Park Leaders Show : Park Ranger | National Park | State Park | Leadership

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 opportun

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

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

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 ran

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% occup

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

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 Smile – As simple as this may seem, not everyone smiles. Greet Them – Use words to make them feel welcome. In-Person is Priority – Never break off a face-to-face interaction with a visitor to answer the telephone or speak with another employee. W.I.N – W.I.N stands for “What’s Important Now.” Please and Thank You – Say it. Say it often. We all like to hear please and th

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.