The Park Leaders Show goes international. In this episode, I talk with Pete Cleary, a park ranger at Philip Island Nature Parks in Australia. We examine the unique characteristics about Philip Island, as well as the common traits of parks and park rangers in different countries throughout the world. Ranger Cleary explains the concept of parks offering and Ultimate Experience to park visitors willing to pay for more access and experience at a park. In this episode, we also talk about the World Ra...
Oct 20, 2015•39 min
After a tremendous performance as Theodore Roosevelt, Clay Jenkinson returns to the Park Leaders Show to talk about Theodore Roosevelt and parks. If you haven't yet listened to the episode with Clay in character as Theodore Roosevelt, Click here to listen. You will want to hear that episode first. In this episode, Clay discusses Theodore Roosevelt's role in National Parks and the impact he still has today on our park system. We also discuss Ken Burn's National Park and Roosevelt films , the upco...
Oct 06, 2015•42 min
President Theodore Roosevelt was a pivotal figure in the early days of the National Park Service. The National Park Service as we know it would not exist without Theodore Roosevelt. Clay Jenkinson as Theodore Roosevelt Clay Jenkinson portrays President Roosevelt in this episode of the Park Leaders Show. Clay allows us to step back into time and talk with the 26th President of the United States. Clay Jenkinson is a humanities scholar, author and social commentator who is considered one of the mos...
Sep 29, 2015•37 min
When I was a new park ranger, I noticed the Park Manager, Jack Hartt , would carry a camera in his pocket. I saw him take photos of trees, bugs, turkey, park rangers, and even vehicle accidents and vandalism. Carrying a camera with you makes sense, right? Park rangers spend their days in the most beautiful places. We have the opportunity to take photographs of areas or situations most people never see. Today, most of us carry a powerful camera right in our pocket. Smartphones have cameras equal ...
Sep 22, 2015•23 min
Donald Forgione, Director of Florida State Parks, returns to the Park Leaders Show. In this episode, we discuss how Florida State Parks connects with communities of color. Director Forgione also talks about how park rangers should be seen as leaders in the community outside of the park. Florida State Parks is proactive in seeking out up and coming leaders. Once a leader is identified, they are given the opportunity to take on more responsibility to grow. If you want to support Park Leaders, and ...
Sep 15, 2015•34 min
Donald Forgione began his career as a Park Ranger with Florida State Parks . Over time, Ranger Forgione became Director Forgione. As Director of Florida State Parks, Donald Forgione considers himself to be a ranger first. In fact, he signs off on email correspondence with "Ranger First" as a reminder to himself, and others, that he approaches his Director responsibilities as a park ranger. In this episode, Director Forgione shares his journey with Florida State Parks and why having been a ranger...
Sep 08, 2015•30 min
Are we leaving out Millennials from the park experience? I recently read an article in Outside Magazine questioning if the outdoor industry has a Millennial problem . This article from Outside magazine touches on many issues relevant to parks and recreation. In the Northwest, in particular, recreation can be more about the jacket you wear while hiking than the actual hike itself. While outdoor clothing companies were racing for more high-tech options, they left out the younger generation. With n...
Aug 11, 2015•9 min
Have you noticed the National Park Service Find Your Park campaign? There is a park for everyone, is what the National Park Service wants you to know with the Find Your Park campaign. But don't assume parks are only wilderness or wooded parks. If that were the case, not everyone would find their park. Many people are finding their park in Washington D. C. in the form of monuments, historic sites, parkways, and even the White House. The National Park Service has a large presence in our nation's c...
Aug 04, 2015•34 min
Spencer Cox, Lt. Governor of Utah, joins the Park Leaders Show to talk about the value of state and national parks to the state of Utah. Utah is fortunate to be home to five national parks, several national monuments and a thriving state parks system. The parks boost the economy and create jobs. Perhaps more importantly, Lt. Governor Cox suggest parks are part of the fabric of the Utah lifestyle. Lt. Governor Cox also offers insight to how state government view a park system. He talks about fund...
Jul 28, 2015•32 min
Carol Quinn returns to the Park Leaders Show to explain how to hire great people. If you missed the first half of the interview with Carol Quinn, you can find it here . In this episode, Carol will discuss how to improve your hiring process. Making small changes in the interview process can move you towards hiring high performers. If you have ever made a bad hire, you understand the long-term impact it can have on your park or organization. Sometimes we don't interview properly. Sometimes we rush...
Jul 21, 2015•31 min
Lee Cockerell has said "Your most important responsibility is to hire and promote the right people for your organization." If that is true, we need to take a hard look at the way we hire people. Carol Quinn, CEO of Hire Authority , joins the Park Leaders Show to talk about how you can improve your hiring. Carol has helped many companies, including Disney, hire the right people. In this episode, we talk about what typical interviews look like, and why relying on gut feeling is a mistake. Carol al...
Jul 14, 2015•35 min
Recently, Eric Watilo issues a document to parks in his region of Washington State Parks giving ideas to make sure visitor's have a better experience when they visit parks. When I saw the information Eric was getting out to people in parks, I knew I had to share it with you. Eric did not create this list for people to read and check a box. This is content meant to be discussed and considered. Eric joins me on the Park Leaders Show to discuss his list of 12 Steps to Enhance a Visitor Experience ....
Jul 07, 2015•33 min
Big Bend National Park is one of the most remote parks in the lower 48 states. Allen Etheridge, Chief Ranger at Big Bend, shares the experience of working at such a remote park. Allen explains the lifestyle of living and working in a remote park. A remote park fosters a tight group who work together and play together. It becomes even more important to involve everyone on the team socially and in work. Ranger Etheridge also discusses the role of a Chief Ranger. He provides purpose, motivation, an...
Jun 30, 2015•23 min
LaJuan Tucker received an introduction to conservation with the Texas Conservation Corps . She started as a crew member and eventually became a staff member. LaJuan worked directly with young people of color who were interested in college or careers related to conservation. In this interview, LaJuan explains the common questions and concerns young people have about careers in conservation. LaJuan parlayed her experience with the Conservation Corps to become a park ranger with the city of Austin ...
Jun 23, 2015•31 min
County Parks play a vital role in the grand scheme of parks. A County Park system usually manages parks that range from urban to wilderness. County Parks are often a stepping stone between City Parks and a family making the leap to recreating in State or National Parks. Mary Ann Bonnell, Visitor Services Supervisor with Jefferson County Open Space Mary Ann Bonnell has experience in City Parks, State Parks, and non-profit organizations. Mary Ann is proud of her role with Jefferson County Open Spa...
Jun 09, 2015•46 min
This week is a short episode to provide updates on what is going on with Park Leaders. Thank you for the great feedback about the episode with Betty Soskin . It was a delight to interview her, and I am pleased you liked it as well. If you haven't listened to that episode yet, you don't want to miss it. I have some upcoming trips. Perhaps we can meet up? I will be in Dallas in early August, and Asheville, NC in October. If you live nearby, and would like me to visit your park, get in touch. Or, i...
Jun 02, 2015•6 min
This episode of the Park Leaders Show felt like I was talking to history. Betty Soskin is the oldest park ranger in the United States. Betty is 93 years old. Betty Soskin, Oldest Park Ranger. Photo by NPS Yes, that is impressive. But even more impressive is Betty did not become a park ranger until she was 85 years old. Talking with Betty, I got the feeling she did not necessarily become a park ranger, she became part of the narrative of Rosie the Riveter National Historic Park , and that involve...
May 26, 2015•42 min
Lee Cockerell, former Executive Vice President of Operations for Walt Disney World, returns to the Park Leaders Show to talk about how parks can create magic. Previously, Lee has been on the Park Leaders Show to talk about what parks can learn from Disney and nine customer service rules . Since the last time Lee joined us, he has published a new podcast, Creating Disney Magic. Creating Disney Magic is a short, weekly podcast focused on leadership, management and customer service. You can find Cr...
May 19, 2015•28 min
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...
May 12, 2015•9 min
Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most popular National Park in the United States. People come from all over the eastern half of the country to visit the Smoky Mountains and drive visitation higher than park service icons such as Yellowstone or the Grand Canyon. The key to operating Great Smoky Mountains is not necessarily the visitors who come from other places, the key is connecting to the community. Cassius Cash, Superintendent of Great Smokey Mountain National Park The importance of...
May 05, 2015•32 min
I am on a mission to get parks to start podcasting. Podcasting is a way parks can serve visitors in a new and unique way. To explore the idea of podcasting in parks, I went straight to one of the best podcasters around. Jeff Brown is the host of the Read to Lead podcast . Read to Lead is recognized as one of the best-produced podcasts. Not only does Jeff Brown have the best voice in podcasting, he is a true professional. Jeff spent 26 years in the radio business and now brings his experience for...
Apr 28, 2015•53 min
Amanda Llanes returns to the Park Leaders Show to talk about her first season as a seasonal law enforcement ranger with the National Park Service. At the time of her first interview , Amanda was a cadet in the law enforcement academy. Now, she has been a seasonal ranger for one year. Amanda talks about her experience, what she looks forward to in her next seasonal assignment and her career ambitions. This interview with Amanda is the second part of a look at seasonal park rangers with the Nation...
Apr 21, 2015•20 min
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 l...
Apr 14, 2015•26 min
If you have listened to the Park Leaders Show for a while, you know Jack Hartt was a mentor of mine while I was a park ranger. It was my conversations with Jack early in my career which led me to believe that you would enjoy hearing similar conversations with leaders from all over the country. Talking with people from parks is important, but if we are really going to change the landscape of leadership in parks and recreation, we need to step outside of parks too. In this episode, we reach outsid...
Apr 07, 2015•35 min
After publishing an episode of the Park Leaders Show every week for 52 weeks, the microphone gets turned around. Jared Easley, host of Starve the Doubts , interviews Jody Maberry, the host of the Park Leaders Show. The usual host of the show answers questions about his career and what Park Leaders is all about.. Jared Easley helped Park Leaders get started by helping the host get started in podcasting. He was the obvious choice to be a guest host of this special episode of the Park Leaders Show....
Mar 31, 2015•27 min
For several summers, with the help of a group of tremendous volunteers, I ran a summer concert series at a park I worked at. We delighted park visitors with between six and nine concerts each summer. Concerts are a great way to bring new visitors to the park, provide more to regular visitors, and bridge a connection between the park and the community. Hosting the concert series, I got to meet many great musicians. Often, they would eat dinner with my family and spend the night at our house. One ...
Mar 24, 2015•29 min
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 ho...
Mar 17, 2015•54 min
Jeff Goins returns to the Park Leaders Show to discuss his new book, The Art of Work. The Art of Work is a proven path to discovering what you were meant to do. It is about finding your calling and being who you were meant to be. The book is wonderful. In my opinion, the best work Jeff Goins has done so far. But I admit, I have a personal connection to this book. I was fortunate enough to have my story, the story of becoming a park ranger and then walking away to something else, is part of this ...
Mar 10, 2015•34 min
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, ...
Mar 03, 2015•45 min
Outdoor recreation is not immune from the growing trend of technology. Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram are all a part of recreation for many people. A new digital platform, Campstake , is focusing on the digital side of recreation. Brandon Painter, co-founder of Campstake, joins the Park Leaders Show to talk about how the digital side of outdoor recreation can benefit parks. If you are reading this in email, CLICK HERE to listen to this episode. The team at Campstake hosts one of the fastest gr...
Feb 24, 2015•21 min
