Park Leaders Show

Latest Episodes:

Park Based Learning and It's Place in the Classroom Nov 20, 2018

Show notes

On this episode of the Park Leaders Show, James Fester, an educator, part-time volunteer, and Google-certified innovator, discusses park-based learning and its place in the classroom.

When people think of parks, they often don't think of education. As a result, many schools lack awareness of educational resources provided by county, state, and national parks.

To bridge the gap, Fester unpacks a three-part program designed to facilitate connection through project-based learning. By serving as setup support, the initiative would not only help teachers facilitate learning but allow students to lead assignments and park rangers to participate in the process.

Moving forward, Fester's team plans to develop free, project-based download units teachers can use in the classroom while continuing to collaborate with parks in developing curriculums.

The Relationship between Health and Parks Nov 06, 2018

Show notes

What are people looking for in the outdoors? Public spaces are becoming more culturally diverse and the parks services, resources, facilities, etc need to reflect these changes.

Recent graduates are also facing different challenges in the parks recreation and tourism management field these days. For example, drones are now a thing to have to consider.

Dr. Myron Floyd joins the Park Leaders show to discuss health in the parks. He is the department head and professor in parks recreation and tourism management at the North Carolina State University.

There is a clear connection between having a park nearby and more opportunity for physical activity and your health.

Parks have both physical and mental health benefits. They also provide community benefits because they help bring people together.

Green spaces help alleviate stress, improve your mood, and can help people recover from demanding cognitive tasks.

Up and coming leaders should be able to deal with unpredictable challenges and have critical thinking skills.

Leadership is Not Black and White Oct 30, 2018

Show notes

Leadership is not black and white.

Once you have a leadership position, most of the decisions and situations you face will not be clear-cut or obvious on what you should do. Not black and white situations.

Most leaders how to operate in the gray areas. If you have set your operation up correctly, black and white decisions are made on the front line.

When you are making decisions in the gray area, you have to take information, advice, data, and make a decision based on your values and what is good for your people.

And then don't look back. Make your decision and keep moving forward.

Later, if you find out it wasn't the right decision, you make an adjustment as needed.

If you are a leader, working in the gray is your new normal.

Building Leaders Through Empowerment Oct 23, 2018

Show notes

This episode is the start of something special. Phil Gaines, retired Director of South Carolina State Parks, is going to be a semi-regular guest co-host on the Park Leaders Show.

When parks lose a long-time leader like Phil, we lose so much knowledge and experience. By finding new ways to continue to bring past experiences into the work up and coming leaders are doing, we can continue to build the legacy of parks.

Empowerment is an overused phrase and an underused practice. Leaders naturally want to have their hand in everything that happens. It is hard to let go and let other people do work that may impact your reputation.

True empowerment is having front-line employees with the confidence and authority to make decisions.

In order to empower employees, you have to be comfortable and confident in your vision.

In this episode, we discuss what empowerment really is and why you need to adopt the idea to become a leader. We also give insight into how to begin to pass some of your responsibility and authority to employees.

Ask a Ranger Oct 16, 2018

Show notes

When someone visits a park and they are curious, what is the first thing they want to do? Ask a ranger.

Park Rangers are icons of parks and one of the reasons people enjoy talking with Rangers is because they can answer your questions about nature.

Now, you no longer have to seek out a Park Ranger in a park to get an answer to your question.

Park Rangers Jess Phillips and Crystal Lloyd from North Carolina State Parks have launched the Ask a Ranger Podcast.

Jess Phillips from William B Umstead State Park and Crystal Lloyd from Falls Lake State Recreation Area teamed up to launch a podcast to be able to reach people who can't or haven't visited their parks.

Rangers Jess and Crystal share their story of how they started the podcast and some of the episodes they have created. They also offer advice on how you can start a podcast for your own park or agency.

Park Rangers educate the public every day. A podcast is no different. It is just a new and different tool to allow you to reach new people.

Exploring Maritime Archeology in Parks Oct 02, 2018

Show notes

On this episode of the Park Leaders Show, we explore maritime archeology with Denise Jaffke

Denise as an Archeologist with California State Parks who is currently working on creating the Emerald Bay Maritime Heritage Trail.

Parks play a role in putting together pieces of historical puzzles through archeology. Add water, and there is a new layer of mystery to historical sites.

Denise explains the great work California is doing to share maritime historical treasures with the citizens of California.

Building a Leadership Network Sep 11, 2018

Show notes

To build a solid career, you need to build a solid network of peers, associates, and friends. A strong leader has a strong network.

Dylan Mroszcyk-McDonald returns to the Park Leaders Show to continue our series on leadership and culture in parks.

On this episode, we focus on building a network and how it can help your career.

During your career in parks, you will have the opportunity to meet people in different parks throughout different regions. Building a relationship with them will build a solid relationship, even if the relationship is dormant for a season after you move on.

The diversity of your network will lead to better job performance and increase the opportunity for a promotion.

During the episode, Dylan gives us insight on how to grow and nurture a network that will have an impact on your career.

This episode is the third in a series about leadership and culture in parks. The first three episodes are;

Improving Leadership and Culture in Parks

Innovative Leadership in Parks

The Person is More Important Than the Position

The Person is More Important Than the Position Sep 04, 2018

Show notes

In parks, we have spread the myth of a lone heroic leader at the top.

We give special attention and privilege to someone with a leadership title.

If it takes a hero to lead people, it moves leadership out of the reach of most people.

As leaders, we need to remember the person is more important than the position. You don't have to have a title to be a leader. We need to treat every member of the staff as an important piece of the success of the park and encourage them to be a leader.

Dylan Mroszcyk-McDonald returns to the Park Leaders Show to continue our series on leadership and culture in parks.

Focusing on a single heroic leader often leads to a staff unable to quickly adapt to change. It leads to competition because people feel there is scarcity in leadership, influence, and importance.

Every contribution is valid. Everyone's work towards our mission is valuable. Park culture would benefit from a shift in this direction rather than highlight a lone heroic leader.

Even if a leader gets accolades for accomplishments, it never would have happened without the team all working towards the same mission.

If you are not in a leadership position, what can you do to set yourself up as a leader?

Leadership is about action. You don't need a title to take action. Decide you are a leader and begin to take action.

Next, consider your supervisor's job. What do they do? What responsibilities do they have? Figure out how you can help contribute to their success. Not only will that help your supervisor, you will learn what it takes to be successful at the next level.

Find additional ways to contribute. Join committees. Volunteer for assignments. People will notice.

This episode is the third in a series about leadership and culture in parks. The first two episodes are;

Improving Leadership and Culture in Parks

Innovative Leadership in Parks

Leading by Example Aug 21, 2018

Show notes

After 37 years with South Carolina State Parks, Phil Gaines retired as Director. As Phil did during his entire career, he used his last day to lead by example.

On August 2, 2018, exactly 13 years after becoming Director of South Carolina State Parks, and exactly 37 years after starting his career as a park ranger, Phil Gaines ended his career the same way it began.

Director Gaines returned to Kings Mountain State Park, the place where he began his career and put on the uniform, transforming back to Ranger Phil. Ranger Phil spent the day cleaning bathrooms, picking up trash, and using a weedeater.

Phil said he did this on his last day for two reasons. First, so his career would go full circle. Second, to show there are no unimportant jobs in parks.

On this episode, Phil talks about his final day with parks as well as the changed he has seen in parks during the 37 years he has spent serving visitors to South Carolina parks.

Throughout his career, Phil Gaines has been an example of leadership and an inspiration to rangers on how to serve. He leaves with this one final example of how we can serve each other and serve guests to our parks.

The day after his last day, Ranger Phil did what you expected a Park Ranger to do...he went backpacking.

Podcasts with Park Rangers Aug 14, 2018

Show notes

Podcasts with Park Rangers is a podcast featuring conversations with Park Rangers from National Parks around the country.

Lucas and Sarah Villa-Kainec are the hosts of the podcast Podcasts with Park Rangers.

We sat down together at a picnic table in Fort Worden State Park. In this episode, we discuss their podcast, traveling across the country, and the rangers they have met.

There are a few podcasts about parks now, but what makes this podcast a little different is they focus on the park rangers rather than focus on the resource. Their conversations highlight the incredible storytelling of park rangers. Podcasts with Park Rangers also shows park rangers are people and not just a resource.

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