On this episode of the Park Leaders Show, guest co-host, Phil Gaines, returns on-site at Zion National Park to discuss the complexities of maintaining large-scale state parks.

From capacity management to resource protection, encouraging tourism and preservation in tandem can be a difficult task. Sprinkle in today’s social issues and the recipe for park leadership can get tricky in a hurry; however, as Phil charges, as long as rangers are committed to perceiving their parks through the eyes of a visitor, they’ll in term become better managers of the experiences they promote.

While infrastructures are essential, these cannot be improved long-term with park leaders dedicated to adding value to local communities. Accordingly, Phil recommends rangers not only engage visitors as they enter but ignite a sense of wonder as they participate.

Resources:

www.parkleaders.com

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theparkleaders/

On this episode of the Park Leaders Show, guest co-host, Phil Gaines, returns to discuss ways leaders can focus on professional growth during this pandemic era.

While personal growth centers on passion, experience, and knowledge base, as Phil explains, the key to professional growth boils down to legacy. Despite competition being a commercial necessity, to mature professionally, one must consider what making a difference looks like. For some, upward mobility is essential to this reality; for others, simply maximizing an opportunity is enough to advance their goals.

Regardless of setting and surroundings, dare to question how you can leave things better than you found them. By doing this, you will ultimately progress down the road of professional development.

Resources:

www.parkleaders.com

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theparkleaders/

On this episode of the Park Leaders Show, guest Scott Durham, former superintendent of West Virginia State Parks, joins the show to discuss the origin of the “Ranger First” mantra.

As Durham explains, with park ranger set as a universal term, the “Ranger First” philosophy was established to clarify authoritative influence and promote voluntary compliance. Since its inception, benefits have emerged specifically through community-oriented policing and accountability among rangers and superintendents.

Essentially, the term “Ranger First” is more than a banner but also an umbrella attitude centered on developing healthy park operations and visitor behavior. Durham hopes this approach will continue to integrate ranger visibility into higher education, ingenuity, and compliance at large.

Resources:

www.parkleaders.com

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theparkleaders/

Phil Gaines returns to discuss ways park leaders can focus on personal growth during this pandemic era.

While COVID-19 has altered many park programs, on a personal level, the effects have varied among rangers. Even as visitation rates have increased in recent months, so tends to complacency, especially for leaders accustomed to former rhythms.

Yet, as Phil explains, if you’re an influencer hoping to mature in this season, you must refuse to be easily satisfied. Rather than stick to the predictable routines, dare to see where your passions can take you and explore avenues for learning.

For instance, you may want to seek a mentor who can impart part of their knowledge base and experience. You may want to carve out weekly reading time to discover new content and resources. Whatever plans you set, integrate new pursuits into the places you have become most idle. From there, if you find any to be successful, flex them into daily or weekly practice.   

Resources

www.parkleaders.com

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theparkleaders/

On this episode of the Parks Leaders Show, the Ingles family joins in to discuss their passion for state parks.

As road warriors, the Ingles have a fresh perspective on park trends and patterns. With the recent increase in park visitation, De and John note emerging issues in national parks such as overcrowding and conservation communication and provide solutions on what rangers can do in the short term.

Additionally, to help parks in their preservation efforts, the Ingles hope their passion project, Wild Routed, can inspire visitors to appreciate the maintaining of historic landscapes through their unique merchandising.

For more information, please visit their website.

Resources

Website: https://wildrouted.com/

Connect:

www.parkleaders.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theparkleaders/

Linkedin for De: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cmykgirl    

Linkedin for John:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/johningles

On this episode of the Park Leaders Show, guest co-host, Phil Gaines, returns to discuss ways park leaders can recalibrate their careers amidst the pandemic.

In this Covid-19 era, customer service has suffered across multiple industries such as national and state parks. Despite new efforts to attract tourists, limited staff, restricted hours, and dwindling attendance have combined to hinder performance across multiple locations.

Yet, as Phil explains in this episode, while disruptions increase during desperate times, so should the adaptive innovations. If organizations want to expand their reach, they must consider new approaches to providing value and service.

Accordingly, in the weeks ahead, Phil and I will break down how we can professionally mature in today's hostile working environment. While the roadmaps may vary, forward progress will come as long we know our goals, celebrate victories, and learn from our mistakes. It's just a matter of time.

Resources

www.parkleaders.com

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theparkleaders/

Matthew Luhn joins the show to discuss using Pixar-style storytelling for interpretation.

As discussed in previous interviews, interpreters are some of the best storytellers on the planet. Especially when integrating science, the opportunity to engage park visitors through interactive engagement has never been greater.

According to Matthew, the value of stories, in part, is their ability to tie a critical message to the story itself. For instance, if you want to encourage an audience to be prepared in a certain way, integrating modern-day technology and animation can be a powerful tool to promote questions and inquiry.

Connect:

www.parkleaders.com

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theparkleaders/

On this episode of the Park Leaders Show, guest co-host, Phil Gaines, returns to discuss the relationship between interpretation and cultural challenges.

In present times, more and more park rangers are having to adapt their language to political correctness. Especially after a year like 2020, to preserve retention, state and national park leaders are reanalyzing how they communicate history to the next generation of visitors.

However, as Phil and I discuss in this episode, interpretation is also affecting the oral history of issues like climate change. The question is: How do park rangers provoke people into deeper thinking without overstepping with a right or left-wing agenda?

Connect:

www.parkleaders.com

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theparkleaders/

Kyle Wagner, former Travel Editor for the Denver Post, joins the show to discuss her state and national park endeavors.

A current freelance editor and writer, Kyle explains her heart for exploration and goal to visit every Colorado State Park. With a mission to visit every national park, Kyle hopes her followers can draw inspiration from her favorite landmarks and historic sites.

Kyle also shares her top five Colorado state parks and some of the most embarrassing questions raised by her readers.

Resources:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/kylewagnerworld

Connect:

www.parkleaders.com

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theparkleaders/

On this episode of the Park Leaders Show, guests, James Ledgerwood, superintendent of Chimney Rock State Park, Mary Yeager Gale, Chairman of the Board for Chimney Rock Management, and Emily Blackwell, Project Manager at Stewart, join the show to discuss access at Chimney Rock State Park.

Known for its renowned elevator access and outcroppings trails, Chimney Rock State Park has seen an evolution of improvement since 2011. While many last decades would struggle to summit its peak, changes to trail quality and access have encouraged new interest and retention alike. Now, whether you are a thrill-seeker, a student, a senior, or disabled, there's a way for you to enjoy some of the best scenic views in North Carolina.

Despite the cost and effort, James, Mary, and Emily are hopeful positive momentum will continue as a new generation of parkgoers discover the spectacles Chimney Rock State Park has to offer. 

Connect:

www.parkleaders.com

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theparkleaders/