On today's episode of the Park Leaders Show, we have an old friend joining us. John Griffith has guested on six episodes over the past six years and has been integral in the growth of the show. John is a huge voice in the conservation movement and has worked to educate the masses for many years with a 19-year stint in the California Conservation Core and as the host of Wild Jobs on Animal Planet.

John has now transitioned to a place of passion as a Nature Guide or Interpreter for the North Coast District of California State Parks. While tenure may have him as the "new guy", his background in social media and creating relevant education have helped him build a thriving educational program even during the current pandemic we are experiencing.

Today we discuss the importance of empowering guests and visitors to recreate the awe they experience in a natural setting and translate it to the nature around them in their daily lives. The importance of sowing seeds of inspiration in the short touchpoints nature guides have is key to taking their visit from terminal to transformative. By associating learning about nature with fun and utilizing entertaining methods, a passion for conservation can be cultivated one visitor at a time.

Episode resources:

Book Recommendation: Bringing Nature Home – by Douglas W. Tallamy

https://www.amazon.com/Bringing-Nature-Home-Wildlife-Expanded-ebook/dp/B003UV8ZTE/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=Bringing+Nature+Home&qid=1589334645&sr=8-1&tag=stephprodu-20

Humbolt Redwood State Park Page –https://www.facebook.com/HumboldtRedwoodsStatePark/

Facebook Page: @Griffwilds - https://www.facebook.com/GriffWild/

Facebook Group: @Griffswildtips https://www.facebook.com/groups/GriffsWildTips/

Instagram: @thenaturenut https://www.instagram.com/thenaturenut/

YouTube: John Griffith https://www.youtube.com/user/TotemMagicGoingMAD