On this episode of the Park Leaders Show, guest co-host, Phil Gaines, returns to discuss why rangers should commit to their campaign hat. While dress code is often a subjective topic, for park rangers, the uniform plays a valuable role. While badges have their place, as Phil explains, the campaign hat designates authority and captures […]
Podcast
Should Parks be Self-Sufficient
On this episode of the Park Leaders Show, guest co-host, Phil Gaines, returns to discuss why parks should be financially sufficient. While a complex topic in execution, the bottom line for a park’s financial structure is simple: Each state park should be sufficient to maintain operating expenses including maintenance and personnel. As Phil explains, this […]
State Park Leadership School
On this episode of the Park Leaders Show, guest co-host, Phil Gaines, returns to discuss his final experience at the State Park Leadership School. Started by the National Association of Park Directors in 2005, Phil unpacks his role with the school in finding instructors, inspiring attendance, and delivering content. Since each state has different guidelines […]
Remembering Why We Do the Job
On this episode of the Park Leaders Show, Park Supervisor, Rowdy Perry, joins the show to discuss his love and appreciation for state parks. As a former ranger turned supervisor for the Michigan Department of Nature Resources, Rowdy unpacks the attendance rise in his state, the psychological safety parks bring, and how park leaders should […]
Intended Consequences in Conversation
On this episode of the Park Leaders Show, Ben Novak, Lead Scientist at Revive & Restore, rejoins the show to share recent conservation success stories. While intended consequences may seem like a vague term, in the context of environment preservation, this often refers to the calculated controlling of species and habitats to sustain life. In […]
How to Build a Winning Team
On this episode of the Park Leaders Show, guest co-host, Host of the “Build a Winning Team” podcast, and former COO of Story Brand, joins the show to discuss his story and definition of success. A man of many hats, Tim Schurrer talks about the value of humility within a teamwork setting. Per his experiences, […]
Using Fees to Sustain Visitor Experiences
On this episode of the Park Leaders Show, guest co-host, Phil Gaines, returns to discuss new economic trends within park management. In the wake of the pandemic, park visitors have increased around the country. Yet, while the uptick in retention has been a silver lining, the population boom has led to new opportunities. As more […]
Building a Better Park Culture
On this episode of the Park Leaders Show, special guest, Michelle Baker, former Director of Disney Institute, and business leader at Disney Cruise Line, joins the show to discuss ways to build a better park culture. As Michelle explains, the emerging generation of park leaders and visitors have a deep desire to leave a lasting […]
What Should You Call Park Visitors
On this episode of the Park Leaders Show, guest co-host, Phil Gaines, returns to discuss the proper title for park visitors. As Phil explains, while there’s a transactional element involving visitors, they aren’t best described as customers or guests due to service intent. Since state and national parks are for the public, the goal for […]
What are People in Parks Talking About?
On this episode of the Park Leaders Show, guest co-host, Phil Gaines, returns to discuss popular themes and topics from today’s tourists. Having spoken at several park ranger conferences in recent weeks, Phil notes the common denominators of frequently asked questions. The most common threads? Visitor retention and voluntary compliance. As Phil explains, while many […]