Park Leaders Show

Parks are About Relationships

"Parks are about relationships. With your team, your communities, your partners. That's what sustains leadership over time." Notable Moments 00:01:03 – Lisa shares her unconventional path into parks leadership 00:05:38 – Why relationships are the key to long-term success as a director 00:09:03 – The value of national peer networks for park leaders 00:13:18 – How visitor behavior has changed since the pandemic 00:15:12 – Adapting parks without losing their purpose 00:24:02 – Leading through budget shortfalls with transparency 00:29:18 – What Oregon State Parks does better than anyone else 00:30:33 – Advice for emerging park leaders In this episode, Jody Maberry talks with Lisa Sumption, Director of Oregon State Parks, about long-term leadership, teamwork, and navigating change in modern park systems. Strong park systems aren't built on policies alone. They're built on trust, teamwork, and relationships that last. Leadership rooted in people, not ego, makes all the difference. Resources www.parkleaders.com https://parkleaders.com/about/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theparkleaders/

The Role of Media in Wildfires

"When people see fire only as destruction, we miss the opportunity to understand it and to prepare for what's coming next." Notable Moments [00:01:19] Using photography to educate the public [00:02:50] Recognizing public land employees as serving the country [00:07:23] First experience photographing wildfire at night [00:10:29] Importance of wildfire training for media [00:16:14] Benefits of documenting fires from inside incidents [00:29:56] Why media access on public land matters [00:39:23] How wildfire scale has changed over a decade [00:44:56] Advice for making an impact as a park leader As wildfires grow in scale and impact, understanding becomes a form of preparedness. In parks and conservation this sometimes means letting people see what's really happening, even when it's uncomfortable. Stuart Palley has spent more than a decade documenting wildfires across public and urban lands. Our conversation explores how media can educate the public when done responsibly, the importance of safety training for photographers, and why transparency on public land fires matters. Resources www.parkleaders.com https://parkleaders.com/about/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theparkleaders/

Conservation Through Travel Experiences

Connect with Christopher https://impactdestinations.com/ Resources www.parkleaders.com https://parkleaders.com/about/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theparkleaders/

Citizen Conservation with Wolves

"The more we can let people know, the better it is for the wolves, the better it is for our conservation efforts." Notable Moments [00:02:29] How Monica discovered the Wolf Conservation Center [00:03:30] Understanding endangered wolf subspecies and conservation efforts [00:04:18] Role of pup-nanny caretakers [00:05:50] Rare wolf sightings and population challenges [00:08:14] How public education connects people to conservation [00:12:55] The miracle wolf pup, Trumpet, and her powerful genetic story [00:15:41] Turning a single idea into a multi-book series [00:19:25] Taking action instead of stopping at curiosity [00:21:39] Ways anyone can support conservation efforts Author and Wolf Conservation Center volunteer Monica Stahlman joins the show to share the remarkable real-life story behind Trumpet, the miracle Mexican gray wolf pup. Monica discusses her path from volunteer to children's book author, the critical work of wolf recovery programs, and the many ways people can support conservation from wherever they are. Connect with Monica Stahlman https://brileybaxterbooks.com/author-leokadia-george/ Wold Conservation Center Resources www.parkleaders.com https://parkleaders.com/about/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theparkleaders/

A Look at the Parks and Restoration Podcast

"When you create a thriving ecosystem  you'll have people that are motivated to go and do good work, move your organization forward, and make an impact on the people and resources that you serve." Notable Moments 03:20 – How a riverfront festival connected thousands to conservation. 04:38 – Leadership through the lens of ecology explained. 07:32 – What workshops reveal when taken outdoors. 09:12 – The podcast's evolution from Outdoor Executive Dad to Parks and Restoration. 16:25 – Highlights from the "Next Level Leadership" episode. 18:30 – The mindset shift from hustle to balance. 20:25 – Moving from "it's about you" to "it's about your team." 21:26 – Topics coming soon to Parks and Restoration. 24:34 – Why more park leadership podcasts help the entire industry. 25:15 – Where to find Chris Lee and his work. Jody reconnects with Chris Lee, Executive Director of Des Moines County Conservation and co-host of the Parks and Restoration podcast. They explore the evolution of Chris's show, the role of ecological concepts in leadership, and the importance of collaboration in conservation work. The conversation highlights major mindset shifts for leaders, the value of co-hosting, and upcoming themes Chris plans to explore as he approaches episode 100. Read the blog for more from this episode. Connect with Chris Lee Chrisleeventures.com Parks and Restoration Podcast Parks and Restoration Episode 78 Resources www.parkleaders.com https://parkleaders.com/about/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theparkleaders/