Joseph Mayambo wants you to know about the National Parks of Gabon . Joseph wants everyone to know about Gabon National Parks. Gabon has one of the newest National Park Systems in the world. The World Ranger Congress was a perfect place for Rangers from Gabon to interact and exchange ideas with other Rangers from around the world. Joseph Mayambo and his comrades from Gabon State Parks spread a message of hope and enthusiasm about their parks. In this episode of the Park Leaders Show, Joseph Maya...
Oct 18, 2016•22 min
Adrian Fernandez has an influence on young up and coming leaders in the National Park Service . Adrian is the Manager of the ProRanger Program at Temple University. The ProRanger Program offers a unique opportunity to 12 candidates each year to gain park ranger experience before they become a ranger. In the classroom, they learn the knowledge they need to know, but the program gets them valued experience in the parks as well. Each summer, the students work as an intern in a National Park. Intern...
Oct 11, 2016•32 min
Historic means something entirely different in the United Kingdom than it does in the United States. Historic in the states is still fairly new compared to some of the historic buildings and landscapes found in the United Kingdom. Historic Landscape management in the United Kingdom can help parks in other countries understand how to manage landscape with historical significance. Janine Conner is a park ranger with the National Trust in the United Kingdom. She works at Tyntesfield , where she car...
Sep 20, 2016•26 min
At the World Ranger Congress, Ravis Henry gave a program about the Navajo culture. Rangers from around the world took in his stories and songs about his culture and experience as a ranger. Ravis has a story that is unique, even among park rangers. Ravis is a ranger at Canyon De Shelly National Monument . Canyo De Shelly is within the Navajo Nation and Ravis grew up in the park. Ravis joins the Park Leaders Show to discuss the World Ranger Congress, his unique way to tell stories, growing up wher...
Sep 13, 2016•26 min
Are we facing a dangerous conservation crisis? When the Director of US Fish & Wildlife Service says we are facing a conservation crisis, you can believe we have a problem. An article in Field & Stream discussed a speech Director Dan Ashe gave about three issues we are facing in parks and conservation that are moving us towards a crisis. In this episode of the Park Leaders Show, Director Ashen discusses the problems that are moving parks and conservation agencies towards irrelevancy. We t...
Aug 30, 2016•31 min
Daisy Martinez founded Trash Free Earth so her neighborhood park would look better. The idea spread and Trash Free Earth now hosts regular cleanups where a diverse collection of volunteers come together to make a park look beautiful. Trash Free Earth has created a patch challenge. People who accomplish all five elements of the challenge receive an exclusive patch. If a park hosts a cleanup, it will reinforce the idea that the park is responsible for cleaning up. If a community organization organ...
Aug 23, 2016•26 min
Shelton Johnson returns to the Park Leaders Show for episode 101. If you missed part 1 of his interview, you can listen to it here . In this episode, Shelton talks about the importance of telling stories. Shelton's Buffalo Soldiers program at Yosemite National Park has brought a story back to life that the world nearly forgot. Shelton also discusses making meaningful connections with people. "The surest way to change the future is to change today." - Shelton Johnson Shelton is the author of the ...
Aug 10, 2016•26 min
Being a park ranger is not usually a job that puts you in the spotlight. But every once in a while, a story gets discovered that needs to be shared with the world. That is what happened to Yosemite National Park Ranger Shelton Johnson . When he began telling the story of the Buffalo Soldiers experience in Yosemite , people began to notice. The story of theBuffalo Soldiers led to a pivotal role in Ken Burns' film series about the National Parks . Shelton got to meet Oprah . Shelton got to meet Pr...
Aug 04, 2016•32 min
Our parks and Disney World share many commonalities. Often, people save money and vacation time to visit both places. When guests hold a place in such high regard, what obligation do we have to them? Jeff Noel joins the Park Leaders Show to discuss how to create excellence. Jeff Noel spent 30 years at Disney World. The last 15 years at Disney, he taught at the Disney Institue. Over 15 years, Jeff spoke to over 1 Million people about how the Disney Way. If you want to make a park excellence, ther...
Jul 26, 2016•21 min
Recently, at the World Ranger Congress , a group of female delegates gathered to discuss issues woman face. This led me to consider how the female ranger experience is different than the male ranger experience, especially when it comes to leadership. When it comes to women's leadership, Ann Vertel is someone you want to know. Ann is a 20 year Naval officer, Motivational Psychologist, and leadership expert who helps individuals and organizations develop confident women leaders. In this episode of...
Jun 14, 2016•27 min
Gary Ananian is the founder of the Kern River Conservancy . He is a volunteer who pours his own time and money into protecting a river he loves. Vandalism and trash got so bad on the Kern River that Gary started camping elsewhere. The lure of the river brought him back, but he was again faced with trash and vandalism. When he discovered there was not a single conservation group dedicated to protecting the Kern River, he founded a group to begin to clean up the river. The Kern River was designate...
May 31, 2016•23 min
After a backpacking trip to Glacier National Park, I passed through the Yaak Valley. I was intrigued by the beauty of the valley. It just felt different than most other places I had visited. Shortly after my short visit to the Yaak Valley, I discovered a book called The Book of Yaak by Rick Bass . I began devouring Rick Bass' books, and I returned to the Yaak. Over the years, I hiked many miles and spent many nights in the Yaak Valley. And read many Rick Bass books. Rick used his words to bring ...
May 17, 2016•34 min
Even in an urban setting, there is wilderness all around. Birds, bugs, plants are not just getting by, but thriving living in a city. Most people never notice. Most people quickly move from one place to another without looking up or down to see the life around them. Or, wildlife is so common it goes unnoticed. When was the last time you thought about a pigeon? Or a snail? So much life in a city goes unseen. Nathanael Johnson not only noticed the urban wilderness around him, he wrote a book about...
May 11, 2016•27 min
Armando Quintero spent 22 years with the National Park Service. Now, Armando is the Executive Director of the Sierra Nevada Research Institute at The University of California, Merced. When Armando left his career as parks, he knew his background would allow him to be an advocate for parks from the outside. Experience from the inside and the outside of parks has given Armando a unique perspective of our parks and their place in our society. Armando discusses the importance of adaptive leadership ...
May 03, 2016•28 min
Matt Carroll did not follow a typical path to becoming a Superintendent with the National Park Service. During a full career with the Air Force, Matt picked up all the skills he would need to be a Park Superintendent; management, budgets, leadership, operations and more. He also volunteered with the National Park Service for many years before he retired from the Air Force. Typically, by the time a ranger becomes a superintendent, he or she has been immersed in the culture of the park service for...
Apr 26, 2016•31 min
Sam Ovett and Jenna Hanger are living a life that will make you jealous. It makes me jealous. Sam and Jenna are Traveling Trainers for Leave No Trace . They travel the western United States teaching the principals of Leave No Trace to students, communities, volunteers, and government agencies. As Traveling Trainers, they visit some of our most beautiful places and spend over 250 nights per year camping. Spending so much time together worked out well for Sam and Jenna. They are engaged to be marr...
Apr 19, 2016•28 min
Brandon Kramer joins the Park Leaders Show to talk about the new documentary film, City of Trees . City of Trees follows Washington Parks and People as the organization uses a grant to plant trees in parks Washington DC. The story plays out with struggle and triumph as the organization as you get to know people who are hired to plant trees. During the film, you will learn about a community, learn about the men who are hired to plant trees, and learn about the organization trying to make it all w...
Apr 12, 2016•27 min
Many park agencies face budget struggles. Michigan State Parks faced the issues head-on by exploring new ways to add value to what parks offer. Ron Olson, Chief of Michigan State Parks , joins the Park Leaders Show to explain the innovative ideas Michigan explored and implemented to survive budget cuts and offer more to park visitors. In this episode, Mr. Olson will explain the programs and services Michigan State Parks offered to guests to enhance recreational opportunities and increase funding...
Apr 05, 2016•36 min
Caroline Blizzard is the Director of the Deep Creek Lake State Park Discovery Center . Caroline has created a successful education program about monarch butterflies. In this episode, you will learn how an education program in a park in Maryland has had an impact on the local community as well as a community in Mexico. Caroline will also share tips on how you can create a powerful educational program at your park.
Feb 23, 2016•20 min
Private sector involvement in public parks is an issue most people are not indifferent on. Usually, people either see it as a solution to many of the problems parks face, or they are against any private involvement. You may not realize how involved the private sector is already involved in parks. John joins the Park Leaders Show to discuss the benefit of private sector involvement in parks. John Koeberer is the president of the California Parks Company . The California Parks Company has a presen...
Feb 09, 2016•29 min
On this episode of the Park Leaders Show, John Griffith shares the story of creating the Bioblitz Dance with the encouragement and support of Rue Mapp of Outdoor Afro . John explains the reason for the Bioblitz Dance and the steps of the Bioblitz Dance. John Griffith challenges you and your park to do a Bioblitz Dance. If you do a Bioblitz Dance and let us know you are doing the dance because of the show, we will send you Park Leaders stickers for everyone who participates in the dance. You just...
Jan 26, 2016•37 min
Fort McHenry National Monument is one of Steve Clark's favorite National Parks. It is not for the obvious reasons either. It is because of baseball. Steve got his connection to the outdoors through baseball. Of course, the national anthem is sung before every baseball game. The Star Spangled Banner was birthed at Fort McHenry. Steve's story is an example of how many people are connected to parks in different ways to different parks for different reasons. Now, Steve is the Superintendent of the N...
Jan 12, 2016•34 min
In recent episodes of the Park Leaders Show, both Alan Spears and Jon Jarvis mentioned the Greening Youth Foundation . When two people I respect both mention the same organization, I know I have to look deeper. Angelou Ezeilo joins the Park Leaders Show to share her story and explain the work of Greening Youth Foundation. Greening Youth Foundation has had tremendous success engaging underrepresented youth and diverse youth to nature. Greening Youth Foundation connects parks to diverse workers wh...
Jan 05, 2016•38 min
Alan Latourelle served as CEO of Parks Canada from 2002 to 2015. Alan joins the Park Leaders Show to discuss Parks Canada. In this episode, Latourelle talks about his experience as CEO. He also discusses Parks Canada Centennial, the growth of Parks Canada, and getting more Canadian youth into parks. We also explore the relationship between Parks Canada and First Nations. Indigenous people are 8% of Parks Canada staff and 12% of Parks Canada Executives.
Dec 22, 2015•26 min
Jon Jarvis , Director of the National Park Service , join the Park Leaders Show. Director Jarvis discusses his career, the National Parks Centennial, and the one thing National Parks offers you can find nowhere else. I was at a conference with Director Jarvis, and we were able to sit down for a face to face interview. During our conversation, Jon outlines his career path with the National Park Service and some of his milestones along the way. We talk about the preparation and planning for the Na...
Dec 08, 2015•43 min
Dawn Carr is the Executive Director of the Canadian Parks Council . The Canadian Parks Council is an organization that unites national and provincial parks all across the country. Canadian Parks Council offers a Park System Leadership Course focused on developing excellent leaders in parks. Dawn offers that humility is the one common trait of leaders who participate in the Park Leadership Course. I had the pleasure to meet Dawn in person at the Inspiring a New Generation Summit . In this episode...
Dec 01, 2015•30 min
Episode 80 of the Park Leaders Show is ten random park related ideas. Individually, the ideas did not make a full episode. Collectively, the ideas create an episode of 10 ideas in 10 minutes (11 minutes, actually, but 10 in 10 sounds better). I recently attended the Ranger Rendezvous and the Inspiring a New Generation Summit . Next on my list is the CA Parks Training Conference , where I will give two presentations and be part of a panel discussion. If you would like Park Leaders founder, Jody M...
Nov 24, 2015•11 min
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 t...
Nov 17, 2015•40 min
Cam Sholly joins the Park Leaders Show to offer a look at the National Park Service from a Region perspective. Cam is the Region Director for the Midwest Region of the National Park Service . In this episode, Cam explains how the Region offices offer support to parks throughout the region by putting Parks First. Cam discusses his experience as a ranger in the field as a Chief Ranger and Park Superintendent and moving into positions in Washington DC and a Region office. This episode will give you...
Nov 03, 2015•32 min
Geocaching has been a popular outdoor activity for 15 years. It is in your park, or near your park. People will travel for miles to find a Geocache. Now, GeoTours can help parks create a deliberate, curated experience for visitors. A GeoTour is a collection of geocaches that take people on a tour of a specific area. Each stop can highlight a natural feature, a historical fact, a cultural resource, and tell a story. GeoTours have been used to highlight entire park systems, like this GeoTour with ...
Oct 27, 2015•20 min
