Back to the Future of Parks

"Every park has trees and trails. What makes people come back is you." Notable Moments [00:03:05] – Starting the keynote, the outhouse story that sparked an award [00:07:24] – Transition from financial analyst to ranger life [00:14:07] – Pandemic pressure and park visitation boom [00:19:02] – Shifting from surviving to thriving post-2020 [00:26:49] – Importance of all roles: field and office [00:30:01] – Why park staff are the defining feature of any park [00:33:20] – Difference between "learned" and "earned" park stories [00:38:27] – Parks' impact on quality of life, not just economy [00:42:41] – Michigan's leadership in innovation and conservation [00:47:44] – The importance of gatherings like in-service Jody Maberry delivers his full keynote from the Michigan DNR in-service gathering, reflecting on the theme "Back to the Future of Parks." He shares memorable stories and lessons from his time as a park ranger, during the pandemic, and how park professionals can shape the future of outdoor spaces. With humor, humility, and heartfelt appreciation, this talk highlights the power of people, the importance of public lands, and the irreplaceable value of every role in the park system. Read the blog for more from this episode. Resources Facebook -

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Back to the Future of Parks is an episode from Park Leaders Show by Jody Maberry.

This episode is 49:02 long.

This episode was published on Jul 29, 2025.

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