This episode of the Park Leaders Show is a part two of sorts. My interview with Kelli English was so wonderful and long that I broke it into two parts. The first part of our conversation was about interpretation and storytelling. You can find it here.

With the second half of our interview, Kelli talks about growing up in the south side of Chicago and how she ended up telling stories as an interpreter in Yellowstone National Park. She also discusses the different perspective she has being an African American interpreter. She is aware of the stories told in parks that can connect different communities to parks. Stories that are not mainstream can have a tremendous impact on the people who hear them.

Communities of color are interested in hearing the same stories other visitors are interested in hearing, but they also want to hear stories about their history when it is present in the park.

Kelli shares stories that may open your eyes to why parks have not always been open and welcoming to all people. Discriminatory attitudes and practices from the past still have a deep impact on perceptions and use of parks today.

Our National, State and local parks are the caretakers of American History. We have an obligation to tell stories, good and bad, that have impacted our life. Kelli offers insight into how and why we should share even the negative stories of our past.

Kelli discusses an exhibit that changed her life. The book about the exhibit is Without Sanctuary by James Allen and John Lewis.

Kelli English is the Chief of Interpretation for four National Park Units in the Bay Area of California, including John Muir National Historic Site. She has spent her career as a park ranger interpreting stories to park visitors. Now, she interprets to interpreters. She admits, even though her job leans towards administration, she still finds opportunities to tell a story to park visitors.

Kelli grew up on the south side of Chicago and ended up telling stories in Yellowstone National Park. Her stellar interpretation earned accolades in 2005 when she was awarded the 2005 Outstanding New Interpreter award from the National Association of Interpretation.

In this interview, Kelli discusses how to infuse your personality into the stories of your park and where to begin gathering stories if you are new to a park.

Kelli also examines the differences in interpreting a wilderness park, like Yellowstone, compared to a historical park.

It is through interpretation that we help visitors find a connection with the park. When a visitor has a connection with the park, they will care more and become invested in the park.

You can hear the second half of the interview with Kelli English HERE.

David Flores may not be who you would expect to pour his talent and research into outdoor recreation and conservation.

Typically, someone who devotes their career to parks, recreation, or conservation grew up playing and exploring in the outdoors. David Flores did not recreation in parks and forests when he was a kid. Yet, he is now a research social scientist with the US Forest Service.

How did that happen?

As he graduated with a PHD, Flores was connected to the Forest Service through the Presidential Management Fellowship Program. Working for the Forest Service allowed David to continue to focus on research, and he found that appealing.

Now, Flores realizes the power of spending time outdoors and the connection people have with the land. His research is focused on human dimension issues related to the land, such as urban planning, climate change, rural life, and ecological change.

As part of his research, David meets people who make a living on the land and listens to their stories. In this interview, David shares what he has learned during his research. We discuss the importance of parks to a community and what he has learned about urban green space.

Given his background, David offers unique insight how parks can connect with people who have not grown up with access to, or interest in, recreating outdoors.

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Bradley Fauteux is the Managing Director of Ontario Parks, and the first international guest of the Park Leaders Show.

After a stint as a professional musician, Bradley began a career in Government and has become the ultimate generalist.  Fauteux had been working towards the job of Managing Director for ten years. He spent those years acquiring the skills he would need for the job and building a network of friends, colleagues, and acquaintances to learn from.

Fauteux is only the fourth person to serve as Managing Director of Ontario Parks. He is also the Chairman of the Canadian Parks Council.

Fauteux discusses some of the programs Ontario Parks has had success with:

Learn to Camp program helps first time campers learn the basics so they can enjoy the outdoors. Nine Thousand campers have  participated in the the program with 75% rate of return and 98% satisfaction rate. The Learn to Camp program won the Provincial Tourism Innovator of the Year Award.

The Life Jacket Loaner program designed to prevent drowning by providing life jackets to people going in the water at more than 60 parks. Both programs are backed by generous corporate sponsors.

The leadership program is an intensive 1-week program where colleagues get together and work through leadership challenges. This is an investment in leadership to ensure Ontario Parks will have great leaders across the organization.

Fauteux offers this wisdom to leaders:

• When pursuing a job, know the people, values, mission statement, and priorities to show you are committed and mature enough to lead. Prior to a job interview, you should have already become a known commodity through networking.

• Once you have a leadership position you should seek advice and listen, learn about the people you work with, and make sure people understand your values.

• Hire staff based on engagement, preparation, commitment, creativity, and awareness. You want to hire someone you would want to follow.