Phil Gaines, returns to discuss ways park rangers can help outside conservationists. While rules and procedures are necessary for national park success, as Phil explains, integrating external voices into collaboration and activation is critical. Often, those in uniform want help from those not in uniform but within their terms and parameters. The question is: How can park rangers help non-rangers advocate national resources and wildlife without overyielding? As Jody and Phil conclude, though the...
May 11, 2021•30 min•Ep. 227
On this episode of the Park Leaders Show, new director of Indiana State Parks, Terry Coleman, joins the show to discuss his story and the importance of long-term resource decisions. Having served as deputy director of state parks since 2014, Terry has been operating as interim state parks director since August. With skills in long-term resource decision-making, Terry explains how he achieved the position and why strategic planning is critical during short administrations. Per his experiences, st...
May 04, 2021•33 min•Ep. 226
On this episode of the Park Leaders Show, guest cohost, Phil Gaines, returns to discuss his philosophy on multi-tasking. While most assume multi-tasking is a strength, as Jody and Phil explain, there are better ways to be productive. For instance, with park management, the focus for a ranger should not be to execute multiple responsibilities simultaneously but strategically prioritize through empowerment, compartmentalization, and planning. In this way, rangers can be the best managers they can ...
Apr 27, 2021•25 min•Ep. 225
Milward Simpson, Executor Director for the National Association of Interpretation and former park ranger, joins the show to discuss the power of interpretation. With a diverse career portfolio, Milward shares how his park ranger experience helped prepare him for his current job at NAI. As he explains, while each role, from the artistic director of a theme park to the administrator of a state historic preservation agency, improved his skills as an administrator in conservation arenas, the key to ...
Apr 20, 2021•31 min•Ep. 224
On this episode of the Park Leaders Show, Doug Peacock joins the show to discuss his latest project, Save The Yellowstone Grizzly. A long-time naturalist, Doug founded STYG in 2016 to advocate safety and recovery of grizzlies south of Canada. As he explains, the removal of grizzly bears in Yellowstone National Park should be a national priority following the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s March 2016 delisting announcement. With the agency’s dismissal of climate change and relocation urgency, D...
Apr 13, 2021•43 min•Ep. 223
On this episode of the Park Leaders Show, David Van Cleve, joins the show to discuss locational stability in a park ranger career. As David shares in his book, ‘ A Greatness of Spirit: Tales of Extraordinary Rangers at the Heart of California's State Park System ’, few rangers stay the course within one state park; however, for those who do, they carry unique perspectives worth exploring. For instance, as regional managers and supervisors, rangers who stay in one park throughout their tenure hav...
Apr 06, 2021•29 min•Ep. 222
On this episode of the Park Leaders Show, Phil Francis joins Jody and Phil Gaines to discuss working with support groups. A retired superintendent of the Blue Ridge Parkway, Francis explains how friends groups can help maintain accountability among park rangers and leaders. For instance, through networking, advocacy, and project development, friends groups can call on experienced members to speak for resources and park mission whether it involves testifying before Congress or writing letters to ...
Mar 30, 2021•30 min•Ep. 221
Ben Novak, the lead scientist of the biotechnology nonprofit Revive & Restore, joins the show to discuss his historic breakthrough. A conservation activist, Ben shares the story of Elizabeth Ann, a black-footed ferret, recently cloned as part of a project with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Revive & Restore, and the San Diego Zoo. With a passion for saving endangered species, Ben plans to reintroduce similar species to their habitats through artificial insemination as a genetic resc...
Mar 23, 2021•1 hr 14 min•Ep. 220
In this episode of the Park Leaders Show, Matt Holloway, a former ranger at Glacier National park, and his 11-year-old daughter, Harper, joins the show to discuss their epic hiking adventure. After hiking 160 miles of the Pacific Northwest Trail Reroute in 19 days, Matt and Harper share their motivations and takeaways from the experience. While part of their inspiration was to deter hunter activism, the primary objective was to raise conservation awareness for grizzly bears. By hiking the trail,...
Mar 16, 2021•33 min•Ep. 219
Phil Gaines, retired Director of South Carolina State Parks, returns to discuss how COVID-19 is impacting park visitation and user groups. While the pandemic has reduced the number of new visitors in national parks, there are still some encouraging trends for park rangers. For instance, while bottom-line attendance may be down, certain demographics like women, youth, and seniors are making more frequent trips to parks. As Phil explains, though more time is needed to monitor these trends, such pa...
Mar 09, 2021•37 min•Ep. 218
Phil Gaines, the semi-regular guest host, returns to discuss annual performance reviews. While some employers view annual reviews as obligations, the truth is these evaluations are critical to an organization's success. As Phil explains, the best annual performance reviews involve checkmarks throughout the year to maintain consistency. To evaluate performance correctly, supervisors should gauge progress on monthly to quarterly intervals using surveys or 1:1 meetings. Furthermore, annual performa...
Mar 02, 2021•25 min•Ep. 217
Barrie Gilbert, a bear biologist and author of ‘One of Us: A Biologist’s Walk Among Bears’, joins the show to discuss his research and resources. Having survived a near-fatal attack by a bear in 1977 In Yellowstone Park, Gilbert has devoted his career to wildlife discovery. For over four decades, Gilbert’s scientific inquiries have inspired a new generation to study bear behavior and habitation preservation. Ultimately, his work has changed the narrative concerning the perception of grizzlies in...
Feb 23, 2021•57 min•Ep. 216
In this episode of the Park Leaders Show, Phil Gaines, retired Director of South Carolina State Parks, returns to discuss how parks can maximize their winter seasons. For most parks, tourism is high in the summer, low in the winter. As visitation decreases during the cold months, the opportunities for special projects increase. The question is: How do parks best utilize their downtime to avoid lost time? As Phil explains, while winter work projects vary upon location and climate, the bottom line...
Feb 16, 2021•18 min•Ep. 215
Phil Gaines, retired Director of South Carolina State Parks, returns to discuss strong park culture. While some say culture is how you do things, the truth is discovering culture goes much deeper. For instance, when a new park ranger obtains a new role, they instantly inherit a culture. In some cases, the culture may be unhealthy; in others, it may be rich in tradition. Whatever the situation, knowing the formal structure and informal influencers is critical to quality management. As Phil explai...
Feb 09, 2021•28 min•Ep. 214
Rick Bass, an acclaimed author, and native of Yak Valley discuss challenges affecting national parks and the importance of sharing experiences. From climate change to conservation conflicts, Rick explains why we should pass stories of environmental struggles to future generations. In his mind, the obligation to preserve history and raise awareness are community values and expressions of courage. If one seeks to inspire influence, one must be willing not only to lend a voice but share the whole s...
Jan 26, 2021•52 min•Ep. 213
Phil Gaines, retired Director of South Carolina State Parks, returns to discuss what it means to be a well-rounded ranger. As Phil explains, the expectations for rangers have evolved considerably in recent decades. During the ’60s, ’70s, and ’80s, the idea was a ranger should know how to build homes and service plumbing and electrical units; however, nowadays, rangers carry more generalist roles. For instance, while rangers can act as technicians, it would be better for them to hire contractors ...
Dec 29, 2020•29 min•Ep. 212
In this episode of the Park Leaders Show, Phil Gaines, retired Director of South Carolina State Parks, returns to discuss the funnier side of visitor reviews. While some low-star reviews are unwarranted, as Jody and Phil explain, they can also provide a unique perspective. Sometimes, a new visitor question or a trite online review can reflect ignorance, even humor; however, the key is considering the context. For instance, when a tourist says an outrageous comment, rather than write it off, appr...
Nov 24, 2020•27 min•Ep. 211
Today on the ‘Park Leaders Show’, Phil Gaines, retired Director of South Carolina State Parks, returns to discuss the value of interpretive services. As Phil notes, many parks are applying budget cuts to interpretive services and discontinuing in-person programming due to COVID-19; however, while the physical returns have dwindled, the online returns have been surprisingly high. While interactive platforming is a helpful tool, as Phil explains, if a park wants to maintain its interpretive servic...
Nov 17, 2020•30 min•Ep. 210
On today’s episode of the ‘Park Leaders Show’, Cam Sholly, Superintendent of Yellowstone National Park, joins the show to discuss prioritizing park responsibilities. Of these umbrella priorities, Cam explains five in particular: workforce development, strengthening ecosystems and cultural resources, resource accessibility and park experience, investing in infrastructures, and building coalitions and partnerships. In all endeavors, Cam emphasizes the importance of adaptability, positivity, and te...
Nov 10, 2020•58 min•Ep. 209
Today Reggie Williams, ex-NFL linebacker, former Disney executive, and social reformer, returns to discuss how inclusion should look in state parks. When we talk about popular tourist attractions, we often think inclusion is exclusive to participants after they’ve engaged. Popular among park leaders is the idea once the gates open, their staff should be ready to serve those who enter. While this notion is partially true, as Reggie and I explain, inclusive is a two-way exchange that starts with p...
Nov 03, 2020•30 min•Ep. 208
Today, on the ‘Park Leaders Show’, Phil Gaines returns to discuss new takes on the park visitor experience. Per recent travels, Phil unpacks some lessons learned having toured local parks as a visitor. One principle he stresses is good leaders view the park experience through the eyes of the visitor. To facilitate a positive environment, a park ranger would best serve tourists working through their lens as opposed to a checklist. Likewise, the ranger would allow staff to contribute feedback on h...
Oct 13, 2020•18 min•Ep. 207
Phil Gains is back with me and today’s episode is the first in a series on interviewing to be a park ranger. This topic was suggested five years ago by Cassidy, a new ranger, and it is a loaded topic. We are unpacking Cassidy’s experience, as well as sharing our own experience as leaders in the Parks system. We explore seven topics today; information that will be valuable no matter where you are on your journey as a park’s employee. We dig into the importance of being adaptable, having a degree ...
Oct 06, 2020•39 min•Ep. 206
Today guest favorite, Phil Gaines, returns to discuss the park ranger’s role in customer service. When a tourist visits a national park, seeing a park ranger can be the equivalent of finding Mickey Mouse at Disney World. Especially for newcomers, there’s often a sense of awe built into the experience whenever a park ranger shows up. As such, Phil encourages park leaders not only to be mindful of their daily priorities but to see themselves as part of the story visitors share. After all, for the ...
Sep 29, 2020•23 min•Ep. 205
Sep 22, 2020•18 min•Ep. 204
Dan Bortner, the recently promoted Director of Indiana Department of Natural Resources, joins me today. With 15 years as a State Parks Director, Dan has transitioned into overseeing not only all of Indiana’s State Parks but the regulatory aspects beyond land holdings as well. At every level of leadership within parks, being surrounded by the best talent you can afford can make or break the culture. Forming the right team, regardless of “qualifications,” will build a sustainable infrastructure. I...
Sep 15, 2020•20 min•Ep. 203
Phil Gains, my semi-regular co-host, is with me once again; and today, we are tackling a listener’s question. Special thanks to Sean Bonage for submitting this episode’s question. Sean asks, “What do you think are some of the most critical topics that you think need addressing that could help inspire a graduate student in their effort to better public land experiences for park visitors?” As we answer Sean’s question, we consider the importance of not relying on the traditional use of public land...
Sep 01, 2020•25 min
Today, Mark Caughlin, district manager for Horsetooth Reservoir and park ranger for the Larimer Country Resources department, joins us to discuss his career pathway. Working within the Colorado county system, Mark explains how his jobs have been impacted by the Fort Collins population boom as well as the coronavirus. He also talks about his responsibilities with Park Law Enforcement Association and how he hopes to inspire more park ranger training programs around the country. Mark also talks abo...
Aug 04, 2020•32 min
On this special episode of the Park Leaders Show, Phil Gaines returns to discuss how the podcast has evolved the past six years. After debuting in April 2014, the Park Leaders Show continues to pursue its niche in educating park rangers on the value of leadership. As Jody explains, there have been many lessons learned during the podcast’s run, but the reward has been well worth the investment. To conclude the show, Jody and Phil revisit their most frequently asked question, “ What advice do you ...
Jul 21, 2020•35 min•Ep. 200
In this episode of the Park Leaders Show, Phil Gaines joins me again as my semi-regular guest host. Today, we are diving deep on employee motivation and how we, as leaders, can help to sustain it, even in trying times. The current landscape of our nation can feel like it is one thing after another. In these times, it is necessary to keep a pulse on our team and provide motivation. In seasons as we find ourselves in, even the most motivated employees can be struggling. Often we view money as the ...
Jun 30, 2020•25 min•Ep. 199
On today’s episode of the Park Leaders Show, we have an old friend joining us. John Griffith has guested on six episodes over the past six years and has been integral in the growth of the show. John is a huge voice in the conservation movement and has worked to educate the masses for many years with a 19-year stint in the California Conservation Core and as the host of Wild Jobs on Animal Planet. John has now transitioned to a place of passion as a Nature Guide or Interpreter for the North Coast...
Jun 23, 2020•33 min•Ep. 198
