“You cannot personally make sure every visitor has a great time… but you can make sure at least one visitor has a great experience.” It is the moment every park leader prepares for all winter long. The busy summer season has officially arrived. All those maintenance projects you hoped to finish are either done, or […]
Art in Parks
“The best park art helps you feel like you’re standing there.” Art has a unique ability to help us see familiar places in a new way. Arden Von Haeger’s work has a way of capturing the emotional connection people feel when they experience a national park. He is a professional illustrator, retired university professor, and […]
Using Technology to Enhance Recreation
“Parks become even more meaningful when you can share the memories that can be made there.” Technology and outdoor recreation don’t always seem like natural partners. But it does when the technology can deepen the connection people have with parks. All Road Taken has done just that by helping families discover new places, track their […]
Dealing with Depression and Anxiety in Parks
“When someone changes, something has changed in their life.” In parks, there’s an expectation that we should love our jobs. We work in beautiful places, serve the public, and often have what people call “the best job in the world.” That expectation can make it even harder to recognize when something isn’t right. There was […]
You Don’t Pick Your Legacy
“Legacy is not what you leave for people. It’s what you leave in people.” Legacy is something most leaders think about, especially in parks where the work feels meaningful and lasting. It’s easy to believe your legacy will be the projects you complete or the improvements you leave behind. But that’s not how it works. […]
Enhancing Parks, Museums, and Exhibits
“Technology should enhance the story without intruding on the landscape.” Some of the best ideas for parks come from outside the park system. That’s why I enjoy bringing in guests who see visitor experiences from a different perspective. In this episode, we welcome Tim Steinour, executive producer for BPI, a company that specializes in immersive […]
The History of Women Who Worked the Fire Lookouts
“These women helped protect our forests long before most people realized their role.” Sometimes the most powerful park stories come from people who are curious enough to go looking for them. That’s one reason I enjoy welcoming Allison Martin back to the show. Allison is an English teacher from Indiana and the host of IN […]
Keys to Good Leadership
“It may not be your fault, but it is your responsibility.” Leadership is on the minds of a lot of people right now. Across parks and conservation, we’re seeing transitions. Open superintendent positions. Agencies without permanent directors. People stepping into leadership roles earlier than they expected. When that happens, uncertainty creeps in. And when uncertainty […]
The Moment of Truth for Park Visitors
“You don’t get a second chance at a first impression.” There are certain ideas that stick with you because they simplify something complex. The “moment of truth” is one of those ideas. I first learned the phrase from Lee Cockerell, former executive vice president of Walt Disney World. A moment of truth happens when a […]
Stories From the 1979 Alaska Ranger Task Force
“We were sent to Alaska to show the flag, explain why we were there, and make sure nobody got hurt. None of that was guaranteed.” Some stories are so intense, so consequential, that they don’t fit neatly into history books. They live instead in the people who were there. Walt Dabney is one of those […]