“When people see fire only as destruction, we miss the opportunity to understand it and to prepare for what’s coming next.” Wildfire is one of those topics that most people think they have an understanding of. That tends to change once they spend time with someone who has seen a wildfire up close. Stuart Palley […]
Conservation Through Travel Experiences
, “Sometimes one experience is all it takes to awaken a new passion.” There are many paths to making a meaningful impact on conservation. Christopher Hill grew up surrounded by the mountains, trails, and wild spaces of New Zealand and Australia. That early connection to the outdoors eventually shaped a career where travel and conservation […]
Citizen Conservation with Wolves
“The more we can let people know, the better it is for the wolves, the better it is for our conservation efforts.” If you spend enough time around parks or conservation work, you’ll meet plenty of people who are fascinated by wolves. But every now and then, you meet someone whose passion also it creates […]
A Look at the Parks and Restoration Podcast
“When you create a thriving ecosystem you’ll have people that are motivated to go and do good work, move your organization forward, and make an impact on the people and resources that you serve.” Chris Lee has a clear passion for parks and the people who care for them. Our recent conversation gave us a […]
Disruptive Innovation in Parks
“Disruptive innovation in parks rarely starts big. It’s often the small changes that reshape how people connect with the outdoors.” When we think about disruptive innovation, it’s easy to picture flashy technology or massive breakthroughs. But in parks, disruption often comes in quieter, smaller packages. In 1957, a plastic cooler showed up in a […]
Takes From a Wilderness Warrior
“Fear often comes from not knowing. Once you take time to learn, fear can turn into respect.” When I first started visiting national parks, I’ll admit, I was scared of grizzly bears. I don’t mean cautious. I mean nervous-to-go-on-the-trail scared. Over time, that changed. Watching how bears behave, listening to people who had lived […]
The Future of National Parks
“Sometimes steady leadership, or keeping the park on course, is the most important thing we can offer.” When Jon Jarvis returns to the show, it always feels like catching up with an old friend who has walked the trails of history and still sees the path ahead. Jon, former Director of the National Park Service, […]
Law Enforcement in Parks
“Every contact we have is an opportunity to build or destroy a relationship.” When Phil Gaines and I first met, it was during a debate about law enforcement in parks. Law enforcement in parks is one of those topics that never lands neatly. It stirs opinions, passion, and often brings more questions than answers. For […]
The Four Types of Park Managers
“You take care of the people, and they will take care of the park.” What kind of park manager did you grow up under? As simple as that question sounds, it has been sitting with me for over a decade. I first jotted down notes about the types of park managers I had encountered back […]
Back to the Future of Parks
“Every park has trees and trails. What makes people come back is you.” The future of parks starts with people. In this episode, I share my keynote at Michigan DNR’s in-service event where I why you are the difference. When Michigan State Parks invited me back to speak at their in-service event, I had no […]