“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. […]
Park Leadership
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
The Politics of Public Lands
After a recent expedition to Chile with The Nature Conservancy, I returned home reflecting on a global truth: public lands are political. Whether it’s South America or South Carolina, land conservation stirs up a lot of passion. For many people it’s complexity can also lead to quite a bit of debate. For years, I’ve avoided […]
The National Parks Classroom
“I’m going to do something that’s connected to the national parks or our or a state park near me so that I can use my knowledge and see the real world impact it has. And that way, I never am stuck in class asking, why is this important? Why on earth do I have to […]
The Role of Philanthropy in Parks
“Nothing gets done without partners. And in fact, it’s way more fun when you get to do it with other people.” Philanthropy is a powerful tool that often goes unnoticed in the world of park management. This week, I had the privilege of diving deep into this crucial topic with Sarah Unz, Vice President of […]
Attention to Details Matter to Park Guests
“The small stuff is where you create that memory or you create an impression that never leaves them. Attention to those little details really matter.” Attention to details isn’t just a small matter; it can transform the experience of park visitors. In the latest episode of the Park Leaders Show, Phil Gaines returns for a […]
What Has Changed in Parks in the Last Decade
“If you look back over the last 100 years of significant events in America’s parks, state, national, local, that, you know, on that list of the top 10 or 15 things that’s changed the way we manage parks is, how we did the pandemic.” We just celebrated a major milestone—300 episodes of the Park Leaders […]
Volunteer Projects to Enhance Tourism
“We have to do more things with younger people to make sure they know what a cool industry we are and that there are so many different job opportunities that aren’t just front line.” The dedication of park professionals is undeniable, especially when they are all together in one place. At the annual in-service for […]