When the US Government shut down on October 1, 2025, questions and concerns about the status of our parks immediately became breaking news and trending topics. John Goodwin, a retired NPS Ranger and Author of "Echoes of the Badge: Stories from a National Park Service Career" joins me to share how to recreate responsibly during these challenging times. 

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Fort McAllister State Historic Park marks an important point in the Civil War with General Sherman's "March to the Sea".  In this episode we learn about the history of the battle and the environmental wonders of the park.

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Organizations like The Conservation Alliance have been created by outdoor brands and businesses to help join forces in advocating for our public lands.  In this episode we learn more about the hot topics in advocacy and how to get involved.

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On this episode of The Parks Podcast, I spoke with Brian Bird, a chapter coordinator for Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, about the importance of the Roadless Rule. They begin by defining the Roadless Rule as a measure that prohibits road construction on federal lands to protect undeveloped areas. Bird highlights several key reasons for its importance, including preserving continuous habitat for wildlife, preventing erosion, and protecting against commercial logging.

He explains that the rule provides flexibility for land management, including for fire prevention, contrary to some claims. The discussion also touches on how the rule's potential rescission has been politicized, despite public lands being a nonpartisan issue that is important to all Americans.

Bird explains the rule's specific importance to hunters and anglers. For them, "backcountry" means areas that require effort to access, providing a peaceful and untouched environment free from the noise of vehicles. The rule protects these areas, which are crucial for the integrity of the hunting and fishing experience and the well-being of game species. He also notes the ecological impact of road construction, which can lead to increased sediment and disrupt stream ecology, harming fish populations.

The episode concludes with an urgent call to action. With the public comment period on the proposed rescission ending soon, Bird emphasizes that submitting a comment is a quick and effective way for listeners to voice their support for the Roadless Rule. He encourages everyone to use the provided links from Backcountry Hunters and Anglers to contact their legislators and the Department of Agriculture, and to share the episode to raise awareness about the issue.

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 For nearly 25 years, the Roadless Area Conservation Rule has protected nearly 50 million acres of public land. This summer, the agriculture Secretary announced that they would rescind the rule. This would have a significant impact on our public lands. In this episode we learn about the Roadless rule and how to activate to protect our public lands.

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The journey of Lewis and Clark stopped in, what is now, Oregon for the winter. The Lewis and Clark National Historical Park holds the environmental and historical conservation so that we can all continue to learn and understand their journey.

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Mill Springs Battlefield National Monument shares the story of one of the few winter battles held during the Civil War and how Kentucky's commitment to neutrality eventually shifted to have them fighting for the Union.

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 New River Gorge National Park & Preserve is one of the country's youngest National Parks. Natural environment, industrial innovation, and the rights of workers all take center stage in this park. And one weekend a year, so does jumping off the bridge. 

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National Hammock Day is June 22nd. We met up with Anna Rawlins from ENO to talk about the history of hammocking, how to do it safely, and why so many people are incorporating hammocks into their lives.

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General Coffee State Park in Georgia celebrates the rich agricultural history of our country. The park showcases its late 1800s farm and diverse recreational activities.

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