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 ot...
Mar 20, 2018•23 min•Ep. 137
After retiring as the Director of the National Park Service, Jon Jarvis took on a new role. Director Jarvis is a Director again. This time, he is the first executive director of the newly formed Institute for Parks, People, and Biodiversity . Jarvis joins the Park Leaders Show again to discuss his time with the National Park Service and his new role. As a 40 year veteran of the park service, Director Jarvis is now using that experience to help build the next generation of leaders for conservatio...
Mar 06, 2018•44 min
Do parks have a responsibility to interpret? Cem Basman joins the Park Leaders Show to discuss.
Feb 20, 2018•29 min•Ep. 135
Building friends groups and partnerships is essential for a modern park. Krista Muddle from the National Park Service joins the Park Leaders Show to discuss partnerships. Krista Muddle is a Regional Partnership Coordinator at Intermountain Region Office with the National Park Service. Krista divides her time between a program working in partnership with Mexico on border-related issues and working with parks developing partnerships in their community. Broder related issues range from animals that...
Feb 06, 2018•22 min•Ep. 134
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 ...
Jan 09, 2018•25 min•Ep. 133
Christen Miller's path towards becoming an interpreter began with a terrified toad. Seeing an interpretive program in a State Park, which included the toad, pushed Christen towards a life in parks. Now, Christen is the Visitor Experience Director for Virginia State Parks . In this episode of the Park Leaders Show, Christen talks about interpretation, living history, creating a great visitor experience, and interpreting for visitors who may not be face to face with a park ranger....
Dec 19, 2017•24 min•Ep. 132
Brennan McAuley returns to the Park Leaders Show to share what he learned after another summer with the National Park Service. Brennan is a student in the Temple Pro Ranger Program. Brennan has been on the Park Leaders Show to tell us about the Pro Ranger Program and again to talk about his first summer with the National Park Service . This episode, Brennan returns to discuss his second summer with the National Park Service, learning from the leaders around him, and attending the Ranger Rendezvo...
Nov 28, 2017•19 min
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 Pow...
Oct 31, 2017•26 min
Most parks work with volunteers. Some parks treat volunteers like stars. When this happens, word spreads in the volunteer community. But not all parks do well working with volunteers. This episode of The Park Leaders Episode, we have the opportunity to hear words directly from a volunteer. This volunteer offers tips and advice on how to get the most working with volunteers. How often do we take time to listen to what volunteers have to say? Today, we are going to listen to volunteers and conside...
Oct 10, 2017•10 min
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.
Oct 03, 2017•16 min
All Park Leaders are servant leaders. We serve guests, employees, and the resources we vow to protect. Servant leaders recognize leadership is a stewardship responsibility. This style of leadership fits perfectly with people of parks. We serve the public and we serve resources. Kevin Monroe joins the Park Leaders Show to explain servant leadership and how it applies to parks. You can find Kevin Monroe at kevindmonroe.com , on Twitter @kevindmonroe , or his podcast here ....
Sep 05, 2017•29 min
Commander Bill Overby joins the Park Leaders Show to Commander Overby discusses his new consulting business, and how technology has changed the park experience for visitors and park rangers. After so many years in parks, first, as a park ranger followed by training over one thousand park rangers at the Parks Law Enforcement Academy, the Commander offers his observation on what Rangers face today they did not face 20 years ago. Also, we discuss how you can build a reputation as a leader....
Aug 15, 2017•27 min
Domenic Bravo, Director of Wyoming State Parks joins the Park Leaders Show to share his experience Domenic also discusses the National Association of State Parks Directors and why it is important to connect with our peers, no matter what our job in parks is. Wyoming State Parks is also contending for the National Recreation and Park Association Gold Medal Award. Director Bravo offers insight into the hard work and dedication it takes to become a Gold Medal finalist....
Jul 25, 2017•35 min•Ep. 125
Tom Heenan, a ranger at BelhusWoods Country Park , joins the Park Leaders Show to talk about the European Ranger Federation. During our conversation, we talk about the issues Rangers face all over the world. Nature is the same and people are people, no matter if you are in Australia or the United Kingdom. Tom also discusses the importance of being involved in a Ranger Association, and European Ranger Congress....
Jul 11, 2017•24 min
Appropriate use of a park ensures sustainability for that park. This is how Jeff Hallo explains they balance between the balance between parks role in serving customers and conserving natural resources. Jeff is a social scientist and professor at Clemson University. The research Jeff does help parks create remarkable experiences for visitors while still being able to maintain the natural environment. On this episode of the Park Leaders Show, Jeff discusses how and why people use parks and how sc...
Jun 13, 2017•30 min
Have you ever stopped to wonder what kids want when they visit your park? Tigran Nahabedian, known as Junior Ranger Tigran, joins the Park Leaders Show to give you an insight of how kids see your park. Junior Ranger Tigran is no ordinary kid, though. He tours National Parks collecting Junior Ranger badges. He knows more about parks, wildlife, and plants than most people three times his age. He volunteers at parks. Junior Ranger Tigran has even given a personal tour of a National Park to Secretar...
May 23, 2017•19 min
We are all interpreters. Whether it is in your title or not, if you work in parks, you are an interpreter. Margot Carlock, Executive Director of National Association for Interpretation , joins the Park Leaders Show to talk about what makes a great interpreter. The National Association for Interpretation represents individuals from parks, zoos, aquariums, theme parks, museums, and more. What is similar to interpreters in all of these fields? Margot explains it is "A sincere interest and passion f...
May 16, 2017•23 min
In October 2016 we did an episode of the Park Leaders Show about the ProRanger Program at Temple University . In that episode, Brennan McAuley gave us a look at the program from a student's point of view. Brennan returns to the Park Leaders Show to give us an update on what has happened with him and the ProRanger program since October. Brennan also gives leaders insight into how you can help a new ranger coming into a new park or the park system. You can follow along with Brennan on his ProRange...
May 09, 2017•17 min
Recently, I had lunch in Seattle with Alan Spears in Seattle. We talked about the great work the National Parks Conservation Association is doing. We also talked about the work we have done with Park Leaders. Then I had a chance meeting with Eric Watilo from Washington State Parks in downtown Seattle. Being around leaders in parks and conservation reminded me of the important work we are doing together. In this episode, I discuss the three years of Park Leaders and what might be coming in the ne...
May 02, 2017•9 min
Back when I was at the Inspiring a New Generation Summit, I met Steve Jones . At the time, Steve was the President of Antioch University New England. He is now has a consulting and speaking firm and recently wrote a book called Nature Based Leadership. Well, since this show is about leadership in Parks, the idea of the book caught me right away. Steve Jones joins the Park Leaders Show explain Nature Based Leadership, and discuss examples of leadership lessons found in nature. The idea of drawing...
Apr 04, 2017•20 min
Park visitors on active on social media. Is your park or agency using social media to engage and connect? Or are you just posting bulletins and the new hours your visitor center is open? Many parks and park agencies wonder what the proper way to use social media. In this episode of the Park Leaders Show, KC Procter talks about best practices for using social media to engage with park visitors. KC Procter works in social media in two ways. First, he manages social media accounts for businesses or...
Mar 07, 2017•48 min
Sue Black, Director of Arizona State Parks , returns to the Park Leaders Show to talk about culture, visitation and the impact of parks on a state. You can hear her first interview HERE . Director Black offers compelling reasons why parks are important as whole to a state and individual parks to communities. It is not about the park, it is about what happens in the park. You can't listen to this interview with Director Black and not be proud to be involved in parks. Connect with Park Leaders Fac...
Jan 17, 2017•21 min
Sue Black, Director of Arizona State Parks , joins the Park Leaders Show to discuss creating a Gold Medal culture in parks. Arizona State Parks is celebrating its 60th anniversary. Director Black has a goal to win the National Parks and Recreation Association Gold Medal award this year. Throughout her career, Director Black has set high goals and then found a way to achieve it. Sue Black has been a director of two State Park systems, Wisconsin and Arizona, as well as Director of a County Park sy...
Jan 10, 2017•31 min
When the Director of Texas State Parks was a guest on the Park Leaders Show, he mentioned the Ambassador Program as one of the great things they were doing in Texas. Tyler Priest, the coordinator of the Ambassador Program, joins the Park Leaders Show to tell us more about the program Director Leisure is so proud of. An Ambassador Program is a way for a park system to introduce younger people to parks. Even if an Ambassador alumni does not end up working for parks, they will be a lifelong support...
Jan 03, 2017•40 min
James Slade grew up in beautiful British Columbia, Canada. Now, he is on the front line in Africa working as Operations Manager and ranger with the Zimbabwe International Anti-Poaching Foundation . James will give us an inside look at what it is like to be an anti-poaching ranger, and what the poaching situation is like in Zimbabwe. Although in a management role, James spends as much time as possible shoulder to shoulder. This leadership trait will allow managers to get to know field staff bette...
Dec 20, 2016•22 min
Robert Ingram, Cheif of Visitor Protection and Law Enforcement for Washington State Parks, joins the Park Leaders Show to discuss bike patrol in parks. Cheif Ingram was the driving force behind Washington State Parks bike patrol program. In this interview, he will share how the bike program was formed, how the agency chose the bikes and the decision to keep training in house. Washington State Parks used three of their own rangers, trained by the International Police Mountain Bike Association , t...
Dec 06, 2016•47 min
The National Park Service is faced with a $12 billion deferred maintenance backlog. How did we get here and what can we do about it? John Garder from the National Parks Conservation Association joins the Park Leaders Show to discuss how the maintenance backlog grew so large and what we can do about it. The maintenance backlog in the National Park Service is a reflection of what is happening with most park system throughout the United States. The discussion on the impact of a maintenance backlog ...
Nov 29, 2016•34 min
One of the things I learned at the World Ranger Congress is that parks all over the world have the same problems. Teemu Laine and Vesa-Matti Hillberg, both park rangers from Finland, join the Park Leaders Show to share their experience at the World Ranger Congress and what they have learned as park rangers. This is the first episode of the show where "Reindeer herders" were mentioned as a problem for a park ranger. Even when the details are different, most of the problems we face are similar. Th...
Nov 15, 2016•18 min
Brent Leisure, Director of Texas State Parks, returns for another episode of the Park Leaders Show. This episode is short enough it could have easily been included on the first episode with Director Leisure . This conversation is a separate episode because it needs to be a separate conversation. We need to support parks at all levels. City and County Parks are an important gateway for exposure to greenspace and the outdoors. For most of us, our first encounters with the outdoors are with an urba...
Nov 08, 2016•17 min
Texas is big. If you haven't been to Texas you have seen it on a map. No matter how you look at the state, it is big. The enormous geographic size creates a challenge when it comes to communicating to staff if they are spread across the state. Brent Leisure, Director of Texas State Parks Brent Leisure, Director of Texas Parks and Wildlife , joins the Park Leaders Show to discuss how to communicate when parks and staff are spread out. Communicating with a large staff in difficult. It becomes more...
Nov 01, 2016•31 min
