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In this episode, Jeff Parker from Northwest Youth Corps discusses the evolution of conservation work, the role of youth programs in land management, and the future of shared stewardship amidst wildfire challenges. Jeff and Rachel talk about the importance of fostering youth conservation corps and how participants shape public lands stewardship whether they go into recreation and conservation careers or not.   Resources Northwest Youth Corps About Jeff Jeff Parker is the President and CEO of Northwest Youth Corps, based in Eugene, Oregon.  Jeff holds a BA in Political Science from the University of Washington and a Master of Environmental Science from the Evergreen State College.  He is a Co-Chair of the Public Lands Service Coalition, Chair of the Hood Willamette Resource Advisory Committee, and serves on the Oregon Youth Development Commission.  He began his career in conservation service work in 1994. Started in 1984, NYC works throughout a 4 state area, serving over 1,000 diverse youth and young adults each year in paid conservation service programs that combine education, community, leadership, empowerment, and challenge.   NYC operates residential backcountry crews, community based corps programs, para professional internships, and a fully accredited charter high school.  Each year, NYC crews and interns complete over 190,000 hours of conservation projects for public land management agencies, including trail construction and maintenance, invasive plant eradication, fuels reduction, wildfire protection, and stream restoration, while delivering 70,000 hours of education.

In this episode, Eddie Espinosa and Mic McLane from Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance discuss the evolution of their organization from advocacy to shared stewardship, emphasizing collaboration with land managers, community engagement, and adaptive management in outdoor recreation. They also discuss how their love for trails and helping people enjoy the outdoors has shaped EMBA's approach to partnerships for the greater good.  Resources Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance   About Eddie Growing up in Puyallup, and graduating from Pacific Lutheran University, Eddie has spent many years exploring the trails and mountains of the Pacific Northwest and logged over 30 years of non-profit leadership experience. Through his work at the YMCA and the American Alpine Club, Eddie has a strong background in policy and advocacy, risk management, working with volunteers, program design, and education. You have an equal chance of finding him on long, solo, backcountry rides as well as lift served parks with his riding partners.   About Mic Michael "Mic" McLane is an Eastern Washington native with more than twenty years of trail advocacy and stewardship experience across the Pacific Northwest. He joined Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance in 2012 as a volunteer, later becoming a Skills Coach and eventually moving into trail design, construction, and project management.

In this episode, Sama Winder from the University of Washington's Outdoor Recreation and Data Lab discusses innovative methods for estimating visitor use, the importance of collaborative data collection, and how land managers can effectively use data to inform recreation planning and management. Sama and Rachel also discuss how data is not perfect and using data to have conversations about recreation management decisions.  Resources Outdoor Recreation & Data Lab   About Sama Sama is a Senior Research Scientist with experience and expertise in using quantitative methods to address a wide range of questions about people in nature. Her interests include understanding the ways that management actions and climate change impact recreation opportunities and experiences, with a particular interest in the effects of wildfire and smoke. Her work includes developing and evaluating novel methods that leverage mobility data and other large geospatial datasets for understanding visitor use. Sama enjoys co-developing projects with practitioners and thinking about how science and better data can improve decision making. She has worked on local, national, and international projects with partners from academia, NGOs, and government agencies. She has experience in recreation, visitor use, ecology, and statistics.

In this episode, Zach and Molly share their extensive experience in public lands management, focusing on shared stewardship, recreation planning, and collaboration across agencies to protect and enhance public lands for future generations. They provide real-world examples of recreation shared stewardship in action and talk to Rachel about the shifts they've seen in how the Forest Service approaches recreation planning and management.  Resources: SE Group   About Zach "How can we leave our public lands—and the places we love to recreate—a little better than we found them?" This question has guided Zach Poff's 20+ year career in public lands management, including 22 years with the U.S. Forest Service and leadership roles in recreation, trails, forestry, and land management. Now with SE Group, Zach brings expertise in program strategy, partnerships, planning, and innovative approaches to recreation and public lands stewardship.  About Molly Molly Ryan works at SE Group where she helps public land managers and communities think about everything from trails, campgrounds, and visitor experiences to long-range planning, stewardship, and implementation. Prior to SE Group, Molly worked as a recreation planner with the U.S. Forest Service and the National Park Service. She loves work that helps strengthen the connection between people, communities, and their public lands. She loves spending time reading, knitting, and playing on mountains, in canyons, and down rivers.

In this episode, Cailin O'Brien-Feeney shares insights from her two decades of experience in outdoor recreation, policy, and funding. Rachel and Cailin explore how the outdoor industry has evolved, the role of collective impact, and innovative financing solutions for public lands and recreation projects. Cailin defines what conservation finance is for recreation and how it supports shared stewardship goals. He also shares tangible examples of conservation finance in action.  Resources Quantified Ventures   About Cailin Cailin brings two decades of experience working either in or for the outdoors to Quantified Ventures. He joined Quantified Ventures in 2023 because he believes in the power of time outside to strengthen local communities and economies, as well as help people lead healthier, happier lives. Cailin most recently served as the first Director of Oregon's Office of Outdoor Recreation. In this role he advanced initiatives to grow the state's outdoor recreation economy and increase access to nature for traditionally underrepresented communities. He was also involved in providing technical assistance to communities impacted by wildfire, deploying responsible recreation messaging campaigns, and advising several funding and workforce development boards. Prior to his time in public service, Cailin led state and local policy initiatives for the Outdoor Industry Association. Earlier in his career he focused on environmental education and guiding. Cailin also serves as President of Alzar School, a semester school that utilizes the outdoors and cultural exchange as a classroom to develop leadership skills. He and his partner reside in Bend, Oregon.

In this episode, Jaime Loucky from Washington Trails Association discusses shared stewardship, wildfire recovery, and the evolving role of nonprofits in outdoor recreation and land management. Rachel and Jaime talk about how collaboration, trust, and adaptability are shaping the future of public lands stewardship. They also explore the importance of having a shared vision and goals that agencies, partners, and communities work together on.  Resources Washington Trails Association   About Jaime Growing up in Bellingham, with the North Cascades practically in his backyard, Jaime developed a lifelong passion for hiking, backpacking and spending time in the beautiful outdoors. Jaime arrived at WTA in early 2020 and served as WTA's first Chief Impact Officer, overseeing strategic planning and program operations. He was selected by the board to be the CEO in 2022 and remains committed to helping advance WTA's vision of Trails for Everyone, Forever and connecting hikers and everyone who loves the outdoors with opportunities to get outside and give back to trails. In his free time Jaime enjoys gardening, getting out on trail work parties a few times a year, the occasional multi-day backpacking trip, and of course taking his daughters Sasha and Avy out on trail any chance he gets.

In this episode of Planning the Wild, Rachel Franchina and Leander Lacy discuss the critical role of trust and relationships in recreation planning and conservation. They explore the importance of inclusivity in conservation efforts, the need for equitable access to outdoor spaces, and the significance of building trust with communities. Leander shares his unique journey into conservation, emphasizing the human dimensions of natural resources and the necessity of engaging diverse voices in the planning process. The conversation highlights practical examples of trust-building in action and the hopeful outlook for the future of conservation efforts. Resources https://lacyconsultingservices.com/ Building and Sustaining Trust Workshop - May 11, 2026 in Duluth, MN About Leander Leander Lacy is a world-renowned conservationist, public speaker, The Green Mind Podcast host, Human Dimensions of Natural Resources Scientist, Wildlife Biologist, Conservation Coach, and has been in the conservation field for over 18 years. As an independent contractor he has worked with organizations and agencies around the world to ensure conservation efforts are sustainable and that the benefits are realized equitably to all communities with a specialist emphasis on communities historically excluded from conservation planning and implementation. His work includes impact assessments, community assessments, equity research, capacity building for community engagement, facilitation, and keynote speaker.

In this episode of Planning the Wild, Rachel is joined by Maureen Finnerty, chair of the Interagency Visitor Use Management Council. Maureen shares about the origins of the Visitor Use Management (VUM) framework, a tool built from lessons learned across federal agencies like the NPS, Forest Service, BLM, and others. The conversation covers how the flexible framework is helping to make planning more proactive, adaptable, and ultimately more resilient in the face of growing visitation and natural challenges. Resources: IVUMC Training Resources SORP VUM Resources   About Maureen Maureen Finnerty is a recreation and visitor experience planner for the National Park Service. She has worked for the National park service for over 20 years in a variety of capacities, but always focused on visitors and the visitor experience in some way. She currently serves as the chair of the interagency visitor use management council. She is based in Colorado and spends all of her free time skiing, running, and fishing on public lands with her family and two dogs.

In this episode of Planning the Wild, host Rachel Franchina welcomes Mary Ellen, a seasoned recreation planner with extensive experience in land management. They discuss Mary Ellen's journey into recreation planning, the importance of collaboration, and the critical elements of effective recreation planning. The conversation delves into mid-level recreation planning, its distinction from NEPA, and the significance of engaging diverse perspectives in planning processes. Mary Ellen shares her insights on the evolving landscape of public land management and expresses hope for the future as more people become involved in protecting and enjoying public lands. Resources Find Mary Ellen's books here   About Mary Ellen Mary Ellen spent 35 years in remote and wild places, working for all four land management agencies. As a recreation planner, she led teams in developing vision and solutions for places as varied as wilderness, wild and scenic rivers, trail systems, and highly visited frontcountry. She worked in all levels of land management, from her start as a seasonal worker to details in the Washington Office. She retired from full-time work in 2024 to write novels and spend more time in the woods.

In this episode, Rachel Franchina discusses the foundations of recreation planning with guests Nancy Brunswick and Brad Cownover, both experienced landscape architects and recreation planners. They share their personal journeys into the field, emphasizing the importance of creativity, site planning, and understanding user needs in designing effective recreation spaces. The conversation also touches on the evolution of recreation planning within the Forest Service and the significance of the built environment in enhancing user experiences. Finally, they express hope for the future of public lands and the opportunities for collaboration in managing these vital resources. About Brad Brad is a strategic advisor and consultant with thirty years of experience leading sustainable recreation planning, scenery management, and accessible design across federal agencies, nonprofits, and private consulting. His work is place-based, providing benefits to the broader landscape and local communities. He has national and international experience in developing and leading stakeholder workshops, training, and presentations for scenic byways, visual stewardship, and sustainable tourism. Previously, Brad has served as Pacific NW Regional Landscape Architect for the USDA Forest Service, the Chief Landscape Architect for the Bureau of Land Management, and as Director of Scenic Conservation for the nonprofit Scenic America. About Nancy Nancy Brunswick was the regional landscape architect for the Intermountain Region of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, responsible for working with forests and their landscape architects in Utah, Nevada, southern Idaho, and southwestern Wyoming.  Her first career assignment was as the west zone landscape architect on the Dixie National Forest in southern Utah. She transferred into a partnership position in 2000 with the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highways Administration and the America's Byways Resource Center as the first Federal lands byway specialist working with the resource center staff. She was responsible for developing training resources for interpretation, planning, and scenic conservation for State and local byway organizations. Before moving to Ogden, UT, she was the forest landscape architect and recreation program manager on the Cibola National Forests and Grasslands in New Mexico. Brunswick was a contributing author and helped manage development of Sustainable Recreation Site Design Guide, published by the US Forest Service National Technology Development Center in 2024. She was also a contributing author for "Scenic Byways: A Design Guide for Roadside Improvements," which received an award from the National Association for Interpretation. While working with the America's Byways Resource Center, she was a project manager and a contributing author for "Conserving Our Treasured Places: Managing Visual Quality on Scenic Byways."

In this conversation, Rachel Franchina speaks with Linda Marigliano, a recently retired Recreation and Wilderness Program Manager, about her extensive career in recreation management within the Forest Service. They discuss the importance of leading with passion for the land, evolving public engagement strategies, and the integration of recreation into broader planning efforts. Linda shares her journey into conservation, the significance of partnerships, and the ongoing challenges and opportunities in managing public lands. The conversation highlights the shift in societal values towards experiences over material goods and the growing recognition of recreation's role in land management. About Linda Linda is a recently retired recreation/wilderness program manager who also served on the forest plan revision team for the Bridger-Teton National Forest in Jackson. She was drawn to the area in 1979 while volunteering as a backcountry ranger in the Tetons and over the years has led several recreation planning efforts, served on Interagency Wilderness Character Monitoring Committee, taught courses for the Arthur Carhart National Wilderness Training Center, and served on the Interagency Visitor Use Management Council. She continues to work on behalf of the land and people as a volunteer with continued focus on visitor use planning, public engagement, and promoting responsible, respectful use. Her husband Mike is an ecologist and together they enjoy hiking, backcountry skiing, and occasional road trips to the desert.

In this episode of Planning the Wild, Rachel Franchina interviews Monika Derrien, a social scientist focused on outdoor recreation management. They discuss Monika's contrasting childhood experiences in urban Queens and rural Vermont, her journey to becoming a social scientist, and her transition from the Forest Service to academia. The conversation delves into the Recreation Opportunity Spectrum (ROS), its historical context, its evolution, and its influence on recreation planning. They also explore the challenges and opportunities in implementing ROS, findings from Monika's research on ROS effectiveness, and future directions for recreation planning.   About Monika Monika Derrien is a social scientist focused on outdoor recreation management on public lands, and its implications for human health and wellbeing. She currently works as an assistant professor in the Rubenstein School for Environment and Natural Resources at the University of Vermont, where she teaches in the Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Program. Monika also serves on the boards for the Society of Outdoor Recreation Professionals and the Vermont Parks and Recreation Association. Prior to her faculty position at UVM, Monika worked for the USDA Forest Service as a research social scientist with the Pacific Northwest Research Station.

In this episode of Planning the Wild, Rachel Franchina talks to Bob Ratcliffe, a veteran in outdoor recreation planning and management. They discuss the evolution of outdoor recreation, Bob's personal journey, and the importance of understanding the history of outdoor management to inform future practices. The conversation highlights key milestones in outdoor recreation planning, the significance of collaboration across agencies, and the lessons learned from past experiences.   About Bob Ratcliffe Bob has graduate and undergraduate degrees in conservation, outdoor recreation and resource management from Prescott College in Arizona and the University of Idaho. He helped lead the development of national conservation, economic, trail/river, urban, youth, recreation, diversity, environmental justice, health and other proactive initiatives, policies and strategic efforts for the NPS, BLM, the Department of Interior and the White House. His background blends a range of public agency, educational and private sector experience as a Congressional Fellow, Outward Bound instructor, river guide and outfitter, researcher and instructor, river ranger and wilderness area manager, community planner and resource conservation consultant.  He enjoys whitewater sports, hiking, biking and skiing – especially with family and friends.

In this episode of "Planning the Wild," we delve into the intersection of traditional knowledge and modern resource management with Andrew Gobin, the treaty rights manager for the Tulalip Tribes. Raised in the traditions of his people, Andrew shares how these teachings guide his work in protecting the rights and resources of his community. Discover how tribal sovereignty and traditional management practices are being integrated into contemporary strategies to preserve natural resources. Join us for an insightful conversation on the importance of cultural heritage in shaping sustainable futures. Resources: Tulalip Treaty Rights Office: https://www.tulaliptribes-nsn.gov/Dept/TreatyRightsAndGovernmentAffairs Tulalip Uplands Strategic Plan Treaty of Point Elliott: https://goia.wa.gov/tribal-government/treaty-point-elliott-1855 Boldt Decision: https://lib.law.uw.edu/indian-tribal/boldt Indian Country 101: https://www.whitenergroup.biz/indiancountry101     Meet Our Guest, Andrew Gobin  (Wazikanim) A lifelong resident of the Tulalip Indian reservation, Andrew was raised in the traditions of his people. The teachings and values instilled since birth have guided him in his work to protect the rights and resources of his people and for future generations – ensuring the continuation of his culture. Currently Andrew is the Treaty Rights Manager for the Tulalip Tribes where he and his team work to protect the inherent rights reserved by his people through the 1855 Treaty of Point Elliott – the right of taking fish at all usual and accustomed places, and to hunt and gather on open and unclaimed land. Co-management is a key element of treaty rights as a unique authority held by treaty tribes. Through work in treaty rights, Andrew brings tribal sovereignty to the fore as he works to incorporate traditional knowledge and management practices into modern plans and strategies in order to protect and preserve the natural resources across the lands and waters.

Join Rachel Franchina as she sits down with Laurie Thorpe, a seasoned public lands professional, to explore the evolving landscape of sustainable outdoor recreation. Discover how collaborative efforts and innovative models are shaping the future of the Olympic Peninsula, ensuring accessibility and resilience for generations to come. Dive into the challenges and opportunities that come with redefining outdoor recreation in a rapidly changing world. Resources: Olympic Peninsula Outdoor Recreation Collaborative https://www.opoutdoorreccollab.com/ Outdoor Recreation Use Insights https://www.opoutdoorreccollab.com/outdoor-rec-use-insights    Meet Our Guest, Laurie: Laurie Thorpe is a seasoned public lands professional who is widely respected for her collaborative spirit, deep understanding of land management systems, and ability to turn big ideas into practical, on-the-ground solutions. Laurie spent 33 years with the Forest Service as a line officer and Enterprise Program leader where she worked to develop and implement recreation strategies that respond to evolving public needs, steward ecological health, and support rural economies. She now leads the Olympic Peninsula Recreation Collaborative which helps ensure the Olympic Peninsula remains both accessible and resilient for future generations.