On this episode of the Park Leaders Show, guest co-host, Phil Gaines, returns to discuss standard awareness in parks. Based on true stories, Jody and Phil discuss how parks should handle their facilities during financial hardships. Since one of the most important buildings in the park is the bathroom, park rangers must take care of […]
national parks
Operating with a Sense of Urgency
On this episode of the Park Leaders Show, guest co-host, Phil Gaines, returns to discuss the importance of operating with a sense of urgency. While urgency is often discussed as a function of time, as Phil explains, the term for park rangers should be viewed through intentionality. Like business leaders, park rangers should not reduce […]
A Park Ranger is Part of the Park Experience
On this episode of Park Leaders Show Phil Gaines joins me to talk about the changes in the recreation experience over the last few years. With the increase in crowds a ranger is a part of the park experience, possibly now more than ever. After a recent trip to Glacier National Park I noticed that […]
Ten People Who Influenced Conservation
On this episode of the Park Leaders Show, guest co-host, Phil Gaines, returns to discuss ten people that influenced conservation. From Theodore Roosevelt, Rachel Carson, Aldo Leopold, Steven Mather, and John Muir to Gifford Pinchot, Henry David Thoreau, Horace Albright, George Hartzog, Bob Stanton, and Fran Mainella. the list of American park heroes is lengthier […]
The Value of Parks to a State with Lt. Governor Spencer Cox
Spencer Cox, Lt. Governor of Utah, joins the Park Leaders Show to talk about the value of state and national parks to the state of Utah. Utah is fortunate to be home to five national parks, several national monuments and a thriving state parks system. The parks boost the economy and create jobs. Perhaps more […]
Connecting People to Parks Through Writing
Park Rangers are great storytellers. Sean Smith, former National Park Ranger, used the storytelling gift to write a series of thrillers with a park ranger as the hero. In this episode of the Park Leaders Show, Sean talks about how his time as a ranger led to writing Unleashing Colter’s Hell and Lost Cause. Sean tells us why […]
Can National Parks Remain Relevant?
Ray Murray could be considered an environmental elder. He has been working in the field of parks, recreation, and conservation for decades. Ray is currently the Partnerships Program Chief for the Pacific West Region of the National Park Service. In this interview, Ray shares the biggest changes he has seen during his time with the […]
African American National Parks Day with Teresa Baker
Consider your last visits to our National Parks. Just pick one, Yellowstone, Yosemite, Glacier, or Mount Ranier. How many African-American faces did you see on your visit? Even better, when was the last time you saw an African-American face under the flat hat? It is clear there is a piece missing if the faces you […]