"If you educate and train your employees on the very front end, it makes for so much better summer season."

Spring is here and the parks are already starting to get busy with visitors. That is why it is important that you get your park ready for summer well in advance of their arrival.

Part of taking the time to get the park ready includes making sure all the employees are trained and educated for a busy season. Iif you don't do the little things to prepare, the season could prove to be unmanageable and unfulfilling. Documenting your process and experience each year is critical to future success. The crew this year may not be there next year. How then will you tackle this monumental task of getting the parks ready?

In this episode we talk about why it is important to:

• Implement strategies to prepare parks for the summer season based on past experiences.
• Recognize the significance of proper training and education for park employees to enhance their efficiency.
• Streamline park management by understanding how to document and optimize maintenance processes.
• Discover ways to adapt your park management practices to the reduced downtime in today's fast-paced world.
• Leverage the power of community involvement for the greater cause of park conservation and preservation.
• It can be difficult for park managers to know how to best prepare for the busy season. From outdated strategies to ineffective solutions, there are plenty of things that could make anyone overwhelmed. That is why Phil Gaines is back to share valuable lessons from his experiences to help you create proactive preparation strategies.

"Act, don't react."

Episode Highlights: 00:01:13 - Phil recommends beginning preparation for the summer season at the end of the previous summer by listing what worked and what didn't work. 00:05:53 - Setting the stage for employees to get ready for the summer season includes working on attitude and atmosphere by making sure employees have a positive mindset and are ready to deal with crowds and demands. 00:07:01 - Document all processes and procedures for getting the park ready for the summer, create a list of maintenance items, and check all equipment. Ride along with maintenance staff and park rangers to see what they see and hear what they talk about. 00:09:54 - Writing out the script of what a visitor's experience should be, including driving into the park, going through the welcome station, registering for camping, setting up at the campsite, and other activities. This can help train staff and ensure standards are met. 00:13:35 - Park leaders need to see their park through the eyes of a visitor to manage and exceed their expectations. 00:14:18 - In a post-pandemic world, shoulder seasons have reduced. There is less downtime to catch up and get ready for the season, and preparing for the summer season starts in the spring. 00:15:57 - The week before and after Easter is one of the busiest weeks of the year in South Carolina and other warm weather climates. The grass is green, and people are coming to visit. This is a beautiful time of the year to get out into parks and enjoy the scenery. 00:18:03 - Documenting processes and procedures using technology such as videos and photos can help park rangers remember what to do and train others. It also helps document park history throughout the year and respond to situations better than writing on a yellow legal pad.

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