leaders, we must encourage our team with the resources we have available to us. This is how we build a sustainable culture.
By fostering a culture of engagement and empowerment, we help our employees understand they are part of something bigger than themselves. Communicating where we are and where we are going fosters self-motivation within our team.
You don’t have to have all the answers. By providing vision will help you sustain and keep motivated employees.
On today’s episode of the Park Leaders Show, we have an old friend joining us. John Griffith has guested on six episodes over the past six years and has been integral in the growth of the show. John is a huge voice in the conservation movement and has worked to educate the masses for many years with a 19-year stint in the California Conservation Core and as the host of Wild Jobs on Animal Planet.
John has now transitioned to a place of passion as a Nature Guide or Interpreter for the North Coast District of California State Parks. While tenure may have him as the “new guy”, his background in social media and creating relevant education have helped him build a thriving educational program even during the current pandemic we are experiencing.
Today we discuss the importance of empowering guests and visitors to recreate the awe they experience in a natural setting and translate it to the nature around them in their daily lives. The importance of sowing seeds of inspiration in the short touchpoints nature guides have is key to taking their visit from terminal to transformative. By associating learning about nature with fun and utilizing entertaining methods, a passion for conservation can be cultivated one visitor at a time.
Episode resources:
Book Recommendation: Bringing Nature Home – by Douglas W. Tallamy
https://www.amazon.com/Bringing-Nature-Home-Wildlife-Expanded-ebook/dp/B003UV8ZTE/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=Bringing+Nature+Home&qid=1589334645&sr=8-1&tag=stephprodu-20
Humbolt Redwood State Park Page –https://www.facebook.com/HumboldtRedwoodsStatePark/
Facebook Page: @Griffwilds - https://www.facebook.com/GriffWild/
Facebook Group: @Griffswildtips https://www.facebook.com/groups/GriffsWildTips/
Instagram: @thenaturenut https://www.instagram.com/thenaturenut/
YouTube: John Griffith https://www.youtube.com/user/TotemMagicGoingMAD
Marnin Robbins, Interpretive Program Manager for the North Coast Redwoods District and California State Parks, discusses his story and the value of interpretation.
As Marnin describes, interpretation is a mixture of information exchange and inspiration exchange - a role that helps provide context and meaning for people who visit natural landmarks. While the job covers much ground, exploring interpretation in parks is rooted in interactive conversation and bringing nature to life virtually. Understandably, this aspect was limited in decades past; however, today, using modern technology, park rangers can now protect national parks and help people understand their significance through online interpretive programs.
Our semi-regular guest host, Phil Gains, is back with us to discuss a somewhat controversial topic in park leadership: park rangers & law enforcement.
There are many differing opinions and policies about the role of law enforcement in parks. Expectations and execution vary from state to state. People feel strongly about how and why law enforcement should be in place. When you boil it down, law enforcement plays an important part in the parks landscape: to protect our visitors and the resources we have been entrusted to steward.
Regardless of your stance, as leaders, it is our responsibility to provide the necessary training and equipment to our team, whatever that may look like at your park. While philosophies range from 'Ranger First' to 'Law Enforcement First (or someone will get hurt)', the goal remains the same; being prepared and utilizing the tools available to us to serve our visitors and provide a safe environment for enjoying our parks.
In today’s episode of the Park Leader’s Show, Phil Gains is with us again and is introducing us to Donald Forgione, a longtime friend and former Director of Florida State Parks.
As a leader, we must encounter a crisis with confidence and humility. Leaders do not need to have all the answers, but they must be prepared to be a calming and reassuring presence. Especially in today’s unprecedented situation, being proactive and working on a plan for the next season is key to supporting our teams.
While some tasks and operations need to take place, there is still one other critical piece that needs constant attention – our people. The tasks will get done because we have a strong team, and as leaders, we must prioritize caring for our people.
Phil Gaines returns to discuss how COVID-19 is affecting state parks and what to expect when they reopen.
As Gaines explains, it’s possible to stay relevant in global crises like the coronavirus. Despite the social limitations, park leaders can still make decisions that are timeless and timely. The key is knowing what direction to go, when to go there, and how to incorporate outside input into the mix.
Our semi-regular guest host, Phil Gains, retired Director of South Carolina State Parks joins us.
We are in a historical and unprecedented time. With most state parks closed for an extended period, we will begin to see leaders emerge or be exposed. As leaders, you don’t need to have all of the answers. You need to know how to deal and communicate in a way that communicates the values found in park culture. Consistency, integrity, empathy, and the prioritization of health and safety are key when you find yourself in a crisis without precedent.
Parks is a people business and now, more than ever, leaders must position themselves to care for people. Reach out, document the experience and find time to care for yourself so are able to care of others.
Phil Gaines returns on-site at Lake Tahoe to discuss how to stay relevant in an ever-changing world.
Speaking from a local perspective, Phil talks about the importance of taking care of watersheds, providing outdoor recreation, and understanding location. For instance, while water supply is abundant in the southeast, in California the mindset is different since limitation is more a cultural norm.
As for staying relevant, while technology and networking are important, knowing the needs of your surroundings is also key. Especially in times of crisis and uncertainty, understanding capacity is vital to land and water resource protection. In short, while staying relevant involves adapting and evolving, it’s ultimately incomplete if the mindset isn’t filtered through current issues and settings.
Donald Forgione, Director of Florida State Parks, discusses his background and what it means to be “Ranger First”.
After starting his career as a Park Ranger with Florida State Parks, Forgione transitioned to Director, a role he admits he didn’t expect to land. During this time, he developed a special tagline, “Ranger First”, to remind himself and others how the responsibilities of a park ranger go beyond title.
As Forgione explains, behaviors and values speak louder than words in the park business. Though responsibilities change over time, the humility and pride of being a ranger should never waver.
On this special episode of the Park Leader Show, Dan Cockerell, and former VP of the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World, and Lee Cockerell, retired Executive Vice President of Walt Disney World, talk about how to handle a crisis.
Here are four steps to keep in mind while dealing with a crisis:
Safety First.Before anything else, the safety of employees, customers, and yourself comes before anything else.
Deal with the Facts.During a crisis people get emotional. People speculate and gossip. You should deal only with the facts when you communicate with people.
Be Empathetic.Everybody is dealing with a crisis in different ways for different reasons. Understand people are worried.
Use the situation to get better.You and your organization can learn plenty from a crisis. Use it as a training opportunity.
During a crisis, your culture is on show for everyone to see. Your actions should match your words. What you say doesn’t build a culture. Culture is built through actions.
Jim Bryson, Deputy Commissioner of Parks and Conservation of Tennessee State Parks, discusses the benefit of leaning on your team and the importance of innovation in how you handle communication across your organization.
Joining Tennessee State Parks from a corporate background in marketing research, Jim has discovered how central building a culture of trust within your organization is. As a leader, you set the pillars and vision, and you lean on your staff to fill in the how to your why. Being confident in your leadership allows you to pull from the experience of those around you.
Jim also shares his experience in starting the first internal podcast dedicated to communication and recognition within the Tennessee State Park staff. As leaders, communicating across a widespread team can be challenging, but it is imperative for building a strong organization. By taping into the deeply held passion for the mission and sharing wins and initiatives, you can meet three key needs: provide information, entertainment, and recognition.
Today’s social media-driven culture is saturated with negativity, politics and sales pitches. From Glacier National Park, Jeff Noel and Jody Maberry discuss the impact of Jody’s “Minute in Nature” moments on Instagram Stories.
Pausing to capture a minute of beauty in nature is a way of taking a moment and quieting ourselves. As Jody shares today, being intentional to put some positivity into the world is good for the soul and can help expose more people to the beauty that is found in the great outdoors, especially national parks.
Join the #minuteinnature movement and share your own minute in nature with the world.
Phil Gaines returns to discuss family issues within park leadership.
For many park leaders with families, the relocations associated with the job can be taxing. In some cases, the move can be beneficial for the ranger, but not necessarily the family. According to Gaines, since ranger families are often the face of the family park experience, it’s important to know how to establish harmony and positive representation.
For instance, with succession planning and employee retention, parker leaders should factor their family into these endeavors to boost morale and accountability. After all, in a changing social climate where spouses are breadwinners and school transitions are complicated, bridging family strategy into employee strategy can reap beneficial dividends.
Dan Bortner, Director of Indiana State Parks, discusses the “business” side of parks and the importance of fostering a healthy paradigm within your team.
In the parks business, you must understand that your business is memory-making. Your product is a consistent experience across some of the most unique locations your state has to offer. Whether empowering the leaders under you or working with them to create a brand, building trust goes a long in setting the destination.
Dan also discussed the value of surrounding yourself with integrity - honest people who may or may not be better than you. As leaders, it’s essential we not only empower our team to solve problems and make decisions but provide the method, the manpower and the materials needed to get the job done. In all things, it’s important to understand you are here for a brief amount of time and your goal must be to do the best you can while you are here.
Grady Spann, Director of Arkansas State Parks, discusses the importance of trust in all aspects of park management and leadership.
After growing up in Brazil, receiving his degree, and serving in the army, Grady started his state park tenure as a Superintendent of an archeological park in Arkansas. Serving as the superintendent of multiple parks, the lessons he’s learned have served him well in his current role as Director of Arkansas State Parks. The importance of trust has proven a recurring theme, whether facilitating stadium events or hosting the State Parks Directors conference.
Regardless of the position, stewarding the trust of your customer, be it a camper, sports fan or visiting State Park Director, is paramount with serving in a parks program. Park leadership is not just about making changes – it’s about being a public servant. Embracing the Ranger First initiative recognizes that rangers deal with many things: hospitality, customer experience, and critical incidents. In each case, they have a different mental approach. Above all, trust in the context of park management and leadership is about honoring the trust you have.
Ryan Jenkins, Park Manager at Henry Horton State Park, discusses his upbringing, his love for nature, and current projects.
Raised in a National Forest Service family, Ryan pursued music and business in college before rediscovering his love for parks in his late 20’s. Since then, he has been active in promoting health initiatives involving park activities.
One activity in particular, Healthy Parks Healthy Person, has been largely successful. Launched in 2015, the Healthy Parks Healthy Person is a stamp card program allowing app users to earn rewards based on their park activity. These points can then be redeemed as discounts and other benefits from participating businesses.
The big-picture goal, as Ryan explains, “We just want to get people outside for their health. We want to create behavior change with this application. In order to do that, we utilize the gamification and technology…to try to get people into our parks.”
Sean Woods, Superintendent of California State Parks, discusses his background and current position on this episode.
Having taken a non-traditional path to his current role, Sean has spent almost 15 years bringing the State Park Mission to underprivileged, urban communities in Los Angeles. Through this initiative, he has supervised planning and development efforts at Rio de Los Angeles State Parks, Los Angeles State Historic Park, and the Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook. In addition to these endeavors, Sean has pioneered planning efforts with Los Angeles River Parks to revitalize the use of local wetlands.
In all projects, Sean’s ultimate goal is to work with people as well as for them in establishing a culture of inclusion.
While visitors come to parks to use facilities, fans come to connect with the people behind them. As Jody explains, not only do fans attend parks more frequently, but see the park experience as an extension of community. Often times, people will limit their appearances based on a specific event, but for the devoted fan, parks represent an opportunity to network both online and offline.
As such, fans are more likely to offer meaningful contributions financially, socially, even environmentally as opposed to visitors.
Adam Turner, Area Manager for the Anti-Poaching Unit in Sweden, discusses efforts in wildlife protection and local law enforcement partnership.
Among his responsibilities, Turner highlights the rise of wolf poaching, propaganda, and his work to quench both. Although cities have been relatively unscathed, the fear of wolf attacks and poaching harassment has increased in rural communities. As Turner points out, while one could assume field surveys as the solution, the best way to deter poaching crimes is to team with governing authorities on increasing public awareness.
Jon Jarvis, Executive Director of the Institute for Parks, People and Biodiversity at the University of California Berkeley, returns to discuss park projects in China.
After leading a summer team to evaluate China’s national park system, Jarvis notes several positive developments. From President Xi’s “beautiful China” emphasis to local conservation efforts, the mission is clear: Do in ten years what America did in a hundred.
With high drive to establish a new park system, Jarvis believes China will implement a well-rounded national park program with adequate funding and government support. The question is can they deliver on their own time table goal?
In this episode, Jody Maberry discusses the next wave of park rangers.
While past and present rangers contrast in several areas, future rangers may not be as different as we think. The next generation of park leaders will be more inclined to know the purpose of what they do; however, they are similar to current leaders in wanting their voice to be heard. Jody expects future rangers to improve outreach efforts and charges current rangers to encourage interest and the difference between role and purpose in their work.
In this episode, we’re talking about the 3 P’s that define park leadership and service: people, places, and the past.
The first ‘P’, people, captures the fundamental core of why park rangers exist. Without people, the purpose of park leadership cannot exist.
The second ‘P’, places, represents communities from a physical and relational perspective. While most parks have fixed boundaries, since people and place can’t be separated, rangers can better serve viewing location through a social lens.
The final ‘P’, the past, conveys personal significance as to why people return to parks. For many, the past is the reason to return to parks; however, for rangers, the past can also be a powerful management and motivational tool. As Gaines explains, not only is the past an emblem of legacy, but a foundation where others can do what they’re passionate about.
Phil Gaines returns to discuss what it means to be "ranger first".
During the past 25 years, the role of a park ranger has changed dramatically. While much of this has centered on energy conservation and public education, one of the most significant swings in function has involved law enforcement. According to Gaines, the expectations of park rangers have evolved in part by increased connection to enforcement officials. Unfortunately, this has resulted in overstepped boundaries in certain situations.
As Gaines goes on to explain, whether partnering with law enforcement or cleaning a bathroom, thinking 'ranger first' can simplify tough situations by keeping public service at the core of the action.
Phil Gaines returns to recap the 2019 National Association of State Park Directors Conference.
Having attended with Jody, Phil takes inventory of several topics ranging from networking and frontline employees to law enforcement and debate etiquette. As he goes on to explain, there are many ways to absorb insight in large scale gatherings; however, by pursuing relationships and knowledge together, one can better link current trends to future progress.
Phil Gaines returns to discuss the challenge of national parks staying relevant.
While there are many ways for parks to remain meaningful, according to Gaines, embracing technology to make connections with the next generation is paramount. If parks want to stay relevant, they must convince young people to not only care about their resources, but invest leisure time. To do this, parks must employ quality customer service and technological innovation to create memorable recreation moments.
Even if new technology proves disruptive, if parks can customize its involvement through their services, the stage will be set for visitors to see the return value.
In this episode of the Park Leaders Show, Phil Gaines returns to discuss some of the environmental challenges national parks are facing.
While climate change is a significant factor, for most park rangers and directors, the greatest impacts occur at the local level. For instance, there’s not much a park ranger can do to affect the weather apart from conservation efforts; however, a park ranger can take measures to monitor beach replenishment, safety of endangered species, and visitor use patterns.
According to Gaines, while local level matters can be complex, by leading through the small things, park officials can better expand their influence. After all, leadership isn’t so much about the big things; it’s about recognizing the little things over time that become the big things.
Phil Gaines returns to break down the role of a leader.
While the challenges of leadership are many, arguably none are more taxing than motivation. From offering direction to removing obstacles, when leading by example, a leader must often be the example before he can model it; however, this pursuit can’t drive results by itself. If a leader wants to tie guidance to goals, then he must value and facilitate team community.
As Gaines explains, the key to team community, as well as leadership at large, is servanthood. To be a quality leader, one must not only apply humility into upward mobility, but also prioritize team effort over individual performance. By targeting these strengths, a leader can be empowered to make difficult decisions and persevere under pressure.
Phil Gaines returns to the show to talk about the role of influence in leadership.
As leaders, it's important to be mindful of voice and presence. In a day and age when what you say is magnified through technology and social media, knowing the impacts of reputation is key. For instance, if people naturally flock to you for vision and direction, chances are you're building a healthy reputation among those you serve. Contrarily, if what you say lacks consistency and/or morale, your voice will suffer and hinder your influence.
In this edition of the Park Leaders Show, Topher Downham. Outreach Coordinator at City of Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks, discusses his background and work with parks.
After a college swimming pool accident left him paralyzed, Downham notes how navigating trails in a wheelchair inspired him to pursue a career in parks. Forced to learn trails as a quadriplegic, Downham now uses his outdoor expertise to lead hand cycle ride nature hikes for people with disabilities.
With decades of experience consulting parks to better their disability accessibility, Downham recently channeled his knowledge into a trail guidebook, The Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks Accessible Trails and Sites. The guide, specifically aimed for the disabled, takes the reader on a tour through 30 trails in Boulder with pointers for handling hard spots and accommodations. The handbook also includes special features ranging from how to find the best shady spots to helping those with memory loss re-engage with nature.
Phil Gaines returns to discuss how leaders can stay connected to their frontline customers and employees.
When it comes to a successful enterprise, no question, this can’t happen without frontline employees. By dealing directly with customers, frontline workers not only have high drive and insight but represent a company’s values through their service. However, before a leader can develop a frontline staff, he must first be willing to model these values to frontline customers.
As Gaines notes, for park directors, this means being intentional with respect to availability, managing volume, and empowering people. For instance, if a ranger wants to inspire his customers on a park visit, the best thing to do is view the experience through their perspective and gauge feedback directly. Once this type of connection is established, the ranger can then analyze the feedback as a manager and apply the appropriate changes if necessary. Ultimately, if a leader wants to be more effective, it starts with knowing, interacting, and empowering your frontline customers.
In this edition of the Park Leaders Show, Phil Gaines returns to discuss the importance of staying relevant on the job.
For many employers, relevant can seem like a relative term. What’s relevant for one job description isn’t necessarily relevant for another; however, when we consider the value in staying relevant, we find the attitude involved is necessary to relating to broader audiences, employees, and clients.
According to Gaines, staying relevant means we engage cultural changes and trends into our learning pursuits. With many functions shared among multiple generations, it’s essential today’s managers and leaders distinguish timeless versus temporary within their references. By using current tools to analyze and communicate information, supervisors will ultimately be able to better relate to their workforce.
In this edition of the Park Leaders Show, JP Boneyard, Creative Director of The Fifty-Nine Parks Print Series and producer of the National Poster Retrospecticus, discusses how he got into curating, hosting events, and what the screen printing process is like.
Stirred by national history and preservation, Boneyard started the Fifty-Nine Parks Print Series, in part, to tour his collection of over 400 hand-printed posters across the globe. A master of handcrafted posters, Boneyard’s aim is to draw attention to the beauty of national parks and hopes future generations will continue to find new ways to capture scenic glory.
In this edition of the Park Leaders Show, Jon Jarvis, Executive Director of the Institute for Parks, People and Biodiversity at the University of California Berkeley, returns to discuss his new book on conservation as well as recent tour tales.
As Jarvis notes, in an era marked by diversity and technology, the need to capture unity in conservation is significant. With emerging generations active on sociopolitical issues, it’s important the scientists of today pour into the people of tomorrow. Motivated by this, Jarvis talks about what it means to engage conservation at the local level and how to communicate environmental strategies to those passionate about societal justice.
In this edition of the Park Leaders Show, Phil Gaines returns to discuss the dichotomy between leadership and management.
When understanding the difference between leadership and management, it’s important to note how they compliment. While managers emphasize job completion and managing tasks, leaders prioritize influence, inspiring and enabling others to contribute. More specifically, managers give oversight and leaders share insight. Despite the contrast in means, the bottom line always comes down to motivation. The question is: How do we define these means in a way that moves projects and people towards outcomes and goals?
As Gaines explains, there are several ways to answer this. Whether it involves leadership and/or management tactic, the key always comes down to empowering people to empower a process.
In this special edition of the Park Leaders Show, Brennan McAuley and retired Director of the National Park Service, Jonathan Jarvis, discuss the value of relationships in leadership and mentorship roles.
When leading through mentorship, it’s essential to view counsel as a two-way street. Even in new hire situations, knowing where and when to receive advice and where and when to give advice is critical to professional development. For instance, when is the best time to criticize a subordinate? When is the best time to take on an outside project during an exceptional circumstance? What qualifies as an exceptional circumstance? Often, it takes building quality relationships to not only mature the intelligence around our skill, but serve in light of our limitations and potential.
No matter what we do as leaders from self-learning to conflict management, the key is seeing effectiveness as groundwork laid for future generations. Put another way, the drive and passion we employ today sets the tone for tomorrow.
Phil Gaines returns to the Park Leaders Show to discuss how to persevere during uncomfortable working conditions.
For most of us, troubleshooting workplace drama is nothing new. Whether it involves a supervisor or an ethical dilemma, no question there’s no ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach to managing conflicts. Still, while approaches will vary by case, as long as we aim to survive the issue, we can ultimately fix the issue.
As Phil explains, the first step in correcting a problem is to understand the problem. By knowing why a particular conflict is occurring, we can better be the change we crave, standing firm in the face of adversity. In some cases, this requires channeling empathy; in others, this means seeking a mentor and inquiring what has worked before in similar situations.
Whatever approach we employ, it’s imperative we stay consistent in our humility. Even if it means we fall on our sword, as long as we respond out of conviction, we’ll improve the predicament.
In this episode, Brennan McAuley returns to the Park Leaders Show to discuss his national park career and experiences as a NPS trainee.
Having recently graduated from the law enforcement academy, McAuley also shares insights on how his experiences as a Temple University student and Pro Ranger Program member readied him for his new potential role at Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania National Military Park.
In this episode, Phil Gaines shares ideas on how leaders can improve the ethics of their conservation.
For park leaders, protecting parks is a tedious and challenging issue. While staff efforts are important, these efforts must include education with respect to waste management since many people lack awareness or responsibility.
As Gaines points out, if we want to improve conservation ethics, then we must find ways to not only reach more people but communicate ‘trash’ under the covering of accountability and hospitality. By providing quality customer service and proactive discussion, park leaders can encourage their visitors to see the benefits of conservation ethics as it pertains to federal funding and future generations.
In this episode, Phil Gaines and Dan Cockerell, share ideas on how leaders can improve their communications.
For Gaines in the park world, the two greatest challenges to communication are technological distractions and distance. While more communicational avenues can benefit an organization, employing face-to-face interface should remain a priority as part of a well-rounded a communication structure. The more varied the structure, the more reach potential given different people process information in different ways.
Furthermore, whatever structure is utilized, there should be some corporately understood matrix concerning communication type and the importance of the information being communicated. As for direct forms of communication involving immediate responses, these should always be used anytime opportunities arise to enhance morale and inspire change.
For Cockerell, with so many ways to convey a message, it’s more important for the channel to be authentic than perfect. Additionally, he advises podcasts not be the primary outlet for mandatory information but rather used as an extension of bonus knowledge.
In this episode, South Carolina’s former State Parks Director, Phil Gaines, shares some post-retirement wisdom on marketplace ethics.
Having served in multiple executive leadership roles, Gaines points out integrity, is not only the center of ethics but the foundation of sustainable leadership. In order to lead with integrity, there must be a culture of trust that starts from the beginning and endures on the frontlines. Furthermore, before an organization can develop ethical codes, Gaines submits there must first be a foundation marked by character and integrity since the ethical decision isn’t always the right decision.
To help sustain standards of excellence, Gaines charges leaders to address mistakes as they happen, to be mindful of future generations, to see organizational functionality as inclusive to character, and to promote authenticity as an extension of integrity. By prioritizing these focus points, the groundwork for better growth, customer service, stewardship, vision, and accountability is laid.
On this episode, director Alex Jablonski reflects on his documentary, ‘Wildland’, which follows a single wildland firefighting crew over the course of one summer.
In the film, a firefighting crew contracted through Grayback Forestry builds rapport as they struggle to contain fires in northern California. Influenced by his success in ‘Low and Clear’, a tale of two friends who drift apart during their final fly-flying trip, Jablonski discusses the challenges involved in filming around actual fires while building trust with the firefighters.
For many firefighters, not only is the adaptation to life behind a lens difficult, but also the training and action sequences operated under artistic headings. Yet, despite the added pressure, the crew gradually acclimates as they become of age and mature in a dangerous, life-threatening environment.
Jablonski also discusses why he pursued rookie firefighters in casting, his priority of narrative, and the reward of confrontational experience in directing.
In this episode, Christina Zerfas discusses her project, "Cans for Kili”, and her mission to impact the environment on local and global scales. Through eco funding, Christina’s team hopes to collect and recycle over 1.2 million aluminum cans not only to sell for scrap metal but also to reduce Indianapolis’s carbon output.
In addition to raising funds for reforesting and cleaning efforts, Zerfas also plans to garner proceeds by climbing Mount Kilimanjaro with three C4K team members next fall. The journey will start by planting indigenous trees at the base of the mountain. Then after summiting, the climbers will collect trash on their way back down, recycling it properly before returning home.
Zerfas reminds us whether or not we’re climbing a mountain in Africa, we can all play a part in increasing local awareness through recycling to benefit future cities all over the world. By thinking green in our own communities, we can inspire the same in others far from home.
On this episode of the Park Leaders Show, James Fester, an educator, part-time volunteer, and Google-certified innovator, discusses park-based learning and its place in the classroom.
When people think of parks, they often don’t think of education. As a result, many schools lack awareness of educational resources provided by county, state, and national parks.
To bridge the gap, Fester unpacks a three-part program designed to facilitate connection through project-based learning. By serving as setup support, the initiative would not only help teachers facilitate learning but allow students to lead assignments and park rangers to participate in the process.
Moving forward, Fester’s team plans to develop free, project-based download units teachers can use in the classroom while continuing to collaborate with parks in developing curriculums.
What are people looking for in the outdoors? Public spaces are becoming more culturally diverse and the parks services, resources, facilities, etc need to reflect these changes.
Recent graduates are also facing different challenges in the parks recreation and tourism management field these days. For example, drones are now a thing to have to consider.
Dr. Myron Floyd joins the Park Leaders show to discuss health in the parks. He is the department head and professor in parks recreation and tourism management at the North Carolina State University.
There is a clear connection between having a park nearby and more opportunity for physical activity and your health.
Parks have both physical and mental health benefits. They also provide community benefits because they help bring people together.
Green spaces help alleviate stress, improve your mood, and can help people recover from demanding cognitive tasks.
Up and coming leaders should be able to deal with unpredictable challenges and have critical thinking skills.
Leadership is not black and white.
Once you have a leadership position, most of the decisions and situations you face will not be clear-cut or obvious on what you should do. Not black and white situations.
Most leaders how to operate in the gray areas. If you have set your operation up correctly, black and white decisions are made on the front line.
When you are making decisions in the gray area, you have to take information, advice, data, and make a decision based on your values and what is good for your people.
And then don't look back. Make your decision and keep moving forward.
Later, if you find out it wasn't the right decision, you make an adjustment as needed.
If you are a leader, working in the gray is your new normal.
This episode is the start of something special. Phil Gaines, retired Director of South Carolina State Parks, is going to be a semi-regular guest co-host on the Park Leaders Show.
When parks lose a long-time leader like Phil, we lose so much knowledge and experience. By finding new ways to continue to bring past experiences into the work up and coming leaders are doing, we can continue to build the legacy of parks.
Empowerment is an overused phrase and an underused practice. Leaders naturally want to have their hand in everything that happens. It is hard to let go and let other people do work that may impact your reputation.
True empowerment is having front-line employees with the confidence and authority to make decisions.
In order to empower employees, you have to be comfortable and confident in your vision.
In this episode, we discuss what empowerment really is and why you need to adopt the idea to become a leader. We also give insight into how to begin to pass some of your responsibility and authority to employees.
When someone visits a park and they are curious, what is the first thing they want to do? Ask a ranger.
Park Rangers are icons of parks and one of the reasons people enjoy talking with Rangers is because they can answer your questions about nature.
Now, you no longer have to seek out a Park Ranger in a park to get an answer to your question.
Park Rangers Jess Phillips and Crystal Lloyd from North Carolina State Parks have launched the Ask a Ranger Podcast.
Jess Phillips from William B Umstead State Park and Crystal Lloyd from Falls Lake State Recreation Area teamed up to launch a podcast to be able to reach people who can't or haven't visited their parks.
Rangers Jess and Crystal share their story of how they started the podcast and some of the episodes they have created. They also offer advice on how you can start a podcast for your own park or agency.
Park Rangers educate the public every day. A podcast is no different. It is just a new and different tool to allow you to reach new people.
On this episode of the Park Leaders Show, we explore maritime archeology with Denise Jaffke
Denise as an Archeologist with California State Parks who is currently working on creating the Emerald Bay Maritime Heritage Trail.
Parks play a role in putting together pieces of historical puzzles through archeology. Add water, and there is a new layer of mystery to historical sites.
Denise explains the great work California is doing to share maritime historical treasures with the citizens of California.
To build a solid career, you need to build a solid network of peers, associates, and friends. A strong leader has a strong network.
Dylan Mroszcyk-McDonald returns to the Park Leaders Show to continue our series on leadership and culture in parks.
On this episode, we focus on building a network and how it can help your career.
During your career in parks, you will have the opportunity to meet people in different parks throughout different regions. Building a relationship with them will build a solid relationship, even if the relationship is dormant for a season after you move on.
The diversity of your network will lead to better job performance and increase the opportunity for a promotion.
During the episode, Dylan gives us insight on how to grow and nurture a network that will have an impact on your career.
This episode is the third in a series about leadership and culture in parks. The first three episodes are;
Improving Leadership and Culture in Parks
Innovative Leadership in Parks
The Person is More Important Than the Position
In parks, we have spread the myth of a lone heroic leader at the top.
We give special attention and privilege to someone with a leadership title.
If it takes a hero to lead people, it moves leadership out of the reach of most people.
As leaders, we need to remember the person is more important than the position. You don't have to have a title to be a leader. We need to treat every member of the staff as an important piece of the success of the park and encourage them to be a leader.
Dylan Mroszcyk-McDonald returns to the Park Leaders Show to continue our series on leadership and culture in parks.
Focusing on a single heroic leader often leads to a staff unable to quickly adapt to change. It leads to competition because people feel there is scarcity in leadership, influence, and importance.
Every contribution is valid. Everyone's work towards our mission is valuable. Park culture would benefit from a shift in this direction rather than highlight a lone heroic leader.
Even if a leader gets accolades for accomplishments, it never would have happened without the team all working towards the same mission.
If you are not in a leadership position, what can you do to set yourself up as a leader?
Leadership is about action. You don't need a title to take action. Decide you are a leader and begin to take action.
Next, consider your supervisor's job. What do they do? What responsibilities do they have? Figure out how you can help contribute to their success. Not only will that help your supervisor, you will learn what it takes to be successful at the next level.
Find additional ways to contribute. Join committees. Volunteer for assignments. People will notice.
This episode is the third in a series about leadership and culture in parks. The first two episodes are;
Improving Leadership and Culture in Parks
Innovative Leadership in Parks
After 37 years with South Carolina State Parks, Phil Gaines retired as Director. As Phil did during his entire career, he used his last day to lead by example.
On August 2, 2018, exactly 13 years after becoming Director of South Carolina State Parks, and exactly 37 years after starting his career as a park ranger, Phil Gaines ended his career the same way it began.
Director Gaines returned to Kings Mountain State Park, the place where he began his career and put on the uniform, transforming back to Ranger Phil. Ranger Phil spent the day cleaning bathrooms, picking up trash, and using a weedeater.
Phil said he did this on his last day for two reasons. First, so his career would go full circle. Second, to show there are no unimportant jobs in parks.
On this episode, Phil talks about his final day with parks as well as the changed he has seen in parks during the 37 years he has spent serving visitors to South Carolina parks.
Throughout his career, Phil Gaines has been an example of leadership and an inspiration to rangers on how to serve. He leaves with this one final example of how we can serve each other and serve guests to our parks.
The day after his last day, Ranger Phil did what you expected a Park Ranger to do...he went backpacking.
Podcasts with Park Rangers is a podcast featuring conversations with Park Rangers from National Parks around the country.
Lucas and Sarah Villa-Kainec are the hosts of the podcast Podcasts with Park Rangers.
We sat down together at a picnic table in Fort Worden State Park. In this episode, we discuss their podcast, traveling across the country, and the rangers they have met.
There are a few podcasts about parks now, but what makes this podcast a little different is they focus on the park rangers rather than focus on the resource. Their conversations highlight the incredible storytelling of park rangers. Podcasts with Park Rangers also shows park rangers are people and not just a resource.
Eben Sypitkowski is the Director of Baxter State Park in Maine.
Baxter State Park is a unique park. Baxter is a state park in name, but not park of Maine State Parks. The park started as a gift in land and resources from Governor Baxter.
Two more ways Baxter is a unique park; it is completely self-funded. This removes the park from the usual politics and worry of receiving funds from the state general fund. Second, the park places a priority on wilderness over recreation.
Eben was recently appointed to Director after being a forester and most recently Resource Manager. Eben discusses the transition from forester to the director. He explains his listening tour to understand the culture of the entire park and get to know the staff.
Eben has a passion for the place he now has the privilege to manage. Passion for place also inspires the rest of the staff of Baxter State Park. This same passion fuels many of us in parks.
As technology has changed around us, it has created a tremendous opportunity for interpretation.
Brad Krey, Interpretation and Education Programs Manager for California State Parks, joins the Park Leaders Show to discuss how California is using technology to take the park to kids.
One concern we have in parks is remaining relevant. People will protect what they care about. They will care about what they learn about. In order to stay relevant, we need to continue helping kids learn about parks, wildlife, and wild places.
California State Parks has used video streaming to bring the park directly into classrooms. One interpretive staff member uses video conferences to introduce students to park resources. The kids may be nowhere near the park, but they are giving a connection to the park. The video session is live and in real time, which allows students to ask questions.
Once kids are connected to the park through one of these video interpretive session, it may be years before it pays off. But a seed is planted.
California is leading the way in finding innovative solutions to tell stories. Brad Krey shares how any park can use distance learning to tell stories to kids all over the country. Long distance interpretation will help your park remain relevant now, and 20 years from now when today's kids have families of their own.
Don't limit your interpretation to pamphlets, signs, information boards, and in-person interpretive talks. Reach outside the boundaries of your park and help kids learn about the plants, animals, and even park rangers found in your park.
Often, on the Park Leaders Show, I ask people about their history with the outdoors and why they became a park ranger. One day, we will hear a park ranger tell the story of how an in-classroom interpretative video conference is what inspired him to become a park ranger.
Wild Jobs are all around us, but often go unnoticed.
John Griffith returns to the Park Leaders Show to tell us about his new show, Wild Jobs, on Animal Planet.
Griffith uses the show to highlight conservation and the hard work done at wildlife sanctuaries and animal hospitals.
Getting a show with Animal Plant started years ago when John uploaded his first video to YouTube. The video went viral and made John a YouTube star because of his dancing. John used his dancing to turn attention to his true love, conservation.
Now, his love for conservation gave him an opportunity to host Animal Planet's first digital show. In each episode, John spends the day working with people who care for animals. You will enjoy watching John do a variety of jobs from trimming porcupine toenails to changing monkey diapers.
Dylan Mroszczyk-McDonald returns to the Park Leaders Show to continue the discussion about leadership and culture in parks.
Dylan is a park ranger at Acadia National Park.
In this episode, we discuss innovative leadership and the impact it can have on the culture of parks.
To some degree, we are doing the same job park rangers were doing 60 years ago. We are trying to protect and preserve parks.
With innovation, we can hold true to our history and mission while bringing in positive changes and best practices from organizations and movements found around us.
Innovation brings tension with it to people in parks who feel an obligation to hold on to our tradition and heritage.
Change throughout an entire agency begins with a single individual making a change. You can start the long progress of making change by having difficult conversations about leadership and culture in parks.
You can listen to the first episode in the series here.
Being a park ranger is an admirable job. Many people grow up dreaming of becoming a park ranger.
Yet, too many people leave parks, and walk away from their dream, because of poor leadership or an unhealthy culture.
Dylan Mroszczyk-McDonald, a park ranger at Acadia National Park, joins host Jody Maberry on the Park Leaders Show to examine some of the challenges parks face with leadership and culture.
For the future of parks, we need to be able to not only attract but also retain a diverse staff.
The front line supervisor has the biggest impact on employees and our ability to accomplish the mission of parks. By shifting the focus of parks away from the visitor and the resources and towards building leaders, we can begin to build a culture where people are willing to spend decades serving others.
The greater the employee experience, the greater the experience visitors will have.
Brennan McCauley returns to the Park Leaders Show to give an update on where he is in his park ranger career.
Over the past two years, Brennan has been a guest on the show several times as he has moved through stages of his early park ranger career.
Beginning when he was a student at Temple University and a member of the Pro Ranger Program, Brennan joined us to talk about the program and his future plans. Now, two years later, Brennan is on the verge of entering the law enforcement academy.
You can hear Brennan's past episodes of the Park Leaders Show below;
Building Young Leaders
How a Leader Can Help New Rangers
Learning From Leaders
This episode of the Park Leaders Show digs into the audio vault and shares an audio file from the Ranger Rendezvous in 2015.
I talk to 4 different park ranger about their experience with the National Park Service.
One question I asked all the ranger is why they became a park ranger. It is inspiring to hear these young rangers talk about why they became a park ranger.
Ask yourself the same question. Why did you become a park ranger?
Write your answer down. Look at it before you go to work. Keep reminding yourself why you are doing this work.
Dan Cockerell had a successful 26-year career with Disney, working his way from parking cars to the Vice President of the Magic Kingdom.
Before his career at Disney, Dan spent a summer as a volunteer at Rocky Mountain National Park.
Recently, Dan left Disney to make a transition into full time speaking and consulting.
Like most of us in parks, Dan worked time out in the field with guests. He learned operations by performing the tough jobs. When he became a leader with Disney, he understood what it took to perform jobs under pressure always focused on serving the guest.
Dan specializes in building strong cultures and solid operations for organizations.
Dan offers an article of the week for leaders. If you are interested in leadership, you will find a lot of value in these articles. In the weekly email, Dan offers curation on why the article matters and how you can apply it to your role.
Find out more about Dan at DanCockerell.com.
David Gustafson is a lead ranger with the City of Boulder. With city parks, or parks close to cities, problems you see in cities can also spill over into parks.
Homelessness is one of those problems.
When a park has to deal with a homeless population, you also have to deal with the other problems that come with it; trash, fire danger, drugs, and safety.
How can rangers serve the public while also serving the homeless population that finds their way into the park? Ranger Gustafson talks about this and more on this episode of the Park Leaders Show.
Christian Beckwith is not a traditional conservationist. He will admit, he is a climber, not a conservationist.
Yet, Christian founded and leads an organization in Jackson Hole, WY that focuses on conservation.
But Christian doesn't take a traditional approach to conservation. In fact, he is disrupting conservation.
Through SHIFT, a live event, and the emerging leaders program, Christian is helping change the face of conservation.
In order to protect parks and open spaces, we need more people who care enough to speak out and stand up for conservation. Jenny Mulholland Bearhs is leading a Coalition that is making that happen.
Jenny is the Director University of California Berkely's Outdoor Engagement Coalition.
The coalition is a membership-based group that works to give all Californians an opportunity to get outdoors.
In this episode of the Park Leders Show, Jenny talks about the work her organization is doing and how other states can create a similar coalition to spread the work.
After retiring as the Director of the National Park Service, Jon Jarvis took on a new role.
Director Jarvis is a Director again. This time, he is the first executive director of the newly formed Institute for Parks, People, and Biodiversity.
Jarvis joins the Park Leaders Show again to discuss his time with the National Park Service and his new role. As a 40 year veteran of the park service, Director Jarvis is now using that experience to help build the next generation of leaders for conservation.
Do veterans like Jarvis have a responsibility to give back to the up and coming leaders? We talk about that in this episode. Veterans have the unique ability to pass on stories, wisdom, and knowledge to people who can benefit from it the most.
Director Jarvis has a new book available, The Future of Conservation in America.
"What distinguishes the National Park System is the National Park Service." - Jon Jarvis
Do parks have a responsibility to interpret?
Cem Basman joins the Park Leaders Show to discuss.
Building friends groups and partnerships is essential for a modern park. Krista Muddle from the National Park Service joins the Park Leaders Show to discuss partnerships.
Krista Muddle is a Regional Partnership Coordinator at Intermountain Region Office with the National Park Service.
Krista divides her time between a program working in partnership with Mexico on border-related issues and working with parks developing partnerships in their community. Broder related issues range from animals that are found in both countries, vegetation management, and sand dune studies.
Whether your park has already formed local partnerships, or are just getting started, Krista shares information of what makes a successful partnership. This episode will give you ideas of why you need partnerships and way friends groups can help your park get more done.
Friends Groups serve as an Ambassador for the park and a direct link to connect the park to the community and connect the community to the park.
Audrey Peterman helps parks people discover parks. Many people who have taken park tours with Audrey are visiting parks for the first time.
Audrey is a consistent voice to help get people of all backgrounds into parks.
When asked what conversation we should be having people in parks, she said we need to change the perception that non-white people are not interested in parks.
Audrey has seen it happen over and over, when people are informed about parks and invited to parks they become passionate after their first experience.
With help from people like Audrey, we can make everyone feel like welcome, wanted, and included in parks. The Next 100 Coalition is a great place to find partners to help parks reach out to people.
Audrey on Twitter - @AudreyPete
Audrey on the web - legacyontheland.com
Audrey's Book - Our True Nature
Christen Miller's path towards becoming an interpreter began with a terrified toad. Seeing an interpretive program in a State Park, which included the toad, pushed Christen towards a life in parks.
Now, Christen is the Visitor Experience Director for Virginia State Parks.
In this episode of the Park Leaders Show, Christen talks about interpretation, living history, creating a great visitor experience, and interpreting for visitors who may not be face to face with a park ranger.
Brennan McAuley returns to the Park Leaders Show to share what he learned after another summer with the National Park Service.
Brennan is a student in the Temple Pro Ranger Program. Brennan has been on the Park Leaders Show to tell us about the Pro Ranger Program and again to talk about his first summer with the National Park Service.
This episode, Brennan returns to discuss his second summer with the National Park Service, learning from the leaders around him, and attending the Ranger Rendezvous.
After a career in the military, Christina Ryan-Miller joined the National Park Service. In her role as a Zone Safety Manager, she makes sure park employees and visitors are safe.
In this episode of the Park Leaders Show, we talk all about safety. But we also talk about so much more.
Christina talks about her transition from the military, being an introvert in parks, and how to work with introverts.
By the way, if you have an introvert on your staff (and you do), check out the book Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking by Susan Cain.
Most parks work with volunteers. Some parks treat volunteers like stars. When this happens, word spreads in the volunteer community.
But not all parks do well working with volunteers.
This episode of The Park Leaders Episode, we have the opportunity to hear words directly from a volunteer. This volunteer offers tips and advice on how to get the most working with volunteers. How often do we take time to listen to what volunteers have to say?
Today, we are going to listen to volunteers and consider how we can do better.
If there are some key things a volunteer would love for you to know:
- If you have a volunteer program, make sure you value them.
- Get the input from the volunteers.
- Your Volunteer Coordinator shouldn’t be the only person who cares about volunteers.
- Train your volunteers just like you train your staff.
Park Leaders T-Shirts are now available on Amazon. You can pick a shirt in three colors in Men's, Women's, and Youth sizes. Get your shirt here.
Roy Sullivan is a one of a kind park ranger. His story is so unique, we are still talking about him today.
This episode of the Park Leaders Show, we share Roy's story.
All Park Leaders are servant leaders. We serve guests, employees, and the resources we vow to protect.
Servant leaders recognize leadership is a stewardship responsibility. This style of leadership fits perfectly with people of parks. We serve the public and we serve resources.
Kevin Monroe joins the Park Leaders Show to explain servant leadership and how it applies to parks.
You can find Kevin Monroe at kevindmonroe.com, on Twitter @kevindmonroe, or his podcast here.
Commander Bill Overby joins the Park Leaders Show to
Commander Overby discusses his new consulting business, and how technology has changed the park experience for visitors and park rangers.
After so many years in parks, first, as a park ranger followed by training over one thousand park rangers at the Parks Law Enforcement Academy, the Commander offers his observation on what Rangers face today they did not face 20 years ago.
Also, we discuss how you can build a reputation as a leader.
Domenic Bravo, Director of Wyoming State Parks joins the Park Leaders Show to share his experience
Domenic also discusses the National Association of State Parks Directors and why it is important to connect with our peers, no matter what our job in parks is.
Wyoming State Parks is also contending for the National Recreation and Park Association Gold Medal Award. Director Bravo offers insight into the hard work and dedication it takes to become a Gold Medal finalist.
Tom Heenan, a ranger at BelhusWoods Country Park, joins the Park Leaders Show to talk about the European Ranger Federation.
During our conversation, we talk about the issues Rangers face all over the world. Nature is the same and people are people, no matter if you are in Australia or the United Kingdom.
Tom also discusses the importance of being involved in a Ranger Association, and European Ranger Congress.
Appropriate use of a park ensures sustainability for that park. This is how Jeff Hallo explains they balance between the balance between parks role in serving customers and conserving natural resources.
Jeff is a social scientist and professor at Clemson University. The research Jeff does help parks create remarkable experiences for visitors while still being able to maintain the natural environment.
On this episode of the Park Leaders Show, Jeff discusses how and why people use parks and how scientific data can help us better manage parks.
Have you ever stopped to wonder what kids want when they visit your park?
Tigran Nahabedian, known as Junior Ranger Tigran, joins the Park Leaders Show to give you an insight of how kids see your park.
Junior Ranger Tigran is no ordinary kid, though. He tours National Parks collecting Junior Ranger badges. He knows more about parks, wildlife, and plants than most people three times his age. He volunteers at parks.
Junior Ranger Tigran has even given a personal tour of a National Park to Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke.
Tigran wants to be Director of the National Park Service. This kid is serious about parks.
Follow Tigran on Twitter.
We are all interpreters. Whether it is in your title or not, if you work in parks, you are an interpreter.
Margot Carlock, Executive Director of National Association for Interpretation, joins the Park Leaders Show to talk about what makes a great interpreter.
The National Association for Interpretation represents individuals from parks, zoos, aquariums, theme parks, museums, and more. What is similar to interpreters in all of these fields?
Margot explains it is "A sincere interest and passion for working with the public" and "A commitment to provoke action."
In this episode, you will find out what the National Association for Interpretation does, what interpretation is, and what makes a great interpreter.
Margot also explains how park visitors are changing and what that means for interpretation.
In October 2016 we did an episode of the Park Leaders Show about the ProRanger Program at Temple University. In that episode, Brennan McAuley gave us a look at the program from a student's point of view.
Brennan returns to the Park Leaders Show to give us an update on what has happened with him and the ProRanger program since October.
Brennan also gives leaders insight into how you can help a new ranger coming into a new park or the park system.
You can follow along with Brennan on his ProRanger blog here.
It is important leaders keep talking to young rangers like Brennan. We need to invest in young rangers so they will be strong leaders.
Recently, I had lunch in Seattle with Alan Spears in Seattle. We talked about the great work the National Parks Conservation Association is doing.
We also talked about the work we have done with Park Leaders.
Then I had a chance meeting with Eric Watilo from Washington State Parks in downtown Seattle.
Being around leaders in parks and conservation reminded me of the important work we are doing together.
In this episode, I discuss the three years of Park Leaders and what might be coming in the next year.
Back when I was at the Inspiring a New Generation Summit, I met Steve Jones. At the time, Steve was the President of Antioch University New England.
He is now has a consulting and speaking firm and recently wrote a book called Nature Based Leadership. Well, since this show is about leadership in Parks, the idea of the book caught me right away.
Steve Jones joins the Park Leaders Show explain Nature Based Leadership, and discuss examples of leadership lessons found in nature.
The idea of drawing leadership lessons from nature is a perfect fit for park professionals. Nature is all around us. Leadership lessons are hidden in our sight and we just have to draw them out.
You can find out more about Nature Based Leadership and the great work Steve Jones is doing at Great Blue Heron.
Get a copy of the book Nature Based Leadership here.
Connect with the Park Leaders Show on Twitter or Facebook.
Park visitors on active on social media. Is your park or agency using social media to engage and connect? Or are you just posting bulletins and the new hours your visitor center is open?
Many parks and park agencies wonder what the proper way to use social media. In this episode of the Park Leaders Show, KC Procter talks about best practices for using social media to engage with park visitors.
KC Procter works in social media in two ways. First, he manages social media accounts for businesses or people with personal brands. Among others, KC does social media for a well-known author and a celebrity photographer. KC also does social media consulting for businesses.
Today, KC is going to talk to you about how your agency or your park can do better with social media. He will also do a walk through on the Park Leaders Facebook page so you can understand what makes a Facebook post more appealing.
You can visit KC on Twitter or his website.
KC put together a bonus for listeners of the Park Leaders Show. CLICK HERE to see what KC has for you.
Follow Park Leaders on Facebook or Twitter.
Sue Black, Director of Arizona State Parks, returns to the Park Leaders Show to talk about culture, visitation and the impact of parks on a state.
You can hear her first interview HERE.
Director Black offers compelling reasons why parks are important as whole to a state and individual parks to communities. It is not about the park, it is about what happens in the park.
You can't listen to this interview with Director Black and not be proud to be involved in parks.
Connect with Park Leaders
Sue Black, Director of Arizona State Parks, joins the Park Leaders Show to discuss creating a Gold Medal culture in parks.
Arizona State Parks is celebrating its 60th anniversary. Director Black has a goal to win the National Parks and Recreation Association Gold Medal award this year. Throughout her career, Director Black has set high goals and then found a way to achieve it.
Sue Black has been a director of two State Park systems, Wisconsin and Arizona, as well as Director of a County Park system. She brings a unique perspective to any parks conversation. Customers don't care about jurisdiction. Customers want to recreate. If different park systems are willing to work together, we can serve people better.
As a previous Gold Medal winner with Milwaukee Country Parks, and a finalist with Wisconsin State Parks, Director Black is working with her team to develop the culture to make Arizona State Parks a Gold Medal winner.
Sue also shares the tragic story that led to Granite Mountain Hotshot Memorial State Park.
Follow Park Leaders on Twitter and Facebook.
When the Director of Texas State Parks was a guest on the Park Leaders Show, he mentioned the Ambassador Program as one of the great things they were doing in Texas.
Tyler Priest, the coordinator of the Ambassador Program, joins the Park Leaders Show to tell us more about the program Director Leisure is so proud of.
An Ambassador Program is a way for a park system to introduce younger people to parks. Even if an Ambassador alumni does not end up working for parks, they will be a lifelong supporter and user of parks.
During this interview, you will find out the structure of the Program, the commitment from parks to each Ambassador, and what parks can expect from an Ambassador Program.
If you want to receive an information sheet about the Texas State Parks Ambassador Program, click here.
In addition to Tyler Priest, we also talk to Program alumni. Jenise Zuidema gives insight to the program from the inside as an Ambassador going through the training and working with a park.
Listen to the interview with Brent Leisure Part 1 and Part 2.
James Slade grew up in beautiful British Columbia, Canada. Now, he is on the front line in Africa working as Operations Manager and ranger with the Zimbabwe International Anti-Poaching Foundation.
James will give us an inside look at what it is like to be an anti-poaching ranger, and what the poaching situation is like in Zimbabwe.
Although in a management role, James spends as much time as possible shoulder to shoulder. This leadership trait will allow managers to get to know field staff better and get a feel for the pulse of what is happening in the field.
James also speaks about the impact of his time at the World Ranger Congress. Rangers gathered together helps build a brotherhood, or sisterhood, and recharge and reinspire us to keep working on the important work we do.
Park Leaders on Facebook - Park Leaders
Park Leaders on Twitter - @ParkLeaders
Robert Ingram, Cheif of Visitor Protection and Law Enforcement for Washington State Parks, joins the Park Leaders Show to discuss bike patrol in parks.
Cheif Ingram was the driving force behind Washington State Parks bike patrol program. In this interview, he will share how the bike program was formed, how the agency chose the bikes and the decision to keep training in house.
Washington State Parks used three of their own rangers, trained by the International Police Mountain Bike Association, to help maintain the bike program and train ranger on bike skills.
Park Leaders on Twitter - @ParkLeaders
Park Leaders on Facebook - Park Leaders
The National Park Service is faced with a $12 billion deferred maintenance backlog. How did we get here and what can we do about it?
John Garder from the National Parks Conservation Association joins the Park Leaders Show to discuss how the maintenance backlog grew so large and what we can do about it.
The maintenance backlog in the National Park Service is a reflection of what is happening with most park system throughout the United States. The discussion on the impact of a maintenance backlog is relevant for any park and any park system that struggles with deferred maintenance.
To find out more about the deferred maintenance backlog, please visit NPCA.org.
You can connect to Park Leaders on Twitter and Facebook.
One of the things I learned at the World Ranger Congress is that parks all over the world have the same problems.
Teemu Laine and Vesa-Matti Hillberg, both park rangers from Finland, join the Park Leaders Show to share their experience at the World Ranger Congress and what they have learned as park rangers.
This is the first episode of the show where "Reindeer herders" were mentioned as a problem for a park ranger. Even when the details are different, most of the problems we face are similar. This is why it is valuable for park professionals to be exposed to other rangers from around the country and world.
You can find out more about Finland National Parks HERE.
Brent Leisure, Director of Texas State Parks, returns for another episode of the Park Leaders Show.
This episode is short enough it could have easily been included on the first episode with Director Leisure. This conversation is a separate episode because it needs to be a separate conversation.
We need to support parks at all levels. City and County Parks are an important gateway for exposure to greenspace and the outdoors. For most of us, our first encounters with the outdoors are with an urban park. Parks enhance neighborhoods and lead people to visit larger State and National Parks.
The experience of visiting a National Park lead us to support our local parks as well. All parks are connected. It is a natural progression to begin with your local park and then move up to something bigger and perhaps more adventurous.
Director Leisure explains what Texas State Parks is doing to work with local communities and local parks.
In this episode, Director Leisure recommends the books Sand County Almanac and Leadership on the Line.
Texas is big. If you haven't been to Texas you have seen it on a map. No matter how you look at the state, it is big.
The enormous geographic size creates a challenge when it comes to communicating to staff if they are spread across the state. Brent Leisure, Director of Texas State Parks
Brent Leisure, Director of Texas Parks and Wildlife, joins the Park Leaders Show to discuss how to communicate when parks and staff are spread out. Communicating with a large staff in difficult. It becomes more delicate when the large staff is spread out in such a large state.
Director Leisure also discusses the challenge of inviting more diverse users to parks.
It is not enough to open the gates and say everyone is welcome to come. You have to reach out. Texas State Parks has implemented programs to engage a diverse population. They make an effort to attract urban visitors, visitors with little outdoor experience, visitors from diverse racial backgrounds. The lands and water the state has set aside are places where all demographics can come together to share experiences.
Joseph Mayambo wants you to know about the National Parks of Gabon. Joseph wants everyone to know about Gabon National Parks.
Gabon has one of the newest National Park Systems in the world. The World Ranger Congress was a perfect place for Rangers from Gabon to interact and exchange ideas with other Rangers from around the world. Joseph Mayambo and his comrades from Gabon State Parks spread a message of hope and enthusiasm about their parks.
In this episode of the Park Leaders Show, Joseph Mayambo discusses the challenges and opportunities of having such a young National Park Service.
Adrian Fernandez has an influence on young up and coming leaders in the National Park Service. Adrian is the Manager of the ProRanger Program at Temple University.
The ProRanger Program offers a unique opportunity to 12 candidates each year to gain park ranger experience before they become a ranger. In the classroom, they learn the knowledge they need to know, but the program gets them valued experience in the parks as well.
Each summer, the students work as an intern in a National Park. Internships at parks where they get to learn all aspects of park operations. They get experience in urban and rural parks. When their experience with the ProRanger program is complete, they are not only ready to be a park ranger, they are ready to step up as a leader.
In this episode of the Park Leaders Show, Adrian discusses the ProRanger Program. We also hear from Brennan McAuley.
Brennan McAuley is a student in the ProRanger program. Brennan shares his experience in the program and gives us an inside look to being a student working towards becoming a Park Ranger.
Students in the program keep a blog to share their experience. You can find it here. You can follow Brennan on Instagram at brennan_proranger.
Historic means something entirely different in the United Kingdom than it does in the United States. Historic in the states is still fairly new compared to some of the historic buildings and landscapes found in the United Kingdom.
Historic Landscape management in the United Kingdom can help parks in other countries understand how to manage landscape with historical significance.
Janine Conner is a park ranger with the National Trust in the United Kingdom. She works at Tyntesfield, where she cares for a historic landscape.
In this episode of The Park Leaders Show, Janine talks about historic landscape management. Janine also discusses her shadow assignment at Bryce Canyon National Park, her impression of park rangers in the United States, and her experience at the World Ranger Congress.
At the World Ranger Congress, Ravis Henry gave a program about the Navajo culture. Rangers from around the world took in his stories and songs about his culture and experience as a ranger.
Ravis has a story that is unique, even among park rangers. Ravis is a ranger at Canyon De Shelly National Monument. Canyo De Shelly is within the Navajo Nation and Ravis grew up in the park.
Ravis joins the Park Leaders Show to discuss the World Ranger Congress, his unique way to tell stories, growing up where he works, and how parks can try to connect to local tribes.
Are we facing a dangerous conservation crisis? When the Director of US Fish & Wildlife Service says we are facing a conservation crisis, you can believe we have a problem. An article in Field & Stream discussed a speech Director Dan Ashe gave about three issues we are facing in parks and conservation that are moving us towards a crisis.
In this episode of the Park Leaders Show, Director Ashen discusses the problems that are moving parks and conservation agencies towards irrelevancy.
We talk about diversity, young people in the outdoors, disruptive innovations in parks and conservation and the partnership between US Fish & Wildlife and the National Park Service that led to delisting the Island Fox as an endangered species.
Daisy Martinez founded Trash Free Earth so her neighborhood park would look better. The idea spread and Trash Free Earth now hosts regular cleanups where a diverse collection of volunteers come together to make a park look beautiful.
Trash Free Earth has created a patch challenge. People who accomplish all five elements of the challenge receive an exclusive patch.
If a park hosts a cleanup, it will reinforce the idea that the park is responsible for cleaning up. If a community organization organizes and hosts a cleanup, it will spread the idea that the community is responsible for keeping their parks clean.
You can Follow Trash Free Earth on Twitter and Facebook.
Shelton Johnson returns to the Park Leaders Show for episode 101. If you missed part 1 of his interview, you can listen to it here.
In this episode, Shelton talks about the importance of telling stories. Shelton's Buffalo Soldiers program at Yosemite National Park has brought a story back to life that the world nearly forgot.
Shelton also discusses making meaningful connections with people.
"The surest way to change the future is to change today." - Shelton Johnson
Shelton is the author of the novel Gloryland.
Being a park ranger is not usually a job that puts you in the spotlight. But every once in a while, a story gets discovered that needs to be shared with the world. That is what happened to Yosemite National Park Ranger Shelton Johnson.
When he began telling the story of the Buffalo Soldiers experience in Yosemite, people began to notice. The story of theBuffalo Soldiers led to a pivotal role in Ken Burns' film series about the National Parks. Shelton got to meet Oprah. Shelton got to meet President Obama. Eventually, Shelton got to meet Jody Maberry, host of the Park Leaders Show. No big deal, I know, but it did lead to this interview on the Park Leaders Show.
Shelton discusses the path that lead him from inner city Detroit to being a park ranger in a wilderness park. He also explains why access to the outdoors is a civil rights issue.
Shelton Johnson has also written a novel about Buffalo Soldiers called Gloryland.
If you have Amazon Prime, you can watch the Ken Burns' National Parks film for free. Just click here.
Our parks and Disney World share many commonalities. Often, people save money and vacation time to visit both places. When guests hold a place in such high regard, what obligation do we have to them?
Jeff Noel joins the Park Leaders Show to discuss how to create excellence.
Jeff Noel spent 30 years at Disney World. The last 15 years at Disney, he taught at the Disney Institue. Over 15 years, Jeff spoke to over 1 Million people about how the Disney Way.
If you want to make a park excellence, there are three area to focus;
- People
- Physical resources
- Processes
Jeff recommends making everyone a VIP - Very Individual Person, even if you can only give them attention for 30 seconds.
You can find out more about Jeff Noel on his website, Twitter, or Facebook.
Recently, at the World Ranger Congress, a group of female delegates gathered to discuss issues woman face. This led me to consider how the female ranger experience is different than the male ranger experience, especially when it comes to leadership.
When it comes to women's leadership, Ann Vertel is someone you want to know. Ann is a 20 year Naval officer, Motivational Psychologist, and leadership expert who helps individuals and organizations develop confident women leaders.
In this episode of the Park Leaders Show, Ann talks about being a leader in a male-dominated profession, the importance of working with a woman mentor, and the importance of developing women leaders. Ann also talks about handling sexual discrimination, sexual harassment, and other issues women might face in the workplace.
To find the resources Ann has created for this show, Click Here.
Ann Vertel's website - www.annvertel.com
Ann Vertel on Twitter - @AnnVertel
Ann Vertel on Facebook - Ann Vertel
Gary Ananian is the founder of the Kern River Conservancy. He is a volunteer who pours his own time and money into protecting a river he loves.
Vandalism and trash got so bad on the Kern River that Gary started camping elsewhere. The lure of the river brought him back, but he was again faced with trash and vandalism. When he discovered there was not a single conservation group dedicated to protecting the Kern River, he founded a group to begin to clean up the river.
The Kern River was designated as a Leave No Trace Hot Spot and Gary worked with Sam Ovett and Jenna Hanger. Together, they helped transform the Kern River and work with the public and land management agencies to give the river a promising future.
Gary explains how volunteers can work with and educate the public in a way uniformed staff can not.
Through his work on the Kern River, Gary has shown one person can have an impact.
After a backpacking trip to Glacier National Park, I passed through the Yaak Valley. I was intrigued by the beauty of the valley. It just felt different than most other places I had visited.
Shortly after my short visit to the Yaak Valley, I discovered a book called The Book of Yaak by Rick Bass. I began devouring Rick Bass' books, and I returned to the Yaak.
Over the years, I hiked many miles and spent many nights in the Yaak Valley. And read many Rick Bass books. Rick used his words to bring awareness to the Yaak Valley and the issues this unique place in Montana faced.
In this episode of The Park Leaders Show, Rick Bass talks about the Yaak Valley, the importance of parks, and the biggest issues facing parks today.
Here are some of Rick Bass' books you will enjoy;
The Lost Grizzlies
The Ninemile Wolves
The Wild Marsh
Rick Bass recommends The Grizzly Years by Doug Peacock. Rick Bass gave us a list of suggested books people in parks should read. Check out the Suggested Reading List from Rick Bass.
Even in an urban setting, there is wilderness all around. Birds, bugs, plants are not just getting by, but thriving living in a city.
Most people never notice. Most people quickly move from one place to another without looking up or down to see the life around them. Or, wildlife is so common it goes unnoticed. When was the last time you thought about a pigeon? Or a snail? So much life in a city goes unseen.
Nathanael Johnson not only noticed the urban wilderness around him, he wrote a book about it. Unseen City takes a look at the majesty of pigeons, the discreet charm of snails and other wonders of the urban wilderness.
Unseen City combines great writing, deep research with the curiosity of Johnson's young daughter, Josephine. The curiosity of Josephine helps us all learn more about the wildlife around us but usually goes unseen.
This is a book is a must for any park bookstore in an urban area.
Armando Quintero spent 22 years with the National Park Service. Now, Armando is the Executive Director of the Sierra Nevada Research Institute at The University of California, Merced.
When Armando left his career as parks, he knew his background would allow him to be an advocate for parks from the outside.
Experience from the inside and the outside of parks has given Armando a unique perspective of our parks and their place in our society. Armando discusses the importance of adaptive leadership in parks.
Armando recommends The Forest Ranger by Herbert Kaufman.
Matt Carroll did not follow a typical path to becoming a Superintendent with the National Park Service.
During a full career with the Air Force, Matt picked up all the skills he would need to be a Park Superintendent; management, budgets, leadership, operations and more. He also volunteered with the National Park Service for many years before he retired from the Air Force.
Typically, by the time a ranger becomes a superintendent, he or she has been immersed in the culture of the park service for years. Matt came in from the outside to the role of Superintendent of Greenbelt Park and Baltimore-Washington Parkway.
Shortly after joining the Greenbelt Parkway, Matt developed a list of 2016 Superintendent Priorities. Matt posted the priorities at Park Headquarters so park staff, volunteers, and visitors could see them.
Here are the 2016 Superintendent Priorities for the Greenbelt Park and Baltimore-Washington Parkway;
- Improve Visitor Experience, Customer Support & Partnerships
- Institute Sound Business Practices
- Foster a Culture of Safety in Daily Operations
- Ensure Good Stewardship of Park Resources and Facilities
- Develop and Support a Professional Workforce
Sam Ovett and Jenna Hanger are living a life that will make you jealous. It makes me jealous. Sam and Jenna are Traveling Trainers for Leave No Trace. They travel the western United States teaching the principals of Leave No Trace to students, communities, volunteers, and government agencies.
As Traveling Trainers, they visit some of our most beautiful places and spend over 250 nights per year camping. Spending so much time together worked out well for Sam and Jenna. They are engaged to be married and plan on launching their own business later this year.
One interesting aspect of being a traveling trainer is the Leave No Trace Hot Spot program. This unique program focuses on areas that have been negatively impacted by recreational use. Traveling Trainers work with the community and stakeholders of a Hot Spot to help recover and protect the area for future generations.
You can follow Sam & Jenna on Instagram to keep up to date on their adventures.
Brandon Kramer joins the Park Leaders Show to talk about the new documentary film, City of Trees.
City of Trees follows Washington Parks and People as the organization uses a grant to plant trees in parks Washington DC. The story plays out with struggle and triumph as the organization as you get to know people who are hired to plant trees.
During the film, you will learn about a community, learn about the men who are hired to plant trees, and learn about the organization trying to make it all work.
Click here for opportunities to see the National Broadcast of City of Trees. PBS will be broadcasting City of Trees on April 19th.
Many park agencies face budget struggles. Michigan State Parks faced the issues head-on by exploring new ways to add value to what parks offer.
Ron Olson, Chief of Michigan State Parks, joins the Park Leaders Show to explain the innovative ideas Michigan explored and implemented to survive budget cuts and offer more to park visitors.
In this episode, Mr. Olson will explain the programs and services Michigan State Parks offered to guests to enhance recreational opportunities and increase funding.
Here is an article from 2009 that outlines some of the challenges Michigan State Parks faced when Ron Olson become Chief.
Caroline Blizzard is the Director of the Deep Creek Lake State Park Discovery Center. Caroline has created a successful education program about monarch butterflies.
In this episode, you will learn how an education program in a park in Maryland has had an impact on the local community as well as a community in Mexico.
Caroline will also share tips on how you can create a powerful educational program at your park.
Private sector involvement in public parks is an issue most people are not indifferent on. Usually, people either see it as a solution to many of the problems parks face, or they are against any private involvement. You may not realize how involved the private sector is already involved in parks.
John joins the Park Leaders Show to discuss the benefit of private sector involvement in parks.
John Koeberer is the president of the California Parks Company. The California Parks Company has a presence in parks throughout California, providing services ranging from concessions, wedding services, and campground operations.
John explains how private sector involvement can help parks with better marketing and business expertise. Better business operation will ensure parks do not become irrelevant.
You can find Park Leaders on Facebook here.
On this episode of the Park Leaders Show, John Griffith shares the story of creating the Bioblitz Dance with the encouragement and support of Rue Mapp of Outdoor Afro.
John explains the reason for the Bioblitz Dance and the steps of the Bioblitz Dance.
John Griffith challenges you and your park to do a Bioblitz Dance. If you do a Bioblitz Dance and let us know you are doing the dance because of the show, we will send you Park Leaders stickers for everyone who participates in the dance. You just have to let us know by letting us know on Facebook or include Bioblitz Dance and Park Leaders in the title of your video on YouTube.
You can find the Bioblitz Tutorial Here.
Fort McHenry National Monument is one of Steve Clark's favorite National Parks. It is not for the obvious reasons either. It is because of baseball.
Steve got his connection to the outdoors through baseball. Of course, the national anthem is sung before every baseball game. The Star Spangled Banner was birthed at Fort McHenry.
Steve's story is an example of how many people are connected to parks in different ways to different parks for different reasons. Now, Steve is the Superintendent of the National Parks of Western Pennsylvania, including the Flight 93 Memorial.
In this episode of the Park Leaders Show, Steve talks about his career in the National Park Service and the delicate balance of interpreting the story of Flight 93.
In recent episodes of the Park Leaders Show, both Alan Spears and Jon Jarvis mentioned the Greening Youth Foundation. When two people I respect both mention the same organization, I know I have to look deeper.
Angelou Ezeilo joins the Park Leaders Show to share her story and explain the work of Greening Youth Foundation. Greening Youth Foundation has had tremendous success engaging underrepresented youth and diverse youth to nature.
Greening Youth Foundation connects parks to diverse workers who are newly introduced to potential careers in conservation and outdoor recreation. Angelou points out that parks and organizations can longer say there are not diverse people interested in conservation and recreation jobs. Any park or organization can connect with Greening Youth Foundation to find candidates.
Alan Latourelle served as CEO of Parks Canada from 2002 to 2015. Alan joins the Park Leaders Show to discuss Parks Canada.
In this episode, Latourelle talks about his experience as CEO. He also discusses Parks Canada Centennial, the growth of Parks Canada, and getting more Canadian youth into parks.
We also explore the relationship between Parks Canada and First Nations. Indigenous people are 8% of Parks Canada staff and 12% of Parks Canada Executives.
Jon Jarvis, Director of the National Park Service, join the Park Leaders Show. Director Jarvis discusses his career, the National Parks Centennial, and the one thing National Parks offers you can find nowhere else.
I was at a conference with Director Jarvis, and we were able to sit down for a face to face interview. During our conversation, Jon outlines his career path with the National Park Service and some of his milestones along the way. We talk about the preparation and planning for the National Park Service Centennial. Director Jarvis also explains the sense of place parks add to history that can be found nowhere else.
Whether you work with the National Park Service or are a fan of parks, you do not want to miss this inside look at our National Park System.
Music for the Park Leaders Show is created by Jason Harrod.
Dawn Carr is the Executive Director of the Canadian Parks Council. The Canadian Parks Council is an organization that unites national and provincial parks all across the country.
Canadian Parks Council offers a Park System Leadership Course focused on developing excellent leaders in parks. Dawn offers that humility is the one common trait of leaders who participate in the Park Leadership Course.
I had the pleasure to meet Dawn in person at the Inspiring a New Generation Summit. In this episode Dawn discusses what Canada and the Canadian Parks Council is doing to connect youth to nature.
Episode 80 of the Park Leaders Show is ten random park related ideas. Individually, the ideas did not make a full episode. Collectively, the ideas create an episode of 10 ideas in 10 minutes (11 minutes, actually, but 10 in 10 sounds better).
I recently attended the Ranger Rendezvous and the Inspiring a New Generation Summit. Next on my list is the CA Parks Training Conference, where I will give two presentations and be part of a panel discussion.
If you would like Park Leaders founder, Jody Maberry, to speak to your organization or at your event, please reach out.
At the Ranger Rendezvous, I was reminded how important it is to belong to a Ranger Association. The Rendezvous is the annual conference for the Association of National Park Rangers. A Ranger Association will introduce you to other Rangers. And you never know who could be your next supervisor, co-worker, or potential employee.
Also at the Rendezvous, I met former Park Leader Show guests Bob Krumenaker and Cassius Cash. Anytime you have the opportunity to converse with a veteran park ranger; you should do it.
If you are a Park Manager, and there is turnover at your park, it is because of you. You don't listen. That is why people leave.
Visible tattoos on a park ranger are a bad idea. Tattoos should be concealed behind your uniform.
Performance reviews are not very useful. But what if people were held accountable for other staff members attaining goals? Wouldn't that promote the teamwork we are looking for?
If you are a Park Manager or Superintendent, one of the best things you can do for your agency is to invest in an up and comer. You don't need a formal mentorship program to help someone out.
The John Wayne Pioneer Trail is at risk. The state of Washington wants to give the trail to adjacent land owners. The threat to the trail is a prime example of why parks need to focus on diversity. If there were a diversity of voices from all backgrounds causing a ruckus, there would be no question about the future of the trail.
The Park Leaders Show is due for another panel episode. In the past, there have been panel episodes about Diversity and Communication. What should come next?
Forget about adding more policies and procedures. New policies may show exactly how you want things done, but it gets in the way of creativity and job satisfaction.
Want Park Leaders Stickers? You can get those here.
Alan Spears is the Cultural Resources Director for the National Parks Conservation Association. Alan Spears and I had the opportunity to sit down together and talk about cultural resources at the Ranger Rendezvous, the annual conference of the Association of National Park Rangers.
Alan got his start in the outdoors chasing frogs at Fort Dupont in Washington DC. Alan's presentation at the Ranger Rendezvous was about Urban Parks. His story shows the impact urban parks can have a child. And in this case, the child who played in nearby woods grew up to help the National Park Service protect and interpret cultural resources.
In this episode, we also talk about Harpers Ferry, Fort Monroe and the National Park Service's role in interpreting slavery as a root cause of the Civil War.
We also talk about why it is important for the National Park Service to tell stories that don't always have a storybook ending, like the Manhatten Project.
Alan reminds us; the National Park Service should be proud of the work they do and what they have collectively accomplished.
While discussing the challenge of enhancing cultural diversity in park staff and visitation, Alan mentions the Greening Youth Foundation as an example of an organization having an impact.
Find Park Leaders on Facebook.
Cam Sholly joins the Park Leaders Show to offer a look at the National Park Service from a Region perspective.
Cam is the Region Director for the Midwest Region of the National Park Service. In this episode, Cam explains how the Region offices offer support to parks throughout the region by putting Parks First.
Cam discusses his experience as a ranger in the field as a Chief Ranger and Park Superintendent and moving into positions in Washington DC and a Region office.
This episode will give you an understanding how the National Park Service operates from a Region level to a Park level. You will also gain insight on how a seasonal National Park Service can work towards a permanent position.
We also discuss the impact parks can have on local economies and how parks can work with community partners to protect and enhance a park while boosting local tourism.
Geocaching has been a popular outdoor activity for 15 years. It is in your park, or near your park. People will travel for miles to find a Geocache.
Now, GeoTours can help parks create a deliberate, curated experience for visitors. A GeoTour is a collection of geocaches that take people on a tour of a specific area. Each stop can highlight a natural feature, a historical fact, a cultural resource, and tell a story.
GeoTours have been used to highlight entire park systems, like this GeoTour with Kentucky State Parks, or an individual park, like this GeoTour at Mount Ranier.
The friendly folks at Geocaching will help your park create a GeoTour and even work with you to create a GeoTour passport so participants can keep track of their progress.
To find out more about GeoTour go here.
To get your hands on elusive Park Leaders stickers go here.
The Park Leaders Show goes international. In this episode, I talk with Pete Cleary, a park ranger at Philip Island Nature Parks in Australia.
We examine the unique characteristics about Philip Island, as well as the common traits of parks and park rangers in different countries throughout the world.
Ranger Cleary explains the concept of parks offering and Ultimate Experience to park visitors willing to pay for more access and experience at a park.
In this episode, we also talk about the World Ranger Congress, the International Ranger Federation, and the Thin Green Line.
Find more park resources at parkleaders.com.
After a tremendous performance as Theodore Roosevelt, Clay Jenkinson returns to the Park Leaders Show to talk about Theodore Roosevelt and parks.
If you haven't yet listened to the episode with Clay in character as Theodore Roosevelt, Click here to listen. You will want to hear that episode first.
In this episode, Clay discusses Theodore Roosevelt's role in National Parks and the impact he still has today on our park system. We also discuss Ken Burn's National Park and Roosevelt films, the upcoming National Parks Centennial, the threat of vanishing viewsheds
Clay urges everyone to do two things to reconnect with parks;
- Spend at least 4 days in a National Park with as few amenities as possible.
- Read Walden and Mountains without Handrail
Clay Jenkinson is the creator of the Thomas Jefferson Hour and author of The Character of Meriwether Lewis.
President Theodore Roosevelt was a pivotal figure in the early days of the National Park Service. The National Park Service as we know it would not exist without Theodore Roosevelt.
Clay Jenkinson as Theodore Roosevelt
Clay Jenkinson portrays President Roosevelt in this episode of the Park Leaders Show. Clay allows us to step back into time and talk with the 26th President of the United States.
Clay Jenkinson is a humanities scholar, author and social commentator who is considered one of the most entertaining public speakers in the United States. Clay is dedicated to researching the historical characters he portrays and brings history to life. Clay is best known for his portrayal of Thomas Jefferson.
Clay is the creator and host of the nationally syndicated radio program The Thomas Jefferson Hour. Clay is also the author of several books, including The Character of Meriwether Lewis.
In this episode of the Park Leaders Show, Clay is in character as Theodore Roosevelt as we discuss the fight for National Parks, the National Park Service's 100th birthday and what President Roosevelt thinks of Park Rangers.
As the National Park Service prepares to celebrate the Centennial, President Roosevelt encourages us to decide what the essential National Park Service purpose is, and then bring park use in line to meet that purpose.
When I was a new park ranger, I noticed the Park Manager, Jack Hartt, would carry a camera in his pocket. I saw him take photos of trees, bugs, turkey, park rangers, and even vehicle accidents and vandalism.
Carrying a camera with you makes sense, right? Park rangers spend their days in the most beautiful places. We have the opportunity to take photographs of areas or situations most people never see.
Today, most of us carry a powerful camera right in our pocket. Smartphones have cameras equal in quality to professional cameras just a few years ago. If anyone knows how to use a smartphone to capture incredible moments as photographs, it is David Molnar.
David Molnar - Celebrity, Music and Advertising photographer
David Molnar is a celebrity, music, and advertising photographer. David is also the author of iPhone Only Photographer. In this book, as well as on his website, David shares tips to taking stunning photographs with a smartphone.
In this episode of the Park Leaders Show, David explains how park rangers can use the phone in their pocket to take amazing photographs and tell the story of the park.
David has also made a generous offer to listeners of the Park Leaders Show. CLICK HERE to get access to three ebooks to help you improve your photography.
If you want to learn more about David Molnar, check out this interview I did with him on the Starve the Doubts podcast.
Would you like some beautiful Park Leaders stickers? You can get those here.
Donald Forgione, Director of Florida State Parks, returns to the Park Leaders Show.
In this episode, we discuss how Florida State Parks connects with communities of color. Director Forgione also talks about how park rangers should be seen as leaders in the community outside of the park.
Florida State Parks is proactive in seeking out up and coming leaders. Once a leader is identified, they are given the opportunity to take on more responsibility to grow.
If you want to support Park Leaders, and show pride in the work you do, Limited Edition Park Leaders stickers are available now. Get yours here.
Donald Forgione began his career as a Park Ranger with Florida State Parks. Over time, Ranger Forgione became Director Forgione.
As Director of Florida State Parks, Donald Forgione considers himself to be a ranger first. In fact, he signs off on email correspondence with "Ranger First" as a reminder to himself, and others, that he approaches his Director responsibilities as a park ranger.
In this episode, Director Forgione shares his journey with Florida State Parks and why having been a ranger helps him perform his duties as Director. He also shares how values move beyond words to become behaviors in a park agency.
Director Forgione explains what the Ranger First concept means to him and how it impacts his job as Director.
Are we leaving out Millennials from the park experience?
I recently read an article in Outside Magazine questioning if the outdoor industry has a Millennial problem.
This article from Outside magazine touches on many issues relevant to parks and recreation. In the Northwest, in particular, recreation can be more about the jacket you wear while hiking than the actual hike itself.
While outdoor clothing companies were racing for more high-tech options, they left out the younger generation. With no regard for Millennials, clothing and gear companies continue to offer high-end, high-priced options.
Are parks making the same mistake? Are we racing to cash in on high priced recreation?
Most park systems are moving toward cabins and expensive RV sites. Millennials do not stay in expensive cabins or drive RVs. So what happens in 10 years when Millennials will be the key demographic for parks?
It doesn’t stop with just cabins and full hookup sites for RVs, I know of at least one situation where a park had a 100% occupancy rate during the summer. As a result, the agency raised the camping fees for that park.
I get it. Parks has to run like a business. But believe me, running like a business is not about making more money this year. Running like a business means to create a WOW experience that excites someone who camps in your park now will come back later in the summer.
And next summer.
And the summer after that.
Eventually, they will bring their kids. Perhaps someday they come back in a big expensive RV. But not today. Not this summer. Not when Millennials are at the prime age to reach them.
And if you don’t get Millennials now, you stand the chance never to get them.
If we don't make parks appealing to millennials now, they will not be visiting parks in 10 years. They have an interest in what Parks has to offer, but we are suggesting there is not a place for them in parks. Our actions suggest we are most welcoming to retirees in large RVs or families that can afford to stay in cabins.
But what are we doing in parks to suggest there is a place for Millennials?
As Tae Kim said in the Outside Magazine article - “If you just get people outside having a good time, Mother Nature takes over. They’re hooked for life.
Have you noticed the National Park Service Find Your Park campaign?
There is a park for everyone, is what the National Park Service wants you to know with the Find Your Park campaign. But don't assume parks are only wilderness or wooded parks. If that were the case, not everyone would find their park.
Many people are finding their park in Washington D. C. in the form of monuments, historic sites, parkways, and even the White House. The National Park Service has a large presence in our nation's capital.
Philip Selleck, Associate Region Director of the National Park Service Capital Region, joins the Park Leaders Show to discuss the urban parks of Washington D.C. Phil will talk about the challenges of operating parks that see a large volume of traffic that experience shorter visits.
Phil also discusses promoting through the ranks of the National Park Service. From seasonal park ranger to chief ranger, Phil offers advice on what it takes to get promoted.
Spencer Cox, Lt. Governor of Utah, joins the Park Leaders Show to talk about the value of state and national parks to the state of Utah.
Utah is fortunate to be home to five national parks, several national monuments and a thriving state parks system. The parks boost the economy and create jobs. Perhaps more importantly, Lt. Governor Cox suggest parks are part of the fabric of the Utah lifestyle.
Lt. Governor Cox also offers insight to how state government view a park system. He talks about funding, maintenance, and how a state determines if their park system is successful. He also discusses privatization of parks
This episode is a valuable look into how a park system fits into priorities and planning from legislatures and the Governors office.
Lt. Governor Cox recently shared pictures and video from a recent vacation to promote outdoor recreation in Utah. You can watch the video here.
Nearly every one of the questions asked to Lt. Governor came not from the host of the Park Leaders Show, but from people in the field who work in a park every day.
Carol Quinn returns to the Park Leaders Show to explain how to hire great people. If you missed the first half of the interview with Carol Quinn, you can find it here.
In this episode, Carol will discuss how to improve your hiring process. Making small changes in the interview process can move you towards hiring high performers.
If you have ever made a bad hire, you understand the long-term impact it can have on your park or organization. Sometimes we don't interview properly. Sometimes we rush a hire because there is so much work to do.
It doesn't have to be this we. We can hire high performers nearly every time.
Also in this episode, we talk about the impact Motivation Based Hiring can have on the culture of an organization.
If you would like to learn more about Carol Quinn, or Motivation Based interviewing, visit HireAuthority.com.
You can also check out Carol's books, Don't Hire Anyone Without Me and Motivation Based Interviewing.
Lee Cockerell has said "Your most important responsibility is to hire and promote the right people for your organization." If that is true, we need to take a hard look at the way we hire people.
Carol Quinn, CEO of Hire Authority, joins the Park Leaders Show to talk about how you can improve your hiring.
Carol has helped many companies, including Disney, hire the right people. In this episode, we talk about what typical interviews look like, and why relying on gut feeling is a mistake.
Carol also gives us an introduction to Motivation Based Interviewing (MBI).
To learn more about MBI, you can find information and free resources on HireAuthority.com. Carol is the author of Motivation Based Interviewing and Don't Hire Anyone Without Me.
This interview with Carol Quinn will give you a headstart in understanding what you can do differently to hire high performers.
Recently, Eric Watilo issues a document to parks in his region of Washington State Parks giving ideas to make sure visitor's have a better experience when they visit parks.
When I saw the information Eric was getting out to people in parks, I knew I had to share it with you. Eric did not create this list for people to read and check a box. This is content meant to be discussed and considered.
Eric joins me on the Park Leaders Show to discuss his list of 12 Steps to Enhance a Visitor Experience.
If you are reading this in email, CLICK HERE to listen to the episode and go in depth with the 12 Steps.
12 Steps to Enhancing a Visitor's Experience 1. Smile – As simple as this may seem, not everyone smiles. 2. Greet Them – Use words to make them feel welcome. 3. In-Person is Priority – Never break off a face-to-face interaction with a visitor to answer the telephone or speak with another employee. 4. W.I.N – W.I.N stands for “What’s Important Now.” 5. Please and Thank You – Say it. Say it often. We all like to hear please and thank you. 6. You’re Welcome – Do not say “No Problem.” Use your manners and say "You're Welcome". 7. Recognize Who You Work For – Every one of us in Parks is a government employee. 8. It Is What You Say – What you say to a park visitor can strongly influence they experience have at the park. 9. Find the Answer and Follow-up – From time to time a visitor will ask you a question you do not have the answer to. Instead of saying “I don’t know” and leaving it there, tell the visitor you do not know but that you will find out and get back to them. 10. Make Time for the Visitor – I understand in parks it is not always possible to do this, but when you can take the time to show a visitor what they are looking for, you certainly should. 11. “Thank You for Supporting Our Parks” – After every financial transaction you make with a customer, thank the guest for their support. 12. Listen to Park Leaders Podcast – In particular, listen to this episode about customer service with Lee Cockerell.
In addition to Eric Watilo's list, I have added for steps of my own to enhance a visitor's experience.
- You are putting on a Show Every day – At Disney World employees are called Cast Members because they play a role in the big show they put on every day. You may not be at Disney World, but you are putting on a show every day.
- Your personal problems don’t matter to the park visitor – I am not saying your personal problems don’t matter. I just want to be clear that your personal problems do not matter to the park visitor. Your issues should not get in the way of delivering top notch service.
- Wear the Hat – If you are a park ranger you need to wear the iconic flat hat when you interact with park visitors. If park visitors don’t get to see a park ranger often, then seeing you should meet their expectations. And they expect you to wear the flat hat.
- Serve like it is your mother – Have you ever had a loved one receive wonderful service? How did that make you feel? Your mother is special to you and you want others to treat her that way. This is exactly how you should treat every park visitor.
Music for the Park Leaders Show is provided by Jason Harrod.
Big Bend National Park is one of the most remote parks in the lower 48 states. Allen Etheridge, Chief Ranger at Big Bend, shares the experience of working at such a remote park.
Allen explains the lifestyle of living and working in a remote park. A remote park fosters a tight group who work together and play together. It becomes even more important to involve everyone on the team socially and in work.
Ranger Etheridge also discusses the role of a Chief Ranger. He provides purpose, motivation, and direction to the staff at Big Bend. A Chief Ranger needs to know, understand, and explain the message of the superintendent, as well as bring forth issues of the staff to the superintendent.
We also discuss interviewing and what to look for as you talk to job candidates.
Reading a wide variety of leadership books is important for anyone in a leadership position. Entreleadership by Dave Ramsey is one book Allen Etheridge recommends.
LaJuan Tucker received an introduction to conservation with the Texas Conservation Corps. She started as a crew member and eventually became a staff member.
LaJuan worked directly with young people of color who were interested in college or careers related to conservation. In this interview, LaJuan explains the common questions and concerns young people have about careers in conservation.
LaJuan parlayed her experience with the Conservation Corps to become a park ranger with the city of Austin, Texas. LaJuan credits her time with the Texas Conservation Corps as the catalyst to her becoming a park ranger. Had she not been exposed to conservation, she would not have become a ranger.
With the Austin Parks, LaJuan works on impactful projects such as Wildlife Austin. Austin is doing critical work to protect the Monarch Butterfly.
LaJuan Tucker is a model of the impact and headstart the Conservation Corps and Corps Network can give to young people.
County Parks play a vital role in the grand scheme of parks. A County Park system usually manages parks that range from urban to wilderness. County Parks are often a stepping stone between City Parks and a family making the leap to recreating in State or National Parks.
Mary Ann Bonnell, Visitor Services Supervisor with Jefferson County Open Space
Mary Ann Bonnell has experience in City Parks, State Parks, and non-profit organizations. Mary Ann is proud of her role with Jefferson County Open Space and the quality of life County Parks offer in her Colorado home.
In this episode of the Park Leaders Show, we examine the role of County Parks. Mary Ann also discusses urban wildlife and wildlife education. Through education, urban wildlife can connect people to the bigger natural world.
This week is a short episode to provide updates on what is going on with Park Leaders.
Thank you for the great feedback about the episode with Betty Soskin. It was a delight to interview her, and I am pleased you liked it as well. If you haven't listened to that episode yet, you don't want to miss it.
I have some upcoming trips. Perhaps we can meet up? I will be in Dallas in early August, and Asheville, NC in October. If you live nearby, and would like me to visit your park, get in touch. Or, if you would like to set up a speaking engagement, it would be fantastic to give a presentation about parks for you.
The People of Parks Project is going away soon. If you have not had a chance to lend your voice, you can do so here.
Would you like to be a contributor for Park Leaders? I have two opportunities for you. First, I am going to start including articles on the website. If you would like to contribute an article about parks, get in touch. I could use your help. Second, I want to include stories from Park Rangers other than myself on the Park Leaders Show. If you have a story you would like to share, reach out. Let's get your story on the show.
Have you checked out Creating Disney Magic yet? Creating Disney Magic is a show I do with Lee Cockerell. It is a weekly show about leadership, management, and customer service. There is plenty of value packed into the 15-minute episodes.
This episode of the Park Leaders Show felt like I was talking to history. Betty Soskin is the oldest park ranger in the United States. Betty is 93 years old.
Betty Soskin, Oldest Park Ranger. Photo by NPS
Yes, that is impressive. But even more impressive is Betty did not become a park ranger until she was 85 years old. Talking with Betty, I got the feeling she did not necessarily become a park ranger, she became part of the narrative of Rosie the Riveter National Historic Park, and that involved wearing a park ranger uniform.
"Whatever I do, they call rangering. But I would be doing it anyway because it is the only thing I know."
Betty Soskin first collected national attention when she was furloughed during the government shutdown. When asked what the government should do to end the shutdown, Betty replied, "I am not wise enough to tell them what to do, except to get out of my way."
The government shutdown was an obstacle to Betty's telling her story and getting important work done. Betty tackles each day with a sense of urgency rarely seen in people decades younger than her.
Betty's story is an American story that can be told by no one else I have ever met. Her message, her life, and her contribution to the National Park Service is a story you don't want to miss. This episode goes much deeper than parks. We talk about history, wisdom, and diversity.
5.16.15 - Betty Reid Soskin interviewed on The Today Show (click to watch on YouTube)
Lee Cockerell, former Executive Vice President of Operations for Walt Disney World, returns to the Park Leaders Show to talk about how parks can create magic.
Previously, Lee has been on the Park Leaders Show to talk about what parks can learn from Disney and nine customer service rules.
Since the last time Lee joined us, he has published a new podcast, Creating Disney Magic. Creating Disney Magic is a short, weekly podcast focused on leadership, management and customer service.
You can find Creating Disney Magic on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, TuneIn Radio, Spreaker, or on Lee's Website.
Lee also discussed his new book, Time Management Magic. This book will transform the way you approach time management and help you move from surviving to thriving.
Lee also tells us how parks can create magic. He offers advice on how parks can communicate through the entire organization, focus on customers, and deliver a great experience for employees and visitors.
Parks can get more done with a better attitude. Better productivity can equal getting 20% more staff in parks. Don't underestimate how much better you can be.
You can create magic too.
When I was a park ranger, the former director of our agency used to preach the concept of the well-rounded ranger. I believe his message was that our agency needed to train rangers for more than law enforcement. He wanted us to think in terms of service, and not enforcement.
If focusing on service is what he meant, he was correct. But the concept of a well-rounded park ranger is hurting parks.
Sure, there are people like Tom Betts at Bandelier National Monument who can do everything. Tom is true a well-rounded ranger. But I was not. And chances are that you are not either.
And that is OK.
It is a benefit to your park that you are not well rounded. Not being well rounded means you are strong in some areas that can be a tremendous help to your park.
It also means you have weaknesses. There are some things you are not good at. That is OK.
In fact, a good park manager knows how to consider the strengths and weaknesses to assemble a great team.
Now, I expect park rangers to know enough to solve problems and get things done. But often, that does not mean the individual ranger needs to know how to do the actual work. The ranger needs to be able to recognize there is a problem and begin the process to solve the problem.
The idea of a well-rounded ranger, taken too literal or too serious, creates an environment that focuses on weaknesses and hampers strengths. Let me give you an example. Auto maintenance is a weakness of mine. In fact, I have no interest in it at all.
At one point in my career, I worked for a supervisor who felt park rangers who felt all rangers should complete the same tasks. Each ranger was responsible for doing the same tasks the same amount of times. This took people away from doing what they were strongest at to improve in areas where they were the weakest.
I get the desire to have everyone on the team contribute to all areas of the operation, which would be why you may want well-rounded rangers. But it just doesn’t work.
The well-rounded ranger concept forces everyone to spend an inappropriate amount of time improving their weaknesses. Great teams set people up to build on their strengths. Great leaders know this and assemble teams with strengths in mind.
If taken too far, the well-rounded ranger concept is like having every member of a baseball team spend too innings at each position during a game. In that case, you get an outfielder spending time practicing to throw a fastball rather than perfecting his craft if catching fly balls.
In the wonderful book Business Brilliant, author Lewis Schiff examines the traits of self-made millionaires. Lewis Schiff tells us –
A Gallup poll found the 87% of working Americans felt that finding your weaknesses and fixing them is the best way to achieve outstanding performance. Sixty-one percent of workers say they need to focus on their weaknesses because that's where they feel they have the most room for growth. In follow-up interviews, they said that improving weak areas makes them feel more responsible more well-rounded and less vulnerable to embarrassment and risk of failure. They feel conscientious about working with their weaknesses, and hope that the practice will shield them from future reproach and failure. Meanwhile, self-made millionaires are spending each day avoiding their weaknesses in order to stay focused on their strengths where distinction, fulfillment, and profits are found. Hour by hour, day by day the workers from this survey protect themselves by becoming more well-rounded and ordinary while the millionaires enrich themselves by becoming more specialized and extraordinary.
That information from Business Brilliant may work for a self-made millionaire, but you may be wondering how it applies to you and parks. Consider this. When you promote the strengths of your team, it allows you to fill holes on your team with someone who is strong in the areas you need the most.
So a well-rounded ranger needs to be looked at in a different way. A well-rounded ranger is someone confident in her strengths. A well-rounded ranger can realize there is a problem and knows how to solve it, likely with the assistance of other people. A well-rounded ranger does not ignore things they do not like in favor of what they do like. A well-rounded ranger understands when and how to step up to help a teammate.
But the well-rounded ranger, the ranger who can do everything, that well-rounded ranger is a myth.
To me, it is a choice to be well-rounded and ordinary or specialized and extraordinary.
What do you think of the concept of a well rounded ranger?
Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most popular National Park in the United States. People come from all over the eastern half of the country to visit the Smoky Mountains and drive visitation higher than park service icons such as Yellowstone or the Grand Canyon. The key to operating Great Smoky Mountains is not necessarily the visitors who come from other places, the key is connecting to the community.
Cassius Cash, Superintendent of Great Smokey Mountain National Park
The importance of connecting a park to the local community is exactly why Cassius Cash is the perfect fit for Park Superintendent. New to his role at Great Smoky Mountains, Cassius brings his concept of Listen - Learn - Build and is intent on connecting to the local community.
Cassius come to Great Smoky Mountains from Boston, where he served as the Superintendent as Boston National Historic Park and Boston African American National Historic Site. In Boston, Cassius used stories to rebrand the park and built impactful connections in the community. Superintendent Cash also took a deeper look into the historic stories most people know to find additional stories that include more people.
Finding more inclusive stories is a key to building more interest and support in our parks and Cassius Cash is a model of how to put those stories to work. Inclusive stories connect parks to people of different backgrounds, interests, and geographies.
Superintendent Cash understands it does not matter if he is in an urban Boston park or park in the Appalachian mountains, connecting to the community and including everyone is the key to a thriving park.
I am on a mission to get parks to start podcasting. Podcasting is a way parks can serve visitors in a new and unique way. To explore the idea of podcasting in parks, I went straight to one of the best podcasters around.
Jeff Brown is the host of the Read to Lead podcast. Read to Lead is recognized as one of the best-produced podcasts. Not only does Jeff Brown have the best voice in podcasting, he is a true professional. Jeff spent 26 years in the radio business and now brings his experience for training radio talent to helping people develop quality podcasts.
In this episode, Jeff coaches us through having a professional on-air presence and how to create a quality show. Jeff also discusses how parks can use podcasts to serve park visitors.
Podcasting holds so much potential for parks to connect to visitors in a manner not available in any other way. Consider what this could mean for your park. You can provide interpretation to more people. You can build a loyal following of people waiting for new content by sharing stories, history, and park information. You can even set up guided tours along popular trails or roads.
You can put a park ranger in the pocket of every park visitor.
Podcasts, or audio content, can even be used to distribute information to all employees, no matter how spread out or far away they may be. Audio content can allow leaders to reach every person on the team, individually, with the same message.
If you want to talk about creating podcasts for your park, please get in touch.
Jeff Brown recommends the following books:
Linchpin by Seth Godin
Die Empty by Todd Henry
Multipliers by Liz Wiseman
You can find Jeff Brown on Twitter or Facebook or his home on the web, Read to Lead.
Amanda Llanes returns to the Park Leaders Show to talk about her first season as a seasonal law enforcement ranger with the National Park Service. At the time of her first interview, Amanda was a cadet in the law enforcement academy. Now, she has been a seasonal ranger for one year.
Amanda talks about her experience, what she looks forward to in her next seasonal assignment and her career ambitions. This interview with Amanda is the second part of a look at seasonal park rangers with the National Park Service. You can listen to the first episode here.
If you enjoy the Park Leaders Show, would you consider leaving a review on iTunes? You can find the show here.
On the Park Leaders Show, I often talk to leaders in the National Park Service. Chief Interpreters, Chief Rangers and Park Superintendents have all been guests on the show.
The one thing they all have in common is they all started as seasonal park rangers.
That means the future leaders of the National Park Service are seasonal rangers right now.
Kaitlyn Kunce, Seasonal Park Ranger with the National Park Service
In this episode of the Park Leaders Show, I talk with Kaitlyn Kunce, and we take a look at the life of a seasonal park ranger.
At the time of our interview, Kaitlyn is a seasonal park ranger at Mesa Verde National Park. Soon, she will be moving to a seasonal assignment at Yellowstone National Park. Moving often and applying for jobs every few months is one of the challenges seasonal park rangers.
The goal of most seasonal park rangers is to get a permanent position with the National Park Service. Competition for permanent positions can be tough, and seasonal rangers look for ways to learn new skills and build their resume.
Kaitlyn writes about her experience as a ranger on her blog, Twitter and Facebook.
The music for the Park Leaders Show is the creation of Jason Harrod. You can find out more about him here.
If you have listened to the Park Leaders Show for a while, you know Jack Hartt was a mentor of mine while I was a park ranger. It was my conversations with Jack early in my career which led me to believe that you would enjoy hearing similar conversations with leaders from all over the country.
Talking with people from parks is important, but if we are really going to change the landscape of leadership in parks and recreation, we need to step outside of parks too. In this episode, we reach outside the world of parks again and talk with Ray Edwards. Not only is Ray a successful entrepreneur, but he is also a strong supporter of parks.
Just like Jack Hartt taught me so much about the business of parks, Ray Edwards has taught me about the business of business. I am so much better at what I do because of Ray Edwards.
Ray explains what park systems, individual parks, or park employees can do to foster an entrepreneurial spirit.
Ray is the host of The Ray Edwards Show and author of Writing Riches.
Ray recommends Work the System by Sam Carpenter to learn more about implementing systems.
After publishing an episode of the Park Leaders Show every week for 52 weeks, the microphone gets turned around. Jared Easley, host of Starve the Doubts, interviews Jody Maberry, the host of the Park Leaders Show.
The usual host of the show answers questions about his career and what Park Leaders is all about..
Jared Easley helped Park Leaders get started by helping the host get started in podcasting. He was the obvious choice to be a guest host of this special episode of the Park Leaders Show.
You can subscribe to the Park Leaders Show on iTunes and Stitcher Radio.
For several summers, with the help of a group of tremendous volunteers, I ran a summer concert series at a park I worked at. We delighted park visitors with between six and nine concerts each summer. Concerts are a great way to bring new visitors to the park, provide more to regular visitors, and bridge a connection between the park and the community.
Hosting the concert series, I got to meet many great musicians. Often, they would eat dinner with my family and spend the night at our house. One musician, Dana Lyons, caught my attention because of his devotion to parks and wild places.
Dana Lyons is best known for his song Cows With Guns, but his heart is found in songs with a message.
In this episode of the Park Leaders Show, Dana and I talk about how to put on a great concert in a park, but we also go much deeper than that.
The song, Cows with Guns, was so popular, Dana is still best know today for the song. But it is a small piece of a large, beautiful body of work. How do you handle yourself, and your career, when you one large accomplishment can cast a shadow over your other work?
We also talk about the removal of the Elwa Dam and the wonderful performing artists, Cabiri.
Jack Hartt is deliberate about the experience people have at Deception Pass State Park. He feels a park experience should feel "Park-Like".
Most parks have trees and trails, but it is the experience of the park that brings people back year after year.
In this episode of the Park Leaders Show, Jack Hartt verbally walks us through a park and, area by area, explains what it takes to make a park look and feel like a park.
Whether it is park entrance, restrooms, or park signs, Jack Hartt explains how parks that care can deliver an experience to delight park visitors.
Jack Hartt is now on Twitter. Visit him here and say Hello.
To learn more about Jack Hartt's background, listen to episode 6 of the Park Leaders Show.
Jack is the author of five books, including A Day in the Park with Ranger Jack.
Jeff Goins returns to the Park Leaders Show to discuss his new book, The Art of Work.
The Art of Work is a proven path to discovering what you were meant to do. It is about finding your calling and being who you were meant to be.
The book is wonderful. In my opinion, the best work Jeff Goins has done so far. But I admit, I have a personal connection to this book.
I was fortunate enough to have my story, the story of becoming a park ranger and then walking away to something else, is part of this book.
In this interview, Jeff and I talk about how the story of a park ranger fit into the bigger story of a book about finding your calling. On the surface, you may think a story about becoming a park ranger is about finding a dream job and a calling.
It is bigger than that. Being a park ranger is piece of a full life that led me towards work I was meant to do, including Park Leaders. The story is told beautifully by Jeff Goins and I want you to read it.
Believe me, this is a great book. You don't want to miss the offer for a free copy of the Art of Work. You can get it here.
The first time Jeff Goins was a guest on the Park Leaders Show, I told him that I knew a park would step up and make him a honorary Junior Ranger. So far, no park has come forward to do it. Who can help? Please reach out and let's make Jeff Goins an honorary Junior Ranger.
If you like what you hear from Jeff, you might enjoy his podcast, The Portfolio Life. You can also find Jeff on Twitter and Facebook.
As a young leader, one of the best ways to build yourself is to learn from established leaders. Someone has already made the mistakes you are going to make, wrestled with the decisions you struggle with, and found the success you are looking for.
Bob Krumenaker is one of those established leaders you should get to know. Bob has over 30 years with the National Park Service and currently serves as the Superintendent of Apostle Islands National Lakeshore.
In this episode of the Park Leaders Show, Bob shares his path through the National Park Service and many of the lessons he has learned.
Bob is one of the key members of the Association of National Park Rangers working on the 2016 World Ranger Congress, which will be in Estes Park, Colorado.
Bob recently served a temporary assignment as the superintendent of Everglades National Park. He shares the challenges and opportunity of leaving your home park to serve at a different park on a temporary assignment. Temporary assignments can be a tremendous opportunity for learning and experience.
If you are in the first half of your career, the advice from Bob Krumenaker can help you adjust and consider how to approach your career.
Check here for more information about the World Ranger Congress.
Outdoor recreation is not immune from the growing trend of technology. Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram are all a part of recreation for many people.
A new digital platform, Campstake, is focusing on the digital side of recreation. Brandon Painter, co-founder of Campstake, joins the Park Leaders Show to talk about how the digital side of outdoor recreation can benefit parks.
If you are reading this in email, CLICK HERE to listen to this episode.
The team at Campstake hosts one of the fastest growing Twitter Chats focused on outdoor recreation. #CampChat takes place every Tuesday at 9 PM EST.
You can find out more about Campstake on their website, or by visiting them on Twitter or Facebook. You can also contact Brandon Painter directly at brandon (at) campstake.com.
If you have ever worked a night shift in a park, you have experienced the beauty of night sky. Away from lights, campfires, and digital screens, a night sky is one of the true wonders of many parks.
Not many people get to experience a truly wondrous night sky, but Chad Moore looks at night skies for a living. Chad is the Program Manager for the National Park Service Night Sky Team.
Even if you are not with the National Park Service, the work of the Night Sky Team has great value for your park. Parks have an opportunity, perhaps even an obligation, to protect night skies.
Chad and I will talk about his work with night skies, why the National Park Service has a night sky team, and how individual parks can improve their night skies.
After talking with Chad I considered what have been my most memorable night skies. The two that come to mind are the overwhelming stars at Natural Bridges in Utah. With so many stars, a night sky is anything but dark. I also thought about the first time I saw the northern lights on a camping trip in north central Oregon. And finally, I recall a surprising encounter with nocturnal wildlife. Walking to an outhouse at night while camping at Canyonlands National Park I turned on my headlamp and found a kangaroo rat bouncing right in front of me.
Where was your most memorable night sky? Let’s talk about it. Reach out on Twitter or Facebook, comment on the website or send an email and let me know your night sky story.
Chad Moore preparing for a night sky
If you are interested in night skies, you may enjoy the book The End of Night by Paul Bogard.
You can find the Colorado Plateau Dark Sky Cooperative on Facebook.
You can discover great articles about night skies here.
A common theme from the People of Parks Project has been a frustration with communication between leadership, admin staff, and staff in the field. When I hear the same thing come up often I know we need to lean into it a little bit more.
I know this isn't a problem I could properly address on my own, so I called in the help of some friends. Joining me for a special panel discussion episode of the Park Leaders Show are: Ray Bivens- Director of Delaware State Parks, Eric Watilo- Region Manager with Washington State Parks, and Sarah Milbourne- Park Manager with Maryland State Parks.
Each member of this panel was selected to give the panel three layers of park management to offer insight on how to improve communication. Ray, Eric, and Sarah have also been previous guests on the Park Leaders Show, so I understood they would each offer valuable ideas for you and your park.
You can help shape future episodes of the Park Leaders Show by participating in the People of Parks Project. By answering a couple of short questions, you can help me understand what subjects will be most valuable to offer on the Park Leaders Show.
When I was young my father always had pigeons as pets. I spent plenty of time around his feathered friends. Perhaps that is where my interest in the passenger pigeon came from.
I used to imagine what it must have been like to see the sky go dark when a flock of passenger pigeons flew overhead. When I saw Ben Novak's TEDx Talk about bringing the passenger pigeon back from extinction, I know I had to talk to him.
Ben Novak grew up exploring Theodore Roosevelt National Park. The connection he made with the park when he was young led to his current work to revive the passenger pigeon.
Ben's story is a wonderful story about building a connection to parks. By exploring his favorite National Park he fell in love with what was around him. Consider the impact it may have twenty years from now when you help a kid connect to the park.
Perhaps my favorite thing about Ben is that he chose himself to do this work. He raised his hand and declared he would be the one to devote his life to bringing a beautiful bird back to our parks and forests. Most people who do great work do not wait to be picked. They just stand up and do the work.
If you are interested in Ben's work you can find out more at Revive and Restore and follow The Great Comeback on Facebook.
How to Bring Passenger Pigeons All the Way Back: Ben Novak at TEDxDeExtinction (click to watch on YouTube)
Jeff Goins has made his living with the support of a tribe. The loyal following to his popular blog led to a successful self published book, You Are a Writer.
Now, Jeff is make a living as a writer. His success has come from building a tribe. Jeff even teaches other writers how to build a tribe in his course Tribe Writers.
Jeff Goins joins the Park Leaders Show to discuss how a park can use the tribe concept to build a following of supporters. The idea of a tribe is essential a conversational way of marketing. It allows supporters of your park to be a part of the park, even when they are not at the park.
Jeff has an unexpected connection to parks. As an 18 year old he had a summer job at a park in Illinois. He shares about his experience working in a park and the lessons he learned that have stuck with him to this day. Through his stories, he highlights how you can turn a simple task like "get me a spade" into a learning opportunity.
You will enjoy these books by Jeff Goins: The In-Between and Wrecked.
If you are interested in becoming a better writer, check out Jeff's course Tribe Writers.
Starting from Scratch: How to Build a Platform with Words, Passion, and People (click to watch on YouTube)
Park Rangers are great storytellers. Sean Smith, former National Park Ranger, used the storytelling gift to write a series of thrillers with a park ranger as the hero.
In this episode of the Park Leaders Show, Sean talks about how his time as a ranger led to writing Unleashing Colter's Hell and Lost Cause. Sean tells us why he wrote these stories, and where the inspiration for the main character came from.
Sean also explains how to transition from being a good story teller to being a good writer.
I would be delighted if more rangers wrote. Whether it be books, or blogs, it would be good to see more rangers writing. I know there are some great ranger books out there, and a few ranger blogs. But we need more.
Although no longer a ranger, Sean is a strong supporter of parks and recently gave a TEDx talk about why we should protect national parks. This Ted talk is how I discovered Sean.
You can connect with Sean on his blog, Twitter, or Facebook
Do you have a favorite park ranger book, or ranger blog? If so, reach out and let me know. I want to discover more rangers who are writers.
Recommended Resources
Sean Smith Books: Unleashing Colter's Hell and Lost Cause
Creating Disney Magic on iTunes and Stitcher Radio.
Tribe Writers - Writing course from Jeff Goins.
Why protect national parks? | Sean Smith | TEDxSpokane (click to watch on YouTube)
Phil Gaines, Director of South Carolina State Parks, returns to the Park Leaders Show to follow up on his first interview.
In this second interview, Phil talks about the Ultimate Outside program. The Ultimate Outsider program turns visitors into insiders by getting them into all 47 State Parks in South Carolina. Phil Gaines knows once people get out to explore parks, they will make a connection. It is through connections that parks remain relevant in the lives of the citizens of the state.
When a citizen has a connection to a park, they will protect it, promote it, and continue to visit.
Phil also offers advice on how to keep your focus and remember why you work in parks, when times are tough or you work with a park manager you do not get along with.
Just like connecting visitors to our parks, you need to reconnect with the reason why you work for parks. Get outside, do more of the parts of the job you love. As Phil says, "If you get paid in sunsets, and you are not taking in those sunsets, you are not getting your full check."
Phil also reminds us that parks were built in hard times and this is when we do our best work.
When I began my career as a park ranger at Riverside State Park, Jack Hartt would often tell me how lucky he was to the park manager. He convinced me Riverside was the best park in Washington State. I believed him. I followed his lead and proclaimed there was not a better park in the state.
Then, Jack became the manager of Deception Pass State Park. He began preaching that Deception Pass was the best park in the state. I almost felt insulted. Riverside was the best park, clearly. And Jack Hartt could no longer be trusted, I thought.
Now, after talking to Phil Gaines, I understand what happened. Phil Gaines is the Director of South Carolina State Parks. Phil believes your park is the most important park.
Phil explains how you become connected to your park by living and working, surrounded by the beauty. You become passionate about what is around you and believe your park is indeed the most important park.
Phil may serve as a Director, but his heart is still in the field. He visits each State Park in South Carolina every year and connects with the staff and visitors.
Phil also discusses the State Parks Leadership School, a cooperative effort of America's State Parks to develop the next generation of leaders.
When you think of City Parks, what comes to mind?
I imagine you don't think of 29,000 acres and 5,000 individual properties in a single City Park System. That is how much property New York city Parks is responsible for.
In an environment that makes me think of skyscrapers and concrete, NYC Parks account for 14% of the city. Managing that much property surrounded by so many people is no easy task.
Sarah Aucoin, Director of Urban Rangers with NYC Parks
Sarah Aucoin is the Director of Urban Rangers for NYC Parks. She is responsible for the team of rangers who patrol and protect the 29,000 acres of parks throughout the city.
In this episode of the Park Leaders Show, Sarah Aucoin discusses how she keeps her team unified with the challenge of having a big team spread out.
Sarah also discusses how NYC Parks connects parks to citizens to foster an interest in nature. Urban parks and green space are important to generate interest in nature that will translate to care for bigger parks. Quite often, a connection to local parks leads to a connection in state and national parks.
Sarah will give you new ideas on how to connect people who don't usually visit parks to build a connection to nature.
You can find the Park Leaders Show on iTunes and Stitcher Radio.
December 2014 marks the 100th anniversary of the death of John Muir. Muir passed away on December 24th, 1914. His last fight was to save the Hetch Hetchy valley. If you are not familiar with John Muir and the Hetch Hetchy Valley, I am going to spoil the story for you. The valley is under water. Flooded behind a dam to create a water reservoir for San Francisco.
The Hetch Hetchy was reported to be as beautiful as Yosemite Valley. When speaking of Hetch Hetchy, John Muir said it was “a grand landscape garden. One of nature’s rarest and most precious mountain temples.”
Now, a century after the death of Jon Muir, the fight for Hetch Hetchy is going to come alive again. Robert Hanna is going to pick up the torch Muir carried to save the valley. Hanna reminds me of the water behind the dam. He is gentle, but can apply so much pressure he can move a mountain.
Robert Hanna has shown once before what can happen when he applies pressure. California was going to solve budget problems by closing 70 state parks. Hanna stepped in and became a key figure in keeping the parks open. Just like water, Hanna can shape an outcome with a constant drip, or an all out flood.
It was Hanna’s work with keeping state parks open that caught my attention. But after talking with him, I know his fight to reclaim Hetch Hetchy is going to be a great story.
In itself, the fight for the valley is a good cause. But now, 100 years after the death of John Muir, the charge is being led by Robert Hanna, who is the great great grandson of John Muir.
Robert Hanna founded a clothing company, Range of Light, based on the principles of John Muir.
As a leader you have a responsibility to continue to get better. There is one area in particular though, where I think you need to improve and you may not have considered it.
If you are a leader, you need to write great email.
Email? Isn’t Park Leaders about parks?
Yes, of course Park Leaders is about parks, but it is also about leadership. And if you are going to be a leader and have an impact, you need to get better at email. In fact, you need to write great email.
Once you write great email, you are going to notice you are getting more done. You are going to notice you are getting better responses to the emails you send. And you are going to notice you do not need to spend as much time with email.
It is easier than you think to write great email. You can write great email by focusing on three areas: Subject Line, Opening Sentence, and White Space.
Subject Line: Consider the subject line as important as a headline for a newspaper. Inboxes get filled up quick. The first thing someone does when they open their email is to scan the subject lines of all the email. You need to use a subject line that gets attention.
I’m not saying use a crazy subject line, like I found a live Muskrat in the Bathtub, unless it is true. Use a subject line that gives useful information to the reader. Don’t use in a generic fill in the blank subject line like “Hey” or “Monday”. If you are sending an email about an upcoming meeting, don’t just make the subject line “Meeting”. Include useful information right in the subject line. An example would be “What you need to know about our 2:30 meeting”. This subject line lets the reader know the information in the email is useful and timely. They will open this email.
Opening Sentence: People skim email. When someone opens your email they quickly browse through it trying to pick out why you sent the email. Are you telling them something they need to know? Are you asking them for something? People want to know right away, so do them a favor and put it right up front.
An email consists of two parts, the Ask and the Information. Or it could be the Response and the Information. Usually, people front load an email with information and stick the Ask at the end. If you are asking something, ask in the first sentence.
By putting the Ask up front, and the information second, the reader will know what to do with the information. If I know what you are asking, I will know if the information is applicable. If I don’t know what you are asking, I will have to reread the email after I find out what you are asking. There could even be times when the information is not needed, or it can be saved to reference at a later time. Even when the information is needed at the time, it is useful to read it in the context of the ask.
White Space: The more white you see in your email, the better. Remember I mentioned people scan email. You know they are going to skim, so make it easier for them. When you include white space, eyes can quickly move from one sentence to the next. Information can be plucked out quickly. It is easier to read and reread email with white space.
Select nearly any article or blogpost on the internet and you will see how the author used white space. I am sure you receive email that has big blob of text. A whole bunch of words in a single paragraph. If you are like me, you move on and save that email for later. Or you never read it. Using white space will help your emails get read.
Work on these three steps, and you will soon be writing great email.
If you are going to be in a leadership position, writing great email is important.
If you apply what you read here show you can write great email. But if you want to go deeper and learn in better detail, with examples and exercises, you will find the Park Leaders Guide to Effective Email to be a tremendous help.
The guide does not only cover the three elements of a great email, but there are also examples of great email and awful email, with a breakdown of what made it great or bad. There is also a section full of tips for great email. There is a section on using email to become more productive. There is a section on using email as a tool for team work. And there is a section about when you should not send an email. Understanding when not to use email could be one of the most important aspects of email.
I promise you will get a lot out of the Park Leaders Guide to Effective Email. You can find out more about the guide here.
Have you heard anyone suggest our country should bring back the Civilian Conservation Corps?
I have. And I agree, it would be a good thing for our country. But the Conservation Corps never went away. It just looks different.
Mary Ellen Sprenkel, President and CEO of The Corps Network, joins the Park Leaders Show to discuss the work of the Corps Programs. The Corps Network is the national voice and advocate for the Corps Programs across the country.
In this episode, Mary Ellen explains the important work done by Corps Programs and the impact they have on youth. She also discusses the benefit of the projects done by the Corps.
The Corps Network is the tie that holds the Corps Programs together from all the states together. The organization provides training, communication, and centralized leadership. They also offer an annual conference in Washington D.C. You can learn more about the conference here.
If you are interested in the work of the original Civilian Conservation Corps, former Park Leaders Show guest, Jack Hart, wrote a book about the CCC in Washington State. Two Hands and a Shovel examines how the CCC built Deception Pass State Park.
Park signs are an important piece of park management. Typically, a visitor interacts with signs more often than they do with park staff. The words on signs create an identity for the park.
How many parks take the time to review signs to consider the identity they create through signs?
For this episode, Mike Kim joins the Park Leaders Show to review park signs to talk about how to create great park signs. Mike Kim is a marketing consultant, professional copywriter, and brand strategist. He is also a Chief Marketing Officer for a multi-million dollar private company in the New York City area.
In most parks, consideration is given to placement of signs and amount of signs, but how often do we consider the words we put on signs? Mike reviews three park signs and discuses, from a marketing perspective, the impact and perception of each signs. Along the way, he offers advice on how to create great signs.
After reviewing park signs, we move to discuss other writing that can impact a park visitor. Mike also offers tips on writing better event flyers and park brochures.
With an event flyer, you should use a nice photograph and a catching headline. This will capture attention and get the reader to pick up your flyer and read the content. The rest of the text should use descriptive words to draw the read in.
Brochures can help visitors get more out of their experience at your park. Don't use a brochure to give facts and information. Tell a story, paint a picture, and let the visitor know what kind of experience they will have at the park.
Mike Kim reminds us that everything we say (including signs), and everything we do, is our brand.
Below are the three signs reviewed in this episode of the Park Leaders Show. All three signs are from different parks in different states.
This sign is an entrance sign to a State Park:
This sign is at the entrance to a park campground:
This sign is on a large information board at a trail head:
You can subscribe to the Park Leaders Show in iTunes and Stitcher Radio.
This episode of the Park Leaders Show is a part two of sorts. My interview with Kelli English was so wonderful and long that I broke it into two parts. The first part of our conversation was about interpretation and storytelling. You can find it here.
With the second half of our interview, Kelli talks about growing up in the south side of Chicago and how she ended up telling stories as an interpreter in Yellowstone National Park. She also discusses the different perspective she has being an African American interpreter. She is aware of the stories told in parks that can connect different communities to parks. Stories that are not mainstream can have a tremendous impact on the people who hear them.
Communities of color are interested in hearing the same stories other visitors are interested in hearing, but they also want to hear stories about their history when it is present in the park.
Kelli shares stories that may open your eyes to why parks have not always been open and welcoming to all people. Discriminatory attitudes and practices from the past still have a deep impact on perceptions and use of parks today.
Our National, State and local parks are the caretakers of American History. We have an obligation to tell stories, good and bad, that have impacted our life. Kelli offers insight into how and why we should share even the negative stories of our past.
Kelli discusses an exhibit that changed her life. The book about the exhibit is Without Sanctuary by James Allen and John Lewis.
Kelli English is the Chief of Interpretation for four National Park Units in the Bay Area of California, including John Muir National Historic Site. She has spent her career as a park ranger interpreting stories to park visitors. Now, she interprets to interpreters. She admits, even though her job leans towards administration, she still finds opportunities to tell a story to park visitors.
Kelli grew up on the south side of Chicago and ended up telling stories in Yellowstone National Park. Her stellar interpretation earned accolades in 2005 when she was awarded the 2005 Outstanding New Interpreter award from the National Association of Interpretation.
In this interview, Kelli discusses how to infuse your personality into the stories of your park and where to begin gathering stories if you are new to a park.
Kelli also examines the differences in interpreting a wilderness park, like Yellowstone, compared to a historical park.
It is through interpretation that we help visitors find a connection with the park. When a visitor has a connection with the park, they will care more and become invested in the park.
You can hear the second half of the interview with Kelli English HERE.
David Flores may not be who you would expect to pour his talent and research into outdoor recreation and conservation.
Typically, someone who devotes their career to parks, recreation, or conservation grew up playing and exploring in the outdoors. David Flores did not recreation in parks and forests when he was a kid. Yet, he is now a research social scientist with the US Forest Service.
How did that happen?
As he graduated with a PHD, Flores was connected to the Forest Service through the Presidential Management Fellowship Program. Working for the Forest Service allowed David to continue to focus on research, and he found that appealing.
Now, Flores realizes the power of spending time outdoors and the connection people have with the land. His research is focused on human dimension issues related to the land, such as urban planning, climate change, rural life, and ecological change.
As part of his research, David meets people who make a living on the land and listens to their stories. In this interview, David shares what he has learned during his research. We discuss the importance of parks to a community and what he has learned about urban green space.
Given his background, David offers unique insight how parks can connect with people who have not grown up with access to, or interest in, recreating outdoors.
You can subscribe to the Park Leader Show on iTunes here and Stitcher Radio here.
Bradley Fauteux is the Managing Director of Ontario Parks, and the first international guest of the Park Leaders Show.
After a stint as a professional musician, Bradley began a career in Government and has become the ultimate generalist. Fauteux had been working towards the job of Managing Director for ten years. He spent those years acquiring the skills he would need for the job and building a network of friends, colleagues, and acquaintances to learn from.
Fauteux is only the fourth person to serve as Managing Director of Ontario Parks. He is also the Chairman of the Canadian Parks Council.
Fauteux discusses some of the programs Ontario Parks has had success with:
Learn to Camp program helps first time campers learn the basics so they can enjoy the outdoors. Nine Thousand campers have participated in the the program with 75% rate of return and 98% satisfaction rate. The Learn to Camp program won the Provincial Tourism Innovator of the Year Award.
The Life Jacket Loaner program designed to prevent drowning by providing life jackets to people going in the water at more than 60 parks. Both programs are backed by generous corporate sponsors.
The leadership program is an intensive 1-week program where colleagues get together and work through leadership challenges. This is an investment in leadership to ensure Ontario Parks will have great leaders across the organization.
Fauteux offers this wisdom to leaders:
• When pursuing a job, know the people, values, mission statement, and priorities to show you are committed and mature enough to lead. Prior to a job interview, you should have already become a known commodity through networking.
• Once you have a leadership position you should seek advice and listen, learn about the people you work with, and make sure people understand your values.
• Hire staff based on engagement, preparation, commitment, creativity, and awareness. You want to hire someone you would want to follow.
Recently, I was talking to a park manager who told me someone on his team was looking for mentoring opportunities. It got me thinking about mentors and how important a mentor was to my career, especially early when I was new to being a park ranger.
I realize not everyone is fortunate enough to get a mentor early in their career, but listen, friend, you do not need to rely on a mentor. Not in the way you think you need a mentor.
There are mentor opportunities all around. You don’t need to feel alone because you don’t have a mentor.
There are five types of mentors available.
Classic Mentors: A classic mentor is what you think of when you think of a mentor. It is a single person who invests in you and your development.
I was lucky to have a classic mentor in Jack Hartt, who was the manager at the first park I worked at. Jack took the time to spend lunch breaks with me, go for walks in the park with me, and answer questions nearly whenever I had them.
Academic Mentor: An academic mentor is someone who mentors you through the content they produce. Books are an obvious way to connect with an academic mentor. For $20, you can spend hours with a mentor and get some of their best advice. Don’t discount this idea. Pick a book, and take in the words with the same weight you would a classic mentor. If you take in a book with the idea of consuming the words, not for entertainment, but to learn and grow and change, it can have the same impact as spending the same amount of time with a classic mentor.
Situational Mentor: A situational mentor is someone who mentors you through a certain situation. If you need to improve a skill, perhaps you can find a situational mentor to help you improve. If you are having a tough time with an employee, you can find someone else who has been through the situation. If you are hiring an employee for the first time, or going for a promotion yourself, you can find a situational mentor to help you out.
Shadow Mentor: A shadow mentor is simply someone you observe. For example, you watch your park manager or superintendent with a deliberate eye towards how they handle situations and how they deal with people. They key here to you have to be deliberate in watching and analyzing what they do and how they do it.
Anti-Mentor: Having an anti-mentor may sound strange and something you want to say away from. But listen, if you find yourself working for a bad boss, you can grumble about it and have a lousy time. Or, you can use a bad boss as a mentor. An anti-mentor. Let them mentor you on what not to do.
Those are the five types of mentors, but don’t overlook the value of friendships. You can learn so much just from the people you hang out with.
Listen to the episode to go in depth with each type of mentor.
Diversity has been a consistent topic on the Park Leaders Show. For this episode, three former guests of the show return to have a panel discussion about diversity.
Teresa Baker (founder of African American National Parks Day), Jose Gonzalez (founder of Latino Outdoors) and John Griffith (crew supervisor with the California Conservation Corps) team up to form the first Park Leaders Panel.
Together, they discuss why a gap exists between parks and communities of color, how one person can make a difference, and how we can connect urban youth to National Parks far away from their home.
After listening to this panel discussion, if you have any questions for the panel members, please leave a comment here on the show notes page, and they will respond.
John Griffith has become well known for his dancing videos on YouTube. Just for fun, below is a video of John dancing:
Dance Excerpt from the video "Wildlife: Our Low Maintenance Pets." (click to watch on YouTube)
Lee Cockerell returns to the Park Leaders Show to discuss customer service. Lee examines takes a deeper look at nine of the thirty-nine essential rules for delivering sensational service from his book The Customer Rules.
In this episode, we discuss the following nine customer rules;
- Become an expert at creating experts.
- Treat customers the way you would treat your loved ones.
- Be a copycat.
- Fish where the fishermen ain't.
- Serve to WIN.
- Don't give the responsibility without the authority.
- Never, ever argue with a customer.
- Apologize like you really mean it.
- Don't try too hard.
Two episodes of the Park Leaders Show have discussed the Conservation Corps. Ray Bivens is a true Conservation Corps success story. Ray Bivens began his outdoor career with the Maryland Conservation Corps. That experience led him into a career in Parks and Recreation. At only 38 years old, Ray became the Director of Delaware State Parks.
Ray has an entrepreneurial view of parks. He understands parks compete with other forms of recreation. In order to get visitors to a park, and entice them to return, you have to give them a reason. Make a park enjoyable, fun, and deliver a little WOW. He says Parks are in the "Forever Business" and believes if you can't get the business part of parks right, you can't get the stewardship part right either. Running parks properly allows you to fulfill your mission.
Ray talks about the importance of making the most out of opportunities, his role of Director, balancing your career and family, and hiring new team members.
As inspiration for up and coming leaders, Ray shares the Seven Secrets of Good Interpretation by Bob Jennings. Ray points out you can remove the word interpretation and replace it with Park Ranger or Park Manager and have a guide to help you do your job better.
- Love what you are doing and don't be afraid to show it.
- Know your subject and keep trying to learn more about it.
- Develop ways to keep yourself and your presentation fresh.
- Remember the little things.
- Don't be afraid to try something different.
- Listen.
- Go back to #1.
Valerie Naylor is the recipient of the 2013 Stephen T. Mather Award for her steadfast leadership and persistent dedication to National Parks. Her persistent dedication has been put to the test against industrial pressure from the Bakken Oil Boom on the borders of Theodore Roosevelt National Park.
For the past four years, managing this beautiful national park has been an exercise in relentless dedication to monitor the intrusion of industry towards the border of the park. Ranger Naylor has negotiated with oil companies to minimize intrusion on the border and view from within the park.
After building a reputation for being relentless, respectful, and tenacious in protecting the park, Valerie is retiring from the National Park Service on October 31st.
Ranger Naylor shares a story about the time Theodore Roosevelt spent in the Badlands of North Dakota, within what is now the National Park which holds his name. This story reminds us that every park is to someone what the Badlands were to Theodore Roosevelt. Each park has the potential to change someone's life. Knowing that, how can you not put all you have into making your park the best it can be?
Valeria Naylor gets that. And that is why, come November 1st, it is going to feel like something is missing from the National Park Service.
Personal accountability is the foundation of leadership. If you don't get personal accountability right, nothing else in leadership works as well as it should.
This is why QBQ by John G. Miller is one of the most important leadership books I have read. I read this book at lease once each year and have given more copies of this book away than any other book.
QBQ stands for the Question Behind the Question. Asking the right questions will change your outlook and give you personal accountability for any situation.
In this episode, John explains how asking the right questions can lead us to greater personal accountability and better leadership. Practicing QBQ principles will have a ripple effect in your leadership, productivity, and even your family life.
If you have not read QBQ, consider doing so. You can buy it here. It will change your view on your job and the role you play.
Jason Harrod provided the music for the Park Leaders Show.
Naomi Torres is included on Richard Rojas' short list of All Star Champions of change. When someone makes it onto a list like that, I know I want to talk to her.
Naomi is the Superintendent of the Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail. She began her career as in interpreter at Alcatraz and has spent her career with the National Park Service in the Bay Area of California.
As the Superintendent of a trail which passes through property and jurisdictions outside of National Park Service property, Naomi has developed and maintained many healthy partnerships.
Naomi also discusses the need for Parks to reach out to communities of color. If we don't reach out the communities, the faces seen working or recreating in our parks will not become more diverse.
As I talk to leaders and managers from parks, Disney came up more than once as a source parks could look to for best practices and new ideas on how to operate a park.
I took the hint and brought Disney to the Park Leaders Show.
Lee Cockerell is the former Executive Vice President of Operations for Walt Disney World. Lee was responsible for training 7,000 leaders at Walt Disney World. Imagine the challenge of training 7,000 leaders to carry the same mission and values out into the work force.
Although retired, Lee still teaches at the Disney Institute and gives presentations all over the world. He is the author of Creating Magic and The Customer Rules. These books give a look at leadership and customer service from inside Disney.
If you are serious about leadership and improving your culture, this is an important episode of the The Park Leaders Show. Lee discusses hiring, how the values of Disney are lived by thousands employees, and what it takes to be successful.
If you are reading this in email click here to listen to the episode.
Lee Cockerell, Leadership Speaker - Demo Video (click to watch on YouTube)
Sarah Milbourne recently became the Park Manager of Rocky Gap State Park in Maryland. Sarah is the product of a Park System which invests in employees.
She bursts with enthusiasm for her agency, her park, and her new role as Manager.
Sarah discusses the transition of becoming a Park Manager at a park where she already worked as a Park Ranger. She explains her desire and push to become a Park Manager and what she learned along the way. Sarah offers great insight to anyone who aspires to become a Park Manager. We also discuss how Maryland State Parks works to build employees early in their career so they can reach their potential.
Maryland State Parks also has assists their employees recognize and embrace diversity in park visitors. Through training and a deliberate culture built by Maryland State Parks, Sarah views her role, and her park, as a piece of a whole agency working towards the same goal.
If you are reading this in email click here to listen to the episode.
If you use iTunes, you can find the Park Leaders Show here.
I have been a lifelong fan of Smokey Bear. This month, August 2014, Smokey Bear celebrates his 70th birthday. Imagine that. Smokey has been with us since the Second World War.
Seventy years of grandfatherly advice about wildfires. Seventy years of raising awareness of the impact of fire. Seventy years of standing on the roadside alerting you of the fire hazard. Seventy years of watching over us and protecting our natural resources.
As a child I looked up to Smokey. As a Park Ranger I bonded with Smokey as we were both stewards of the forest. As a wildland firefighter I appreciate the hard work Smokey put towards fighting the same battle.
Fred Hernandez, Acting National Fire Prevention Coordinator for the US Forest Service, joins me to talk about Smokey and his lifelong mission to raise awareness about wildfires.
You may be surprised to learn some of the history behind Smokey Bear. Fred talks about why Smokey was created, where his name came from, the story of Smokey Bear who lived in the National Zoo, and why Smokey's tag line changed to "Only you can prevent Wildfires.
There are many ways to get in touch with Smokey. You can find him on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, and of course Smokey has his own website. Smokey is so popular he even has his own zip code. You can send a letter directly to Smokey at; Smokey Bear Washington, DC 20252
If you are reading this in email, click here to listen to the episode.
This episode features a special song performed by The Wild Ponies.
Smokey Bear - Bearhug (click to watch on YouTube)
For this episode, I invited a guest to return and we took questions from park rangers in the field.
So far, the most listened to episode has been Don't Let the Park Define You with Commander Bill Overby. I invited Bill back because you like him, and because he has a heart for both State and National Parks. As Commander of the Parks Law Enforcement Academy in Mount Vernon, WA, he is connected to the young rangers as they begin their career.
He has been the commander for over a decade and spent over thirty years as a Park Ranger with Washington State Parks. If something could happen to a Park Ranger, he has seen it, done it, or dealt with the consequences of someone else doing it. To tap into his wisdom, we took a couple of questions from Park Rangers and answered them on the Park Leaders Show. We also dug in deep and talked about the topic beyond the questions.
We explore the idea of having fun while working at a park. Can you have fun and still be professional?
We also discuss integrity when filling out applications for park service jobs. Commander Overby feels strongly about this and he will explain why.
You may not know this, but I hold a record at the Law Enforcement Academy. Ten years after I was a cadet no one has matched what I did. Commander Overby discusses my accomplishment and why he thinks no one else will be able to match it.
If you are reading this in email click here to hear the episode.
Each year, the National Park Service asks Rangers to single out one ranger who epitomizes the Ranger ethic. Believe me, there are so many rangers who could be help up as an example of excellence on the job. So when one ranger is selected to receive the Harry Yount Award for Excellence, you know this is someone special.
My guest today, Tom Betts, is the most recent recent recipient Harry Yount Award. Tom Betts is the Chief Ranger at Bandelier National Monument in New Mexico. If I were to exaggerate everything you think of a Park Ranger, I would almost be able to describe Tom.
Tom has protected park visitors and resources during volcano eruptions, wild land fires, earthquakes, floods, snowstorms, wildlife encounters, and search and rescue missions. He has conducted patrols via foot, truck, boat, helicopter, raft, ATV, skis, snowmobile, horseback, and airplane.
Stephen Mather, the first director of the National Park Service, said this about park rangers,
"They are a fine, earnest, intelligent, and public spirited body of men, these rangers. Though small in number, their influence is large. Many and long are the duties heaped upon their shoulders. If a trail is to be blazed, it is 'send a ranger.' If an animal is floundering in the snow, a ranger is sent to pull him out; if a bear is in the hotel, if a fire threatens a forest, if someone is to be saved, it is 'send a ranger.' If a Dude wants to know the why, if a Sagebrusher is puzzled about a road, it is 'ask the ranger.' Everything the ranger knows, he will tell you, except about himself."
I am convinced he was talking about Tom Betts. Now, I know Tom would not want me saying this about him. When I first asked him to be on the Park Leaders Show, he told me he has spent the last 32 years trying to stay out of the spot light. He was gracious enough to be a guest on the Park Leaders Show and now his secret is out.
Tom talks about his career with the National Park Service, the story of meeting his wife at the Grand Canyon, and offers advice to up and coming leaders in the park system.
If you are reading this in email click here to listen to the episode.
When you want to talk about youth involved in parks and recreation, the best place to start is with the Corps Network. I have become fond of the Corps Network and they work they do. Not just the work for parks and conservation, but the work they do in the lives of young people.
One of those young people who made the most of her time with the Corps is Ruby Simonian. Ruby glows with excitement about her time with the California Conservation Corps. She gives the Corps credit for building her confidence, skills, and experience. Prior to becoming involved in the CCC, Ruby was not motivated to do much with her future. When she left the Corps, she felt she could have an impact on the world.
Ruby's hard work with the Corps did not go unnoticed. She was awarded 2014 Corpsmember of the Year.
Ruby offers advice to leaders on how to connect with youth working in their parks. She also talks about John Griffith, and the impact he had on her time with the Corps. She holds John up as an example of how leaders can work with youth.
If you are reading this in email, click here to listen to the podcast.
Marty Huseman is the Chief Ranger at Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area. Her career with the National Park Service has taken her all over the country.
As she began her career, she was advised to take a job at a park most people have not heard of. She followed that advice and became a Park Ranger at Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area.
Marty's interest in developing the next generation of Park Ranger's led her to become involved in the Park's Law Enforcement Academy with Bill Overby. Marty was a founding member of the National Park Service Honor Guard.
In this interview Marty talks about her career and path to becoming a Chief Ranger. She also outlines the structure of National Park and the roles of different staff. We also discuss whether parks is a man's world and the challenges Marty has faced being a female Park Ranger.
Resources
• OPM Leadership Competencies
Ray Murray could be considered an environmental elder. He has been working in the field of parks, recreation, and conservation for decades. Ray is currently the Partnerships Program Chief for the Pacific West Region of the National Park Service.
In this interview, Ray shares the biggest changes he has seen during his time with the National Park Service. Ray talks about the traits of successful park managers, what a successful partnerships looks like, and advice for up and coming leaders.
Ray feels the biggest challenge facing parks is remaining relevant. As the world changes outside of park boundaries, parks have had trouble keeping up. Ray understands parks can not rely on people who look like him, recreate like him, or act like him. Parks needs to reach into urban areas, connect across generations, and be available for people of all income levels.
Ray's wisdom can help new rangers and veterans alike.
I have had the opportunity to talk to many people about why they became a park ranger. Each story is personal and unique, but the answer Amanda Llanes gave really stood out.
Amanda was a cadet at Skagit Valley College Parks Law Enforcement Academy when we introduced by Commander Bill Overby. She was attending the academy on a scholarship from Hawaii Pacific Parks Association. Commander Overby thought her story was worth sharing.
She has taken on the responsibility of representing two cultures, both trying to accomplish something through preserving land and culture.
When I asked her why she wanted to be a park ranger, she said she wanted to be a hero. You see, to Amanda, anyone who protects the environment and culture is a hero.
I hope her message reaches anyone who works in parks, no matter your position or how long you have been serving.
This interview with Amanda took place while she was a cadet at the Academy. I hope to interview Amanda periodically during her career so we can all follow how she develops. Her career can give us real examples of the challenges and pleasures a ranger will face early in her career. And I hope to get excellent examples of leaders having an impact on her development.
Below is the entire graduation ceremony from the Skagit Valley College Parks Law Enforcement Academy. It is long, but you will hear plenty about Amanda during the ceremony. She wins several awards, get recognition from the Commander and fellow cadets. Amanda also does a cultural presentation to the Commander and other leaders.
Skagit Valley College's PLEA Graduation of 2014 (click to watch on YouTube)
During a camping trip at Maumee Bay State Park I watched as the park prepared for a Fourth of July celebration. Small flags lined the entrance road to the campground. Every campsite had an individual flag. Volunteers were meeting to discuss the plan for a bike parade the next day.
Watching this made me consider the impact preparation can have on a park.
Park Ranger Joseph Felgenhauer taught me about the impact of preparation and the importance of interpreting an experience. During one hike along the Little Spokane River, while leading a group of school kids, Joseph taught me the following things;
Use words to guide and experience. Ranger Felgenhauer used words to lead his guests to discover and learn.
Encourage people to participate. Ranger Felgenhauer encouraged kids to touch everything they came across on the trail.
Point out what you want people to see. A customer could miss something outstanding if you don't point it out to them.
Know what your customers are going to see, feel, and experience. Ranger Felgenhauer knew every turn and curve his guest would walk on the interpretive hike.
Preparation trumps knowledge. Preparation can leave you in a position to adjust to anything that may arise.
Nothing beats preparation. Don't leave people your visitors to have a good time on their own. Prepare for it.
There is no substitute for WOW. Ranger Felgenhauer WOWed his guest. The WOW is what they will remember, not the weather or the beautiful trees.
Resources
Riverside State Park
Grand Canyon Shaped Over Time: Ranger Minute (Geology) (click to watch on YouTube)
Consider your last visits to our National Parks. Just pick one, Yellowstone, Yosemite, Glacier, or Mount Ranier. How many African-American faces did you see on your visit?
Even better, when was the last time you saw an African-American face under the flat hat?
It is clear there is a piece missing if the faces you see could combine into a puzzle.
Teresa Baker is trying to change that. She would like to see more faces like hers when she visits National Parks.
Not content to sit back and wish, she learned forward to do her part. She founded African-American National Parks Day, which is gaining momentum in its second year. Despite the gaining popularity of this event, her hope is that the event is not even needed in five years.
Teresa and I talk about this special day, and then we go deeper. We talk about why we don’t see more African-Americans recreating in our parks and how parks can connect better with the African-American community. I also ask Teresa some uncomfortable questions, and she gives honest answers you are going to want to here.
Resources
• African American National Parks Day • Outdoor Afro
Former Washington State Parks Director, Rex Derr, told me about the State Parks Leadership School. This School was founded by the National Association of State Park Directors. Upon learning more about the school, I knew anyone who attended would likely be a good guest for the Park Leaders Show.
I called a few people who attended but only heard back from one. Matt O'Quinn, park manager of Powhatan State Park in Virginia, called me back and recommended I speak with Austin Bradley, the manager of Breaks Interstate Park.
It was a great recommendation. Austin Bradley is a sharp guy. He is an MBA with a sharp business sense, a passion for the outdoors, and discipline of a law enforcement officer. Austin manages a unique park, with land in both Virginia and Kentucky.
Austin Bradley and I discuss the challenges of his park, how to position yourself for a promotion, and ideas to keep in mind as your park is faced with budget cuts. Austin explains how parks are in the business of people.
Resources
• State Parks Leadership School • Breaks Interstate Park • Last Child in the Woods by Richard Louv
Chris Brogan may not be who you expect to talk about parks.
Chris is is an adviser and strategist to professionals and owners. He is a New York Times best selling author of seven books, including The Freaks Shall Inherit the Earth. He is a sought after key note speaker and has been on the Dr. Phil show. He has consulted with companies like Disney, Coke, Pepsi, Google, Motorola, and more.
So what does advise does Chris Brogan have for parks?
"(Parks) should be business minded. And you should be much more outgoing in explaining what other values you can add to the service."**
Parks all across the country are feeling the budget pinch, and a typical response is the cut expenses and raise fees. Those drastic measures are what is interpreted as "act like a business".
Chris wants you to look another direction. Add value. Make it about the customer.
He explains people don't spend money just to spend money. They are not going to give money because your park has a tight budget. They want something in return. They want you to make their experience more valuable.
During our interview Chris also talks about where to find ideas (not at other parks), how to work for a boss, and why you should master the art of an apology.
Chris also uses the word "delicious" when talking about service. Would you consider the service you offer to be delicious?
You can find out more about Chris and his newest book here. I encourage you to sign up for Chris' newsletter. It will be one of the best things to show up in your mailbox all week. When you get the first newsletter, reply to Chris and let him know you heard him on the Park Leaders Show.
Resources
• Music by Jason Harrod • The Freaks Shall Inherit the Earth by Chris Brogan • Owner Magazine • Sign up for Chris Brogan's Newsletter • Chris Brogan on Twitter •Seven Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey
I know Park Leaders is on a roll when I end up talking with someone like Richard Rojas. It is a sign to me the dots are starting to connect. I was introduced to Mr. Rojas through Jose Gonzalez of Latino Outdoors. I was introduced to Jose through John Griffith of the California Conservation Corps. Unexpectedly talking with Richard Rojas was like stumbling onto a treasure chest. He is a wealth of knowledge and wisdom about park management, and the issue parks are faced with.
Richard Rojas had a 32 year career with California State Parks. He rose through the ranks, beginning as a Park Ranger, promoted to Supervising Ranger, Park Superintendent, Chief Ranger, and finally served as District Superintendent for the Channel Coast District from 2000-2007.
We talk about diversity, of course since Richard came to be known as the "diversity guy" in California State Parks. But it would not be right to stick to a single topic when talking with someone who has as much experience and wisdom as Richard Rojas.
We talk about hiring and managing staff, the need for parks to be more flexible, and what other park systems can learn from the California State Park system.
Richard also shares what question he would ask a job candidate if he could only ask a single question. You don't want to miss his answer. He also challenges us to consider what our legacy will be.
Resources
• California State Parks • Latino Outdoors • Parks Forward
At Park Leaders we examine issues relevant for park leaders. We have heard from more than one guest on the Park Leaders Show about how important volunteers are to the vitality of parks. There are steps you can take to ensure you get the most out of working with volunteers and they get value from working with you too.
I recently read a quote that stood out;
“As a Leader, one must sometimes take actions that are unpopular, or whose results will not be known for years to come. They are victories whose glory lies only in the fact they are known only to those who win them.”
This struck me so much I wrote it down so I could reflect on it. I realized it applied to the work we are doing in parks. The results of our work may not be known for years to come, or perhaps never be known at all.
It is easy to think of someone like Jose Gonzalez and the work he is doing with Latino Outdoors. He is in the big arena, fighting to make a difference for relationship between Latinos and Parks. But all victories do not have to be big to be glorious.
No matter your role in parks, you are experiencing little victories that advance our mission. Whether you are a park manager balancing a tight budget and a thin staff, a park ranger still learning the ropes, a corps member building a trail, or a volunteer doing work the public may never see, you know the glory of your victories. They may only be small victories right now, but it is the start of something bigger.
Working with volunteers was one of the true delights of the last two years of my ranger career. I worked with a wide variety of people from all over the country, each with the own unique story. The park I worked at consistently registered more than 20,000 volunteer hours each year. The park manager was known as “The King of Volunteers”. I learned so much from the volunteers I worked with. There are steps you can take to get the most out of working with volunteers and ensure they get the most out of working with you.
I developed this list with camphosts in mind because they are with the staff for an extended period of time. They live with you, work with you, and can make your life so much better. Some of these tips may apply to other volunteers as well.
Here are 10 tips for getting the most out of working with volunteers;
10. Take the time to interview them before you put them on the schedule. In the initial talk you will find out there experience and what they hope to get out of the experience. You are also likely to find something that lets you know they would or would not be a good fit.
9. Before you put them to work, schedule an hour or more to sit with them. Use this time to explain your agency, talk about the park and staff, and clearly discuss your expectations.
8. Find out what they actually want to do. If you are scheduling volunteers to be camphosts, do they only want to clean firepits, or do they want to be involved in more. I have had volunteers who wanted to clean firepits and greet campers and nothing more. I have also had volunteers who wanted to be busy 8 hours per day and create something they could be proud of. I worked with one volunteer to create recycling bins that saved hundreds of dollars each year for the park.
I also had a camphost who owned a painting company. My natural assumption was I could use him for the backlog of painting projects at the park. After talking with him, he did not want to do any painting. He had painted his whole career and did not want to spend his retirement years painting too. It is important to flush that information out early.
7. Take time to hear their story. I know I am asking you to take a lot time out of your busy schedule to slow down long enough to talk extensively with your volunteers, but you need to hear their story. It is important you have an informal, not official feeling talk with them. Find out their story. This will make them feel welcome and show that you are interested in them, not just the work they will do. Hearing their story will bring out any special skills they have that may help you and the park. Often, there is something more they can do that you haven’t discovered yet.
6. Spend more time with them. After the initial investment in time, you cannot turn them loose and expect to only hear from them when something is wrong and then say goodbye when they leave. You need to spend time with them. Stop by to say hello. Ask them what they are seeing. Find out if they need anything to be able to perform their job. The less time you spend with them, the less likely they are to tell you what is really going on around you.
5. Include them in the Parks story. When volunteers know the history, challenges, goals, and vision of the park they can write themselves into the story. When they write themselves into the story, they will take ownership into their area of responsibility and pride in all areas of the park.
Volunteers are the face of the park to many park visitors. Consider how many people will visit your park and never see a Park Ranger. You want volunteers to feel they are part of the overall story of the park.
4. Create an atmosphere where volunteers can get to know each other. At Fort Flagler State Park volunteers had their own break room, laundry facilities, library and more. Volunteers where included in staff meetings, which also helped tie them into the park’s story. This usually worked out so well volunteers would plan their own events and many created friendships they took outside of the park.
3. Create a sense of security. It is important for volunteers to feel they are safe while doing their job. Whatever you need to do to make a volunteer feel safe, do it. Provide cell phone or radio if possible. As best you can, let them know who is working on what days and who is on call when no one is working. Let them know how to get a hold of you when there is an emergency or uncomfortable situation.
2. Motivate, inspire, and include them just as you would with paid staff. You would not expect your paid staff to work unmotivated, uninspired, or feeling like an outsider. I know some park managers do, but not anyone who is ambitious enough to listen to the Park Leaders Show. Volunteers should be treated with the same respect you give to other staff.
1. Recognize them for good work. I don’t believe you should take any staff for granted. No one is ever “just doing their job”, even if they are doing what they are paid to do. Appreciate people. Recognize people. Even if they are doing the exact job outlined in their job description, it goes a long way when you let them know you notice when they do a good job. If that is true for paid staff, imagine how important it is for staff you do not pay.
Bonus Tip - Interview them when they leave. Interviewing volunteers when they leave will accomplish two things. First, you will find out how they felt about their time with you. You can discuss how you feel they did and they can do likewise. Second, it gets it on your calendar to spend time with them before they leave. Saying goodbye is as important as saying hello.
There you have it friends, ten ways you can get the most out of working with volunteers and ensure they get value out of working for you.
A strong connection to volunteers gives your park a citizen voice. And when times get tough, a citizen voice is important.
Many of those tips I learned from working with Mike Zimmerman, the King of Volunteers, at Fort Flagler State Park. That is what we do at Park Leaders, take the wisdom of the people who have done it, and pass it on to the next generation of leaders, the ones with all of the passion to have an impact.
Park Leaders has been discussing diversity lately. Diversity is on of the most pressing issues to ensure parks remain relevant.
You can not examine diversity in parks without coming across the name Jose Gonzalez. Jose is the founder of Latino Outdoors.
Jose founded Latino Outdoors to connect leadership, culture, and communities with conservation, nature, and the great outdoors. He works closely with organizations seeking to add diversity to their outdoor and conservation programs.
Latino Outdoors is a platform for Latino Outdoor and Environmental Education Professionals to serve as role models and leads for guided hikes and outdoor excursions for Latino communities—all ages and generations, bilingual and Spanish-speaking. We help set up and lead outings for Latino community members for the purpose of expanding the Latino experience in the Outdoors—with a focus on providing positive transformative experiences with cultural relevancy.
In this episode of the Park Leaders Show, Jose discusses the relevance of Latinos in the future of parks and conservation.
What We Talk About
• Why Jose founded Latino Outdoors • The Mission of Latino Outdoors • Why Parks should specifically address Latinos • Why there are not more Latino Park Rangers and what we can do about it
Resources
• Latino Outdoors • Bay Area National Parks • Parks Forward
You may find this episode uncomfortable. I am fine with that. John Griffith will call you out.
Our parks are not just for white guys in fleece jackets. You would have that impression though if you visited most of our national our state parks. Park Rangers are not a diverse group. Neither are park visitors, for the most part.
If the answer is to hire diverse employees for only office jobs and think that's a good enough effort for your diversity goals, message of parks will eventually go extinct.
That is the message John Griffith preaches to stakeholders of national and state parks.
John is a supervisor with the California Conservation Corps, who has become best known for his hip-hop dancing.
The attention John has received for his dancing has allowed him a new platform to spread his message of conservation and diversity.
What We Talk About
• The importance of exploring outdoors • How urban youth respond to the outdoors • Diversity in Parks • Why outreach to minority groups does not work • Finding ways to connect with diverse demographic groups • Making recreation appealing vs. protecting the park • How people build relationships with nature • How dancing has allowed John to connect with Urban Youth • The sacred role of a Park Ranger
Resources
• John Griffith's Youtube Channel • California Conservation Corps • The Corps Network • Outdoor Afro • Last Child in the Woods by Richard Louv • Totem Magic: Going Mad by John Griffith • Music by Jason Harrod
Here is the video of John dancing that got all of the attention;
The Boss Dances Like a BOSS! John Griffith Dancing to Travis Porter (click to watch on YouTube
Once I saw this video I knew I had to talk to John;
John Griffith Dancing to Bird Machine by DJ Snake (click to watch on YouTube)
Jack Hartt is Park Manager of Deception Pass State Park. Deception Pass is considered to be the flagship park of Washington State, and many consider Jack to be the flagship Ranger. He has inspired or trained many Rangers who went on to become Park Managers or Assistant Managers. Jack has been manager at Deception Pass State Park, Washington's busiest park, and Riverside State Park, Washington's largest park.
What We Talk About
• Managing relationships • Focusing on developing the right people • The role of a Park Manager • The role of an Assistant Park Manager • The role of a leader without a formal title • Finding a mentor • The "Park-Like" concept • Introducing a new Manager to a park
Resources
• Rocky Mountain National Park • Riverside State Park • Deception Pass State Park • It's Your Ship by Michael Abrashoff • Eleven Rings and The Last Season by Phil Jackson • Interpreting our Heritage by Freeman Tilden • Environmental Interpretation by Sam Ham
Books by Jack Hartt
• A Day in the Park With Ranger Jack • Two Hands and a Shovel • A Walk Around the Block • Proper Size Me
Bill Overby, Commander of the Parks Law Enforcement Academy
Bill Overby is Commander of the Parks Law Enforcement Academy at Skagit Valley College in Mount Vernon, WA. He was a Park Ranger with Washington State Parks for 32 years, including 20 years as manager of Deception Pass State Park. Commander Overby recommends you don't let the park define you, even as you give your all to your career.
What We Talk About
• How are cadets are not prepared when they arrive at the academy • How to tell if cadets will stand out in the academy • The importance of writing well • Traits of Rangers who become leaders • Biggest challenge of being a Park Manager • How to handle a promotion when you now supervise your peers • Recruitment and retention of employees • The importance of appearance • Balancing your career and family life
Resources
• Deception Pass State Park • Parks Law Enforcement Academy at Skagit Valley College • Music by Jason Harrod
Scott Barlow and Mark Sieverkropp from Happen To Your Career
Scott Barlow is a Human Resources Manager with a company in Washington State. He is also a career coach and founder of Happen To Your Career. Mark Sieverkropp is an author, entrepreneur, consultant, and speaker. Together at Happen To Your Career, they help connect people with the work they love.
Talking with Scott and Mark gives us an outside-of-parks perspective on getting noticed and advancing your career.
What We Talk About
• Why Parks are important • How you can direct your own career • The value of building relationships with people you don't work with directly • How to get noticed when going for a promotion • Having a purposeful career • How to get noticed when going for a promotion • Having a more purposeful career • Growing outside your career • Using projects to create success • How to Choose Yourself
Resources
• Happen To Your Career • Mark Sieverkropp • Sun Lakes State Park • Matt McWilliams • Jody Maberry • Project Success by Mark Sieverkropp • The National Park: America's Best Idea by Ken Burns • Happen To Your Career Podcast • Scott on Twitter • Mark on Twitter
Two of the links above are Amazon affiliate links. That means if you make a purchase I get a small commission.
Eric Watilo, Region Manager with Washington State Parks
Eric Watilo is a Region Manager with Washington State Parks.
After fifteen years in the field as a Park Manager and Park Manager, Eric has spent the past sixteen years in a Region Headquarters. As a Region Manager, Eric works directly with many Park Managers. He is familiar with the issues most Park Managers struggle with. Eric discusses the value of experience and how to build a strong team.
In This Episode We Talk About;
• Filling a position with the right person • The issues Park Managers struggle with the most • How to effectively communicate with your team • The role of technology in Parks • How can a Park show value for the cost a visitor pays • Building relationships among Park staff • What should never change about parks
Resources
• Music by Jason Harrod • Washington State Parks • Ginkgo Wanapum State Park • Survey Monkey • Red Green • Jody Maberry
Handyman Corner - Camping (click to watch on YouTube)
Rex Derr is the former director of Washington State Parks.
Rex says his career in Parks was glorious and feels parks are the soul of a community. Rex was the architect and main cheerleader of Washington State Park's Centennial 2013 plan. This plan built excitement and prepared Washington State Parks to celebrate the park system's 100th birthday.
What We Talk About
• What Parks add to a community • Washington State Park's Centennial Plan; how it was created and how parks and citizens were involved. • Creating a story or plan to unite your team • The greatest asset of any public service entity
Resources
• Washington State Parks
Washington State Parks Centennial 2013-A plan for your parks (click to watch on YouTube)
Chris Guidotti is the manager of Riverside State Park in Spokane, WA.
Ranger Guidotti has lead his park and staff to find new ways to create revenue and recreation opportunities for visitors, despite increasing budget pressure to do more with less. He explains some of the ways a new manager can find the pulse of a park and move the entire team towards a vision.
In This Episode, We Talk About
• Feeling the Pulse of a Park • Connecting the Park and local community • Using volunteers and working with Friends Groups • Keys to building relationships with your staff • Transferring a vision to staff • Advice for up and coming leaders • Encouraging initiative • Hiring for future needs
Resources
• Riverside State Park • Riverside State Park Foundation • Washington State Parks Discover Pass • Music by Jason Harrod
In this introductory episode of the podcast, I explain what Park Leaders is about.
What is Park Leaders?
Park Leaders is a place to connect the wisdom of those who did with the passion of those who will.
We are going to talk to as many leaders in Parks as possible. Their wisdom can be passed on to the next generation of up and coming Park Leaders. This will be an opportunity for you to chose yourself, declare yourself as a leader, and begin making a difference.
What I talk about.
• My path of becoming a Park Ranger • Highlight of my time as a Ranger. • Lowlights of my time as a Ranger. • Why I started Park Leaders. • What you can expect from Park Leaders.
Resources Mentioned
• Jason Harrod • Scott Barlow and Happen to Your Career • Jared Easley and Starve the Doubts • Jody Maberry • Washington State Parks • Riverside State Park • Fort Flagler State Park