"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/

"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: <ul> <li>Discover the integral role an assistant park manager plays in maintaining the park's harmony and sustainability</li> <li>Realize the significance of establishing a strong relationship between the park manager and assistant manager for optimal park operations</li> <li>Uncover the complexities of an assistant park manager's duties and the strategies to navigate these challenges effectively</li> <li>Grasp the essence of the assistant park manager's contribution in decision-making and problem-solving scenarios</li> <li>Understand the value of the assistant park manager role as a pivotal stepping stone for emerging leaders in the park industry</li> </ul> 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 <a href="http://www.parkleaders.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.parkleaders.com</a> <a href="https://parkleaders.com/about/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://parkleaders.com/about/</a> Facebook - <a href="https://www.facebook.com/theparkleaders/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/theparkleaders/</a>

The Role of an Assistant Park Manager

"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

"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 <a href="http://www.parkleaders.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.parkleaders.com</a> <a href="https://parkleaders.com/about/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://parkleaders.com/about/</a> Facebook - <a href="https://www.facebook.com/theparkleaders/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/theparkleaders/</a> 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 Politics of Parks

"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

"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: <ul> <li> factors behind increased misbehavior in parks during the COVID-19 pandemic. </li> <li> the significance of educating visitors about park rules and regulations. </li> <li> responsibilities of park leaders in ensuring clean facilities and a positive visitor experience. </li> <li> how to embrace a ranger-first mentality and proactive approach to address misbehavior in park settings. </li> <li> how to separate personal emotions from work and concentrate on finding solutions </li> </ul> 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 <a href="http://www.parkleaders.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.parkleaders.com</a> <a href="https://parkleaders.com/about/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://parkleaders.com/about/</a> Facebook - <a href="https://www.facebook.com/theparkleaders/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/theparkleaders/</a> 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

Dealing with Park Visitors Who Misbehave

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

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: <ul> <li>Recognize the crucial role of maintenance in effective parks management</li> <li>Tackle the difficult task of finding and retaining top-quality seasonal employees</li> <li>Appreciate the worth of third-party analysts in fostering productive dialogues</li> <li>Discover the wide-ranging skill sets of various park professionals</li> <li>Embrace the significance of continually evolving both personally and professionally</li> </ul> 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 <a href="https://tailgate-talks.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://tailgate-talks.com/</a> Resources <a href="http://www.parkleaders.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.parkleaders.com</a> <a href="https://parkleaders.com/about/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://parkleaders.com/about/</a> Facebook - <a href="https://www.facebook.com/theparkleaders/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/theparkleaders/</a> 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

Conversations for Park Professionals

"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/

"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: <ul> <li>Implement strategies to prepare parks for the summer season based on past experiences.</li> <li>Recognize the significance of proper training and education for park employees to enhance their efficiency.</li> <li>Streamline park management by understanding how to document and optimize maintenance processes.</li> <li>Discover ways to adapt your park management practices to the reduced downtime in today's fast-paced world.</li> <li>Leverage the power of community involvement for the greater cause of park conservation and preservation.</li> <li>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.</li> </ul> "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 <a href="http://www.parkleaders.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.parkleaders.com</a> <a href="https://parkleaders.com/about/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://parkleaders.com/about/</a> Facebook - <a href="https://www.facebook.com/theparkleaders/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/theparkleaders/</a>

Get Your Park Ready for Summer

"Leadership is hard because it's a gray decision. It's not a black and white decision. You have to take a breath, take two steps back, and figure out what the objective is and why the resource is being protected in order to make the right decision." - Phil Gaines  Phil Gaines recently attended the California Parks training conference. He joins this episode to share what he learned there as well as his wealth of experience in park management and viewshed protection. One unexpected experience for this self-proclaimed Southern boy accustomed to sunshine, was venturing to the snow-filled wilderness of California. However, it was there that he found an interesting issue in the parks between protecting a historic view shed or letting nature take its course. This is one of the latest compelling clashes between preservation and progress.   There were other impactful moments while he was at the conference including learning from park rangers from around the country and talking about the importance of friends groups and the impact of homelessness on parks. They also talked about viewshed protection, which he learned firsthand when trying to preserve the Table Rock Overlook. He argued that the view was sacred and a way to connect people to the resource. He found that viewshed protection was a difficult decision, as it often involves compromising between natural and cultural landscapes. Despite the difficulty of the decision, Phil was able to protect the view of Table Rock Mountain, giving visitors the opportunity to be blown away by its magnificence. Resources www.parkleaders.com https://parkleaders.com/about/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theparkleaders/

"Leadership is hard because it's a gray decision. It's not a black and white decision. You have to take a breath, take two steps back, and figure out what the objective is and why the resource is being protected in order to make the right decision." - Phil Gaines Phil Gaines recently attended the California Parks training conference. He joins this episode to share what he learned there as well as his wealth of experience in park management and viewshed protection. One unexpected experience for this self-proclaimed Southern boy accustomed to sunshine, was venturing to the snow-filled wilderness of California. However, it was there that he found an interesting issue in the parks between protecting a historic view shed or letting nature take its course. This is one of the latest compelling clashes between preservation and progress.   There were other impactful moments while he was at the conference including learning from park rangers from around the country and talking about the importance of friends groups and the impact of homelessness on parks. They also talked about viewshed protection, which he learned firsthand when trying to preserve the Table Rock Overlook. He argued that the view was sacred and a way to connect people to the resource. He found that viewshed protection was a difficult decision, as it often involves compromising between natural and cultural landscapes. Despite the difficulty of the decision, Phil was able to protect the view of Table Rock Mountain, giving visitors the opportunity to be blown away by its magnificence. Resources <a href="http://www.parkleaders.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.parkleaders.com</a> <a href="https://parkleaders.com/about/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://parkleaders.com/about/</a> Facebook - <a href="https://www.facebook.com/theparkleaders/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/theparkleaders/</a>

Maintaining View Sheds in Parks

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/

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 <a href="http://www.parkleaders.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.parkleaders.com</a> <a href="https://parkleaders.com/about/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://parkleaders.com/about/</a> Facebook - <a href="https://www.facebook.com/theparkleaders/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/theparkleaders/</a>

How to Deal with a Shortage of Seasonal Staff

On this episode of the Park Leaders Show, Jody welcomes guest Daniel Selmi to discuss the rise of environmental law. Dan is a retired Professor at Loyola Law School and joins the show to discuss his new book, “Dawn at Mineral King Valley”. A Disney aficionado, Selmi discusses the inspiration behind the book and unpacks Disney’s struggle to build a ski resort in what is now Sequoia National Park. Amidst the legal battle between the Sierra Club and the National Park Service, Selmi discloses little-known facts about the ordeal culminating in a memorable Supreme Court ruling. Though the Sierra Club’s efforts would ultimately inhibit Disney’s ability to build the resort, with many environment lessons compacted within a single narrative, you’ll find Selmi’s storytelling and commentary compelling as he takes you back in time into a groundbreaking case study. 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, Jody welcomes guest Daniel Selmi to discuss the rise of environmental law. Dan is a retired Professor at Loyola Law School and joins the show to discuss his new book, “Dawn at Mineral King Valley”. A Disney aficionado, Selmi discusses the inspiration behind the book and unpacks Disney’s struggle to build a ski resort in what is now Sequoia National Park. Amidst the legal battle between the Sierra Club and the National Park Service, Selmi discloses little-known facts about the ordeal culminating in a memorable Supreme Court ruling. Though the Sierra Club’s efforts would ultimately inhibit Disney’s ability to build the resort, with many environment lessons compacted within a single narrative, you’ll find Selmi’s storytelling and commentary compelling as he takes you back in time into a groundbreaking case study. Resources <a href="http://www.parkleaders.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.parkleaders.com</a> <a href="https://parkleaders.com/about/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://parkleaders.com/about/</a> Facebook - <a href="https://www.facebook.com/theparkleaders/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/theparkleaders/</a> Resources <a href="http://www.parkleaders.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.parkleaders.com</a> <a href="https://parkleaders.com/about/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://parkleaders.com/about/</a> Facebook - <a href="https://www.facebook.com/theparkleaders/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/theparkleaders/</a>

The Rise of Environmental Law

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 Park Leaders Show Donald Forgione joins to discuss some of the biggest issues in parks in 2023. Resources <a href="http://www.parkleaders.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.parkleaders.com</a> <a href="https://parkleaders.com/about/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://parkleaders.com/about/</a> Facebook - <a href="https://www.facebook.com/theparkleaders/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/theparkleaders/</a>

The Biggest Issues for Parks in 2023

On this episode of the Park Leaders Show, Lori Modde, Founder &amp; 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, Lori Modde, Founder &amp; 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 <a href="https://womenintourism.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://womenintourism.com</a>. Resources <a href="http://www.parkleaders.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.parkleaders.com</a> Facebook - <a href="https://www.facebook.com/theparkleaders/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/theparkleaders/</a>

Balancing Tourism and Local Communities

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.

As someone who works in parks, I love the show. It is extremely relevant as well as fun to listen to.

Love the show

This is like a behind the scenes look at one of our favorite resources…our parks system.

One of my favorite topics.

Park Leaders Show

 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?

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 <a href="http://parkleaders.com/tom-betts/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Tom Betts</a> 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 <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0062253506/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=390957&amp;creativeASIN=0062253506&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;tag=maberica-20&amp;linkId=KTUGLYVNGP6VP3J2" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Business Brilliant</a>, 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?

The Myth of the Well Rounded Ranger

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.

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 <a href="http://www.nps.gov/apis/index.htm" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Apostle Islands National Lakeshore</a>. 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 <a href="https://www.anpr.org/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Association of National Park Rangers</a> working on the 2016 <a href="http://www.worldrangercongressusa.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">World Ranger Congress</a>, which will be in Estes Park, Colorado. Bob recently served a temporary assignment as the superintendent of <a href="http://www.nps.gov/ever/index.htm" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Everglades National Park</a>. 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 <a href="http://www.worldrangercongressusa.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">here</a> for more information about the World Ranger Congress.

Lessons from 30 Years in the National Park Service 

Alan Spears

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. 

Alan Spears is the Cultural Resources Director for the <a href="https://www.npca.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">National Parks Conservation Association</a>. Alan Spears and I had the opportunity to sit down together and talk about cultural resources at the <a href="https://aonpr29.wildapricot.org/Ranger-Rendezvous" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Ranger Rendezvous</a>, the annual conference of the <a href="https://aonpr29.wildapricot.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Association of National Park Rangers</a>.  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 <a href="http://www.nps.gov/hafe/index.htm" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Harpers Ferry</a>, <a href="http://www.nps.gov/fomr/index.htm" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Fort Monroe</a> and the National Park Service's role in interpreting slavery as a <a href="https://www.npca.org/articles/246-sharing-the-real-civil-war" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">root cause of the Civil War</a>.  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<a href="http://www.nps.gov/mapr/hanford.htm" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Manhatten Project</a>.  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 <a href="http://www.gyfoundation.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Greening Youth Foundation</a> as an example of an organization having an impact.  <a href="https://www.facebook.com/theparkleaders/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Find Park Leaders on Facebook</a>.

Cultural Resources with Alan Spears

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.

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 <a href="http://latinooutdoors.org/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Latino Outdoors</a>. 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.

Ten Steps to Get the Most out of Working With Volunteers

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.

On the Park Leaders Show, I often talk to leaders in the National Park Service. <a href="http://parkleaders.com/kelli-english/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Chief Interpreters</a>, <a href="http://parkleaders.com/tom-betts/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Chief Rangers</a> and <a href="http://parkleaders.com/valerie-naylor/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Park Superintendents</a> 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. <a href="http://parkleaders.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Ranger-Kaiti-May.jpg" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> </a> 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 <a href="http://www.nps.gov/meve/index.htm" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Mesa Verde National Park</a>. 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 <a href="http://rangerkaitimay.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">blog</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/rangerkaitimay" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Twitter</a> and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/rangerkaitimay?_rdr" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Facebook</a>. The music for the Park Leaders Show is the creation of Jason Harrod. You can find out more about him <a href="http://jasonharrod.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">here</a>.

Life as a Seasonal Park Ranger 

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)

Jeff Goins has made his living with the support of a tribe.  The loyal following to his <a href="http://www.goinswriter.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">popular blog</a> led to a successful self published book, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007YJEIAS/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=390957&amp;creativeASIN=B007YJEIAS&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;tag=maberica-20&amp;linkId=LPZ75Q5MJMW2XEYO" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">You Are a Writer</a>. 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 <a href="http://www.mcssl.com/app/?af=1507534" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Tribe Writers</a>. 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: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0802407242/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=390957&amp;creativeASIN=0802407242&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;tag=maberica-20&amp;linkId=BAL7KO3VGJAUVM4M" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">The In-Between</a> and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0802404928/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=390957&amp;creativeASIN=0802404928&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;tag=maberica-20&amp;linkId=2BAGRS45FSBHJTBW" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Wrecked</a>. If you are interested in becoming a better writer, check out Jeff's course <a href="http://www.mcssl.com/app/?af=1507534" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Tribe Writers</a>. <a href="https://youtu.be/1TbFlskJgZ4" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Starting from Scratch: How to Build a Platform with Words, Passion, and People (click to watch on YouTube)</a>

Building a Tribe of Supporters for Your Park

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.

<a href="http://parkleaders.com/parks-jack-hartt/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Jack Hartt</a> is deliberate about the experience people have at <a href="http://www.parks.wa.gov/411/Deception-Pass-State-Park" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Deception Pass State Park</a>. 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 <a href="https://twitter.com/DPassParkMgr" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">here</a> and say Hello. To learn more about Jack Hartt's background, listen to <a href="http://parkleaders.com/parks-jack-hartt/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">episode 6</a> of the Park Leaders Show. Jack is the author of five books, including <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1493513214/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=390957&amp;creativeASIN=1493513214&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;tag=maberica-20&amp;linkId=DUC3HI6BACJISHCW" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">A Day in the Park with Ranger Jack</a>.

How to Make a Park “Park-Like” 

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

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. <a href="http://next100coalition.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Next 100 Coalition</a> is a great place to find partners to help parks reach out to people.  Audrey on Twitter - <a href="https://twitter.com/Audreypete" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@AudreyPete</a> Audrey on the web - <a href="http://www.legacyontheland.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">legacyontheland.com</a> Audrey's Book - <a href="http://amzn.to/2Fig0Hy" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Our True Nature</a>

Helping People Discover Parks

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. 

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.

The Legend of the Spark Ranger

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

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 • <a href="http://tmbaker1165.wordpress.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">African American National Parks Day</a> • <a href="http://www.outdoorafro.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Outdoor Afro</a>

African American National Parks Day 

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. 

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 <a href="http://amzn.to/2zkNrcX" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking by Susan Cain</a>.

Putting Safety First in Your Park

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.

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 <a href="http://parkleaders.com/bill-overby/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Don't Let the Park Define You with Commander Bill Overby</a>. 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 <a href="http://parkleaders.com/fun-professional-bill-overby" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">click here</a> to hear the episode.

Can You Have Fun and Still Be Professional?

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. 

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 <a href="https://outdoorengagement.berkeley.edu/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Outdoor Engagement Coalition</a>.  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.

Giving More People Access to the Outdoors

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

Marty Huseman is the Chief Ranger at <a href="http://www.nps.gov/laro/index.htm" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area</a>. 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 <a href="http://www.nps.gov/biso/index.htm" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area</a>. 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 <a href="http://parkleaders.com/bill-overby/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Bill Overby</a>. 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 <a href="https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/assessment-and-selection/reference-materials/proficiencylevelsleadershipcomp.pdf" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">• OPM Leadership Competencies</a>

Is Parks a Man’s World?

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.”

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.”

The Medication of the Outdoors

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.

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.

Can National Parks Remain Relevant?

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. 

Eben Sypitkowski is the Director of <a href="https://baxterstatepark.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Baxter State Park</a> 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.

Driven by Passion for a Place

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

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; <a href="http://parkleaders.com/improving-leadership-and-culture-in-parks/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Improving Leadership and Culture in Parks</a> <a href="http://parkleaders.com/innovative-leadership-in-parks/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Innovative Leadership in Parks</a> <a href="https://parkleaders.com/the-person-is-more-important-than-the-position/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> The Person is More Important Than the Position</a>

Building a Leadership Network

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 &amp; Spotsylvania National Military Park.

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 &amp; Spotsylvania National Military Park.

Getting Your First Job with The National Park Service

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.

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.

The Importance of Trust in Park Management

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Best Episodes: Interesting Stories & Things

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