“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 […]
Park Ranger
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 […]
Takes From a Wilderness Warrior
“Fear often comes from not knowing. Once you take time to learn, fear can turn into respect.” When I first started visiting national parks, I’ll admit, I was scared of grizzly bears. I don’t mean cautious. I mean nervous-to-go-on-the-trail scared. Over time, that changed. Watching how bears behave, listening to people who had lived […]
The Future of National Parks
“Sometimes steady leadership, or keeping the park on course, is the most important thing we can offer.” When Jon Jarvis returns to the show, it always feels like catching up with an old friend who has walked the trails of history and still sees the path ahead. Jon, former Director of the National Park Service, […]
The Four Types of Park Managers
“You take care of the people, and they will take care of the park.” What kind of park manager did you grow up under? As simple as that question sounds, it has been sitting with me for over a decade. I first jotted down notes about the types of park managers I had encountered back […]
Back to the Future of Parks
“Every park has trees and trails. What makes people come back is you.” The future of parks starts with people. In this episode, I share my keynote at Michigan DNR’s in-service event where I why you are the difference. When Michigan State Parks invited me back to speak at their in-service event, I had no […]
Protecting Pucheguin – An Underdog Conservation Story
“When you truly love a place, you do whatever it takes to protect it, even if it takes a decade.” I recently returned from Chile, where I witnessed one of the most inspiring conservation stories I’ve ever encountered. Rodrigo Condeza and Jose Claro are two remarkable individuals who have spent over a decade fighting to […]
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 […]
Dealing With Administrative Change
“You have to be ready because change is constant, and you have to be able to adapt and adjust.” As the retired director of South Carolina State Parks and a current professor at Clemson University, Phil Gaines has wisdom on navigating administrative changes in park systems that is invaluable. Phil joined me to break down the […]
Connecting With Nature in the Classroom
“They’ve done studies observing children in a park. They issue the more organized places like a like a soccer field or basketball court, but the kids always end up on the edges where the trees or the brush is just messing around.” Childhood adventures in nature often shape a lifetime of curiosity and exploration. Yet, […]