Planning the Wild

About Planning the Wild

Welcome to Planning the Wild, the podcast designed for U.S. Forest Service professionals and partners working to enhance outdoor recreation experiences on national forest lands in the Pacific Northwest. Each episode offers practical strategies, expert interviews, and field-based insights to support effective planning and management of recreation resources. From navigating NEPA and forest planning processes to designing sustainable infrastructure and managing visitor use, this show helps you support the outdoor recreation economy, public access and stewardship goals. Whether you're new to recreation planning or a seasoned specialist, this is your resource for making smart, informed decisions that serve both people and the land.

Publisher

Rachel Franchina

Category

science · sports

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

28 Jul 2025

Latest episode

14 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

20 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   14 Oct 2026

   Shared Stewardship for Recreation

   In the final episode of season 3, Kristin Dahl from Crosscurrent Collective draws on her experience as a guide, facilitator and collaborative process expert to discuss what it takes to create lasting impact with shared stewardship efforts. She reiterates many themes we heard throughout season 3: shared vision, relationships, trust-building, and celebrating success. Kristin and Rachel also talk about the importance of having a third-party facilitator, how to fund shared stewardship, and the role of process in sustaining momentum. Kristen Dahl discusses the importance of shared stewardship in land and recreation management, emphasizing collaborative leadership, funding strategies, and long-term investment for sustainable community and environmental health. Resources: Crosscurrent Collective Santa Cruz Mountains Stewardship Network Columbia Gorge Stewardship Alliance About Kristin Kristin Dahl is the founder and CEO of Crosscurrent Collective, a destination planning firm based in Hood River, Oregon. She and her team help outdoor recreation communities across the West design strategies, engage residents, and bring big, messy visions of the future to life. Kristin also teaches with George Washington University's International Institute of Tourism Studies, sharing her expertise in sustainable destination management with practitioners around the world. When she's not working, Kristin can usually be found rafting whitewater, tele skiing, or mountain biking with her family. She holds a Master's in Urban and Regional Planning from Portland State University.

2. 

   7 Oct 2026

   Expanding Capacity for Recreation

   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 (https://www.nwyouthcorps.org/) 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.

3. 

   30 Sept 2026

   Trail Rehab, Scenery and Restoration

   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.

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

7 ratings

Contact Planning the Wild

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.