Park Leaders Show

The Park Leaders Show goes international. In this episode, I talk with Pete Cleary, a park ranger at Philip Island Nature Parks in Australia.

We examine the unique characteristics about Philip Island, as well as the common traits of parks and park rangers in different countries throughout the world.

Ranger Cleary explains the concept of parks offering and Ultimate Experience to park visitors willing to pay for more access and experience at a park.

In this episode, we also talk about the World Ranger Congress, the International Ranger Federation, and the Thin Green Line.

Find more park resources at parkleaders.com.

After a tremendous performance as Theodore Roosevelt, Clay Jenkinson returns to the Park Leaders Show to talk about Theodore Roosevelt and parks.

If you haven't yet listened to the episode with Clay in character as Theodore Roosevelt, Click here to listen. You will want to hear that episode first.

In this episode, Clay discusses Theodore Roosevelt's role in National Parks and the impact he still has today on our park system. We also discuss Ken Burn's National Park and Roosevelt films, the upcoming National Parks Centennial, the threat of vanishing viewsheds

Clay urges everyone to do two things to reconnect with parks;

1. Spend at least 4 days in a National Park with as few amenities as possible.
2. Read Walden and Mountains without Handrail

Clay Jenkinson is the creator of the Thomas Jefferson Hour and author of The Character of Meriwether Lewis.

President Theodore Roosevelt was a pivotal figure in the early days of the National Park Service. The National Park Service as we know it would not exist without Theodore Roosevelt.

Clay Jenkinson as Theodore Roosevelt

Clay Jenkinson portrays President Roosevelt in this episode of the Park Leaders Show. Clay allows us to step back into time and talk with the 26th President of the United States.

Clay Jenkinson is a humanities scholar, author and social commentator who is considered one of the most entertaining public speakers in the United States. Clay is dedicated to researching the historical characters he portrays and brings history to life. Clay is best known for his portrayal of Thomas Jefferson.

Clay is the creator and host of the nationally syndicated radio program The Thomas Jefferson Hour. Clay is also the author of several books, including The Character of Meriwether Lewis.

In this episode of the Park Leaders Show, Clay is in character as Theodore Roosevelt as we discuss the fight for National Parks, the National Park Service's 100th birthday and what President Roosevelt thinks of Park Rangers.

As the National Park Service prepares to celebrate the Centennial, President Roosevelt encourages us to decide what the essential National Park Service purpose is, and then bring park use in line to meet that purpose.

When I was a new park ranger, I noticed the Park Manager, Jack Hartt, would carry a camera in his pocket. I saw him take photos of trees, bugs, turkey, park rangers, and even vehicle accidents and vandalism.

Carrying a camera with you makes sense, right? Park rangers spend their days in the most beautiful places. We have the opportunity to take photographs of areas or situations most people never see.

Today, most of us carry a powerful camera right in our pocket. Smartphones have cameras equal in quality to professional cameras just a few years ago. If anyone knows how to use a smartphone to capture incredible moments as photographs, it is David Molnar.

David Molnar - Celebrity, Music and Advertising photographer

David Molnar is a celebrity, music, and advertising photographer. David is also the author of iPhone Only Photographer. In this book, as well as on his website, David shares tips to taking stunning photographs with a smartphone.

In this episode of the Park Leaders Show, David explains how park rangers can use the phone in their pocket to take amazing photographs and tell the story of the park.

David has also made a generous offer to listeners of the Park Leaders Show. CLICK HERE to get access to three ebooks to help you improve your photography.

If you want to learn more about David Molnar, check out this interview I did with him on the Starve the Doubts podcast.

Would you like some beautiful Park Leaders stickers? You can get those here.

Donald Forgione, Director of Florida State Parks, returns to the Park Leaders Show.

In this episode, we discuss how Florida State Parks connects with communities of color. Director Forgione also talks about how park rangers should be seen as leaders in the community outside of the park.

Florida State Parks is proactive in seeking out up and coming leaders. Once a leader is identified, they are given the opportunity to take on more responsibility to grow.

If you want to support Park Leaders, and show pride in the work you do, Limited Edition Park Leaders stickers are available now. Get yours here.

Donald Forgione began his career as a Park Ranger with Florida State Parks. Over time, Ranger Forgione became Director Forgione.

As Director of Florida State Parks, Donald Forgione considers himself to be a ranger first. In fact, he signs off on email correspondence with "Ranger First" as a reminder to himself, and others, that he approaches his Director responsibilities as a park ranger.

In this episode, Director Forgione shares his journey with Florida State Parks and why having been a ranger helps him perform his duties as Director. He also shares how values move beyond words to become behaviors in a park agency.

Director Forgione explains what the Ranger First concept means to him and how it impacts his job as Director.

Are we leaving out Millennials from the park experience?

I recently read an article in Outside Magazine questioning if the outdoor industry has a Millennial problem.

This article from Outside magazine touches on many issues relevant to parks and recreation. In the Northwest, in particular, recreation can be more about the jacket you wear while hiking than the actual hike itself.

While outdoor clothing companies were racing for more high-tech options, they left out the younger generation. With no regard for Millennials, clothing and gear companies continue to offer high-end, high-priced options.

Are parks making the same mistake? Are we racing to cash in on high priced recreation?

Most park systems are moving toward cabins and expensive RV sites. Millennials do not stay in expensive cabins or drive RVs. So what happens in 10 years when Millennials will be the key demographic for parks?

It doesn't stop with just cabins and full hookup sites for RVs, I know of at least one situation where a park had a 100% occupancy rate during the summer. As a result, the agency raised the camping fees for that park.

I get it. Parks has to run like a business. But believe me, running like a business is not about making more money this year. Running like a business means to create a WOW experience that excites someone who camps in your park now will come back later in the summer.

And next summer.

And the summer after that.

Eventually, they will bring their kids. Perhaps someday they come back in a big expensive RV. But not today. Not this summer. Not when Millennials are at the prime age to reach them.

And if you don't get Millennials now, you stand the chance never to get them.

If we don't make parks appealing to millennials now, they will not be visiting parks in 10 years. They have an interest in what Parks has to offer, but we are suggesting there is not a place for them in parks. Our actions suggest we are most welcoming to retirees in large RVs or families that can afford to stay in cabins.

But what are we doing in parks to suggest there is a place for Millennials?

As Tae Kim said in the Outside Magazine article - "If you just get people outside having a good time, Mother Nature takes over. They're hooked for life.

Have you noticed the National Park Service Find Your Park campaign?

There is a park for everyone, is what the National Park Service wants you to know with the Find Your Park campaign. But don't assume parks are only wilderness or wooded parks. If that were the case, not everyone would find their park.

Many people are finding their park in Washington D. C. in the form of monuments, historic sites, parkways, and even the White House. The National Park Service has a large presence in our nation's capital.

Philip Selleck, Associate Region Director of the National Park Service Capital Region, joins the Park Leaders Show to discuss the urban parks of Washington D.C. Phil will talk about the challenges of operating parks that see a large volume of traffic that experience shorter visits.

Phil also discusses promoting through the ranks of the National Park Service. From seasonal park ranger to chief ranger, Phil offers advice on what it takes to get promoted.

Spencer Cox, Lt. Governor of Utah, joins the Park Leaders Show to talk about the value of state and national parks to the state of Utah.

Utah is fortunate to be home to five national parks, several national monuments and a thriving state parks system. The parks boost the economy and create jobs. Perhaps more importantly, Lt. Governor Cox suggest parks are part of the fabric of the Utah lifestyle.

Lt. Governor Cox also offers insight to how state government view a park system. He talks about funding, maintenance, and how a state determines if their park system is successful. He also discusses privatization of parks

This episode is a valuable look into how a park system fits into priorities and planning from legislatures and the Governors office.

Lt. Governor Cox recently shared pictures and video from a recent vacation to promote outdoor recreation in Utah. You can watch the video here.

Nearly every one of the questions asked to Lt. Governor came not from the host of the Park Leaders Show, but from people in the field who work in a park every day.

Carol Quinn returns to the Park Leaders Show to explain how to hire great people. If you missed the first half of the interview with Carol Quinn, you can find it here.

In this episode, Carol will discuss how to improve your hiring process. Making small changes in the interview process can move you towards hiring high performers.

If you have ever made a bad hire, you understand the long-term impact it can have on your park or organization. Sometimes we don't interview properly. Sometimes we rush a hire because there is so much work to do.

It doesn't have to be this we. We can hire high performers nearly every time.

Also in this episode, we talk about the impact Motivation Based Hiring can have on the culture of an organization.

If you would like to learn more about Carol Quinn, or Motivation Based interviewing, visit HireAuthority.com.

You can also check out Carol's books, Don't Hire Anyone Without Me and Motivation Based Interviewing.