“I’ve never been there early enough to see the sunrise, but I’ve been there late enough to see the sunset. And it does have a really pretty sunset.”
It’s not every day you get to hear from someone about their experience working at the park they group up in. However, that is exactly what my daughter, Gretel, spent her summer doing at Fort Flagler State Park. I couldn’t be more grateful to have her joining Phil Gaines and I to share her insights into what makes Fort Flagler so special.
Gretel’s work at the park was a full-circle moment. Her experience is also a testament to the power of persistence and passion around our parks. Her dedication, including countless interactions she had with park visitors, reminded me why we do what we do.
During our conversation, Gretel shared invaluable insights, like the importance of training for seasonals and the incredible memories made along the trails and at the gun emplacements of Fort Flagler State Park. This episode also shares:
- The importance of training seasonal employees to enhance visitor experience.
- Insights on how seasonal work can foster a lifelong appreciation and care for parks.
- Practical tips for park rangers to better support their seasonal staff.
The stories facing challenges and the meaningful connections that are made felt like the exact fuel we all need to keep up our work around the parks. Thank you for being a valued member of the Park Leaders community. Together, we can change the landscape of leadership in parks and conservation.
Resources
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Notable Moments
02:04 Common Questions from Visitors
06:33 Importance of Seasonal Training
08:02 Day in the Life of a Park Employee
10:12 Family adventures with bears.