Are you trying to sell a plan… when what people really need is a vision?

In this episode, Chris and Jeremy dig into why vision—not strategy documents, timelines, or step-by-step plans—is what actually gets people to care, to say yes, and to get involved. Using examples from JFK’s moonshot and Teddy Roosevelt’s conservation legacy, they connect big, historic visions to very real, very local parks and conservation projects.

They share stories from Big Hollow and Hitchcock Nature Center to show how long-term visions survive leadership changes, funding gaps, and skeptics—and how those visions eventually attract donors, partners, and community champions who help turn ideas into reality.

Along the way, they unpack what makes a vision compelling in the first place. A strong vision pushes the edge of what feels possible, connects to who we want to be as a community, and is tangible enough that people can picture themselves in it. It doesn’t have to be perfectly planned, time-bound, or even fully realistic at the start—but it does have to be communicated relentlessly.

They also talk about the role of the leader as the storyteller, not the hero. “It’s not yours—it’s just your turn.” The real heroes are the landowners, donors, neighbors, and supporters who believe in the vision and help carry it forward. Celebrating small wins, resisting naysayers, and knowing when to launch the next vision are all part of keeping momentum alive.

If you’re leading a park, a conservation program, or any community-focused organization—and you’ve ever wondered why some projects seem to effortlessly attract support while others stall—this episode will change how you think about vision.

About Parks and Restoration:Parks and Restoration is a podcast for park, conservation, and outdoor recreation professionals who want to build stronger teams, healthier landscapes, and communities that care. Hosted by Chris Lee and Jeremy Yost, each episode shares real-world stories and practical leadership insights to help you become the next-level leader your organization, your community, and future generations need. Learn more at parksandrestoration.com.

Why do we cut cedars out of prairies? Why do we thin trees in forests and oak savannas? Why do we burn?

For many of us, the answers to those questions are fairly straightforward. But some people think about land management on a deeper level. They see thinning operations as managing the flow of energy in a system. Or they seek to understand the microclimate impacts from prescribed fire.

Some people focus on the "why" before the "what" and the "how" when it comes to working in conservation. My guest for this episode, Chad Graeve, is definitely one of those people.

Note: This episode was recorded and originally posted back in 2023 and has been downloaded more than any other episode to date.

Chad has spent three decades honing his "why" and in this conversation, we dive deep into the evolution of his philosophies regarding land stewardship, hiring practices, team building, balancing outdoor recreation with natural area management, and much more.

I left this conversation with a new way of looking at the lands I manage and it's reignited my passion for understanding the "why" behind our decisions as an organization, a theme you hear often in our newer episodes.

We'll be back with a brand new episode on December 16.

Change isn’t just hard—it’s biologically, psychologically, and culturally designed to be hard. In this episode, Chris and Jeremy break down why teams resist change, especially in legacy organizations like parks, conservation agencies, and natural resource departments.

Whether you’re rolling out digital campground registration or shifting from a mow-everything mentality to a pollinator-friendly rewilding approach, resistance is guaranteed. But it’s also manageable—if you know what’s driving it.

Drawing from behavioral science, real-world field examples, organizational leadership concepts, and another elephant analogy, this episode gives you a practical framework anyone can use to guide their team through change without burnout, frustration, or unnecessary conflict.

This isn’t about forcing people to change. It’s about guiding them through it—using clarity, psychology, and purpose.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• The three types of resistance you’ll encounter in organizational change

• Why “loss aversion” makes change feel threatening

• How to spot emotional, cognitive, and cultural pushback in your team

• What rewilding and campground QR codes can teach us about real-world change

• Why change fails without clear purpose and storytelling

• How to reduce friction so the new behavior becomes the easy behavior

• Why celebrating early wins creates cultural momentum

• Ten practical tools you can use to lead teams through change

• Why identity—not logic—is often the real barrier

Download the free Change Leader’s Field Guide

A PDF summary with the three types of resistance and ten concrete strategies to lead your team through change.

Key Takeaways:

• People don’t resist change—they resist loss

• Confusion is one of the biggest sources of resistance

• Culture shifts when identity shifts

• Pilots and small wins build psychological safety

• Leaders guide change by reducing fear, increasing clarity, and reinforcing identity

• Change sticks when the conditions for growth are right
  

About Parks and Restoration

Parks and Restoration is a story-driven podcast for aspiring leaders who care about the outdoors and the organizations that protect it. From leadership lessons and workplace culture to ecology, fieldcraft, and community impact, each episode helps parks and natural resource professionals thrive in the work they love.