Park Leaders Show

Phil Gaines, returns to discuss ways park rangers can help outside conservationists.

While rules and procedures are necessary for national park success, as Phil explains, integrating external voices into collaboration and activation is critical. Often, those in uniform want help from those not in uniform but within their terms and parameters. The question is: How can park rangers help non-rangers advocate national resources and wildlife without overyielding?

As Jody and Phil conclude, though the challenge of defining roles can be difficult, it's well worth the effort in making parks a better place.

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On this episode of the Park Leaders Show, new director of Indiana State Parks, Terry Coleman, joins the show to discuss his story and the importance of long-term resource decisions.

Having served as deputy director of state parks since 2014, Terry has been operating as interim state parks director since August. With skills in long-term resource decision-making, Terry explains how he achieved the position and why strategic planning is critical during short administrations. Per his experiences, stewarding relationships and teamwork not only fuels quality effort but strategic planning.

As a charge to the next generation of park leaders, Terry advises knowing the prize and maintaining focus. If you can do this for yourself and help others do the same, no question, you'll be effective in what leadership role you pursue.

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On this episode of the Park Leaders Show, guest cohost, Phil Gaines, returns to discuss his philosophy on multi-tasking.

While most assume multi-tasking is a strength, as Jody and Phil explain, there are better ways to be productive. For instance, with park management, the focus for a ranger should not be to execute multiple responsibilities simultaneously but strategically prioritize through empowerment, compartmentalization, and planning.

In this way, rangers can be the best managers they can be, tending smaller circles as the big ones take care of themselves.

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Milward Simpson, Executor Director for the National Association of Interpretation and former park ranger, joins the show to discuss the power of interpretation.

With a diverse career portfolio, Milward shares how his park ranger experience helped prepare him for his current job at NAI. As he explains, while each role, from the artistic director of a theme park to the administrator of a state historic preservation agency, improved his skills as an administrator in conservation arenas, the key to his success has always been his work ethic and appreciation for cultural heritage.

Fittingly, as a final charge, Milward encourages the emerging generation to take their education seriously and to consider the interpretation field if you have a knack for communications, technology, maintenance, and personnel management.

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On this episode of the Park Leaders Show, Doug Peacock joins the show to discuss his latest project, Save The Yellowstone Grizzly.

A long-time naturalist, Doug founded STYG in 2016 to advocate safety and recovery of grizzlies south of Canada. As he explains, the removal of grizzly bears in Yellowstone National Park should be a national priority following the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's March 2016 delisting announcement. With the agency's dismissal of climate change and relocation urgency, Doug hopes the nonprofit will score legal victories as they seek to preserve the welfare of grizzly bears in Yellowstone and similar national parks.

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On this episode of the Park Leaders Show, David Van Cleve, joins the show to discuss locational stability in a park ranger career.

As David shares in his book, 'A Greatness of Spirit: Tales of Extraordinary Rangers at the Heart of California's State Park System', few rangers stay the course within one state park; however, for those who do, they carry unique perspectives worth exploring.

For instance, as regional managers and supervisors, rangers who stay in one park throughout their tenure have the opportunity to impact thousands of students within the same community. Through educational influence, these rangers can model high standards of excellence and promote cultural heritage for their park systems.

Resources:

A Greatness of Spirit: https://www.amazon.com/Greatness-Spirit-Extraordinary-Rangers-Californias-ebook/dp/B07HJHP2PQ

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On this episode of the Park Leaders Show, Phil Francis joins Jody and Phil Gaines to discuss working with support groups.

A retired superintendent of the Blue Ridge Parkway, Francis explains how friends groups can help maintain accountability among park rangers and leaders. For instance, through networking, advocacy, and project development, friends groups can call on experienced members to speak for resources and park mission whether it involves testifying before Congress or writing letters to editors.

As Francis elaborates, the goal of friends groups is to resolve local and political issues, manage state and federal projects, and cultivate relationships. If a national park wants to prioritize this endeavor, park managers must not only understand nonprofit requirements but understand the budgets and social value behind their projects.

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Ben Novak, the lead scientist of the biotechnology nonprofit Revive & Restore, joins the show to discuss his historic breakthrough.

A conservation activist, Ben shares the story of Elizabeth Ann, a black-footed ferret, recently cloned as part of a project with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Revive & Restore, and the San Diego Zoo. With a passion for saving endangered species, Ben plans to reintroduce similar species to their habitats through artificial insemination as a genetic rescue model.

Having spearheading this scientific milestone, Ben hopes the pandemic can be a wake-up call for the next generation to take risks with their goals. Like him in his early career, emerging leaders may encounter negative feedback in their quest for positive change; however, this doesn't mean they should give up. Instead, Ben charges young people to stay the course as fresh ideas, like the bioethics of cloning and preservation, become more culturally accepted.

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In this episode of the Park Leaders Show, Matt Holloway, a former ranger at Glacier National park, and his 11-year-old daughter, Harper, joins the show to discuss their epic hiking adventure.

After hiking 160 miles of the Pacific Northwest Trail Reroute in 19 days, Matt and Harper share their motivations and takeaways from the experience. While part of their inspiration was to deter hunter activism, the primary objective was to raise conservation awareness for grizzly bears. By hiking the trail, Matt and Harper hope their ground truth observations can help park rangers consider rerouting the trail in a way that will preserve grizzly bear habitation.

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Phil Gaines, retired Director of South Carolina State Parks, returns to discuss how COVID-19 is impacting park visitation and user groups.

While the pandemic has reduced the number of new visitors in national parks, there are still some encouraging trends for park rangers. For instance, while bottom-line attendance may be down, certain demographics like women, youth, and seniors are making more frequent trips to parks.

As Phil explains, though more time is needed to monitor these trends, such patterns are worth statistical analysis as new markets often lead to new activities. Additionally, when you consider disruptive innovations and social media, the stage is set for new crazes to emerge. Like mountain biking, geocaching, and Instagram hotspots the past decade, there will be new rages at some point; hence, why rangers should not be discouraged about temporary retention and focus more on the voice of their audience.

Resources:

One of Us: https://www.amazon.com/One-Us-Biologists-Among-Bears/dp/1525548514

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