Arizona State Parks and Trails Podcast

Neil Large, Elisabeth Haugan
  • 4.8 (29)
  • Nature

Do you enjoy outdoor recreation, or want to learn more about Arizona’s outdoor scene? You know…Camping, hiking, mountain biking, fishing, wildlife and bird watching, and more! Join us every other Wednesday as we discuss adventure, beautiful places, and hidden treasures in Arizona’s state parks! Whether you’re a seasoned outdoor veteran or someone looking to get into outdoor recreation, there’s something in this podcast for you!

  1. 02/06/2024

    360 Degrees of Camping ⛺️

    New to camping? Want to make your weekend outdoors a success? This information-packed episode cuts the learning curve for any camper looking for new techniques to improve your overnight experience in the outdoors. Hear from experts on the equipment you'll need, the food you can prepare and make at camp, selecting your campsite and being safe out there, and why time in nature is so beneficial for us in the first place! Visit AZStateParks.com/Camping-Logistics for even more tricks, tools, and tips to make camping easy and fun. About our guest: Dr. Brent Bauer  Dr. Brent Bauer is a general internal medicine physician at Mayo Clinic and director of the Mayo Clinic Complementary and Integrative Medicine Program. Dr. Bauer's personal goal is to ensure that research conducted under the auspices of the Complementary and Integrative Medicine Program is always held to the same high standards as all other research at Mayo Clinic. You can find Dr. Bauer's clinical profile and research faculty profile at MayoClinic.org. About our guest: Christine Connors Having sold more than 100,000 copies of their outdoor cooking books, Christine and her husband and co-author Tim Conners are experienced campers, backpackers, and outdoor chefs and the authors of The Scout’s Outdoor Cookbook, Lipsmackin’ Backpackin’, and Lipsmackin’ VegetarianBackpackin’. The Conners have twice served as judges for Scouting magazine’s prestigious national camp food cooking contest. Learn more at LipSmackinCampin.com. About our guest: Ryanne Crary Ryanne is a northern Arizona native whose adventuring in the high desert sparked her passion for the outdoors and all things wildlife. Her family's involvement with the Bureau of Land Management also inspired her to receive her degree in Parks and Recreation from ASU and a minor in Parks and Protected areas, when she spent time as an animal handler at the Phoenix Zoo and attempted to escape the heat. Ryanne joined the Hike Shack in 2020 where she met her now husband Caleb, and future fur-son, Lance. She now works for The Town of Prescott Valley Parks and Recreation as a Recreation Supervisor and handles marketing and outreach for The Hike Shack. When she's not at work, you can find Ryanne exploring her home in Prescott, hiking, rock climbing, and picking up rocks and lizards with her husband, dogs Lance and Bingo, and her lizard Lizzie. About our guest: Louis Juers Louis Juers of The Arizona Family Campout Program helps families discover the joy of camping. He introduces them to the experiences you can share in Arizona's outdoors. Ranger Louis is continuously applauded by families who participate with reviews like Jennifer S., who said, "The warmth we felt from [ranger] Louis and his outstanding team of volunteers was immediate and sincere. Their energy and effort were unparalleled during the whole weekend, giving us families a chance to bond while building upon our camping know-how. Louis's background in education shone brightly all weekend." Find your next Arizona adventure and sign up for our newsletter at AZStateParks.com/Amazing, and follow @AZStateParks on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, or Twitter for even more inspiration.

  2. 11/22/2023

    Oh snap... It's a Photo Contest!

    Announcing (drum roll, please 🥁)... the 2023-2024 Opt Outside Photo Contest at Arizona State Parks! Join us in this episode to hear all about the photo contest, its categories, and sweet prize packages. See the full contest details, rules, deadlines, and submission form at AZStateParks.com/photo-contest. Professional photographer for Arizona State Parks, Carlos Ramirez, joins Neil and Elisabeth on the show to give tips and tricks of the trade to take stunning photos. We also hear from one of the contest judges Tim Elinski. Not only is Tim a judge, his company, Pin Drop Travel Trailers, is part of the grand prize package for the contest winner! You can find out more about Pin Drop Travel Trailers at PinDropTravelTrailers.com. Also check out the contest's other two judges, Lauren and Owen Steinwall of The AZ Hikeaholics and their popular Arizona adventure travel account at TheAZHikeaholics.com or on Instagram! About our guest: Elijio Carlos Ramirez Arizona native Elijio Carlos Ramirez started his career in public policy before transitioning to photo and video. He's worked with private clients, Hollywood movie studios, and even saw his work screened in Times Square. In his spare time, he enjoys other creative pursuits and credits his family for the support that has allowed him to do so. About our guest: Tim Elinski, Pin Drop Travel Trailers Pin Drop Travel Trailers are solar-powered, fully self-contained micro-campers manufactured in rural Arizona. The company was launched in 2018 by avid campers and entrepreneurs, Tim and Ruth Ellen Elinski.  Pin Drop Travel Trailers are intentionally designed and crafted in small batches using premium materials. Combining unmatched, superior quality with user-friendly functionality, the trailers provide travelers the ultimate camping and adventure experience. Sturdy enough for remote, off-road destinations, they are constructed with built-in conveniences for established campgrounds and equipped with comforts appreciated by weekend adventurers who prefer a glamping experience. Tim leads design and manufacturing operations, bringing over 20 years’ experience as a licensed general and HVAC contractor to the company. Raised in a family of tradesmen, Tim honed his skills restoring historic homes and building energy efficient additions and new homes. Now licensed by the State of Arizona as both a trailer manufacturer and dealer, Tim brings his talent, creativity and eye for design to lead the manufacturing team. Together, they create custom, teardrop trailers that are rolling works of art. Find your next Arizona adventure and sign up for our newsletter at AZStateParks.com/Amazing, and follow @AZStateParks on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, or Twitter for even more inspiration.

  3. 10/25/2023

    Go outside... it's good for your health!

    Humans seem to be hardwired for nature, but did you know there is an actual term for this feeling? It's the concept of biophilia, and research is helping medicine incorporate time in the outdoors and a connection to nature with our health! Dr. Brent Bauer, a general internal medicine physician at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota joins us on the show to explain how our physical and mental state can be positively impacted by simply going outside. He addresses questions like the types ...

  4. 09/28/2023

    Going underground with the Kartchner Caverns Cave Unit

    For Chelsea Ballard, the world underneath the ground we stand on has always had a draw. She earned a Karst Hydrogeology degree and went on to work in several different caves before moving to Arizona to lead our Cave Unit team at Kartchner Caverns State Park. In this episode, Chelsea shares what excites her about working in the unique ecosystem of caves and karsts, and gives us insight into the wonders Kartchner Caverns holds. Listen as Chelsea explains the work her team does, the distinctive...

  5. 08/25/2023

    Just Wingin' It with Arizona Birding Expert Richard C. Taylor

    If there's anyone who knows Arizona's birds, it's our guest Richard "Rick" C. Taylor, who literally wrote the book Birds of Arizona! On this episode we fly into the amazing world of the elegant trogon, ruffs, Scott's oriole, sparrows, hummingbirds and so much more. Whether you're a beginning birder or a seasoned ornithologist, you'll be delighted by Rick's knowledge and passion for birding and his perspective on how we nature lovers can relate to our feathered friends. Resources we discusse...

  6. 07/26/2023

    Stars, Snails, and Social Media: Sonoran Insiders Program in the Spotlight

    The Sonoran Insiders program promotes and amplifies good stewardship and responsible outdoor recreation in the Sonoran Desert and landscapes across Arizona. The group hosts fun and informative Insider Experiences for program ambassadors. Apply to become an ambassador HERE or learn more about becoming a partner for the Sonoran Insiders HERE. Want to try an Insider Experience for yourself? Register HERE for their event on August 5 to learn about responsible recreation and tourism on tribal lan...

  7. 06/27/2023

    Remembering the Granite Mountain Hotshots: A conversation with Lew Theokas

    Lew Theokas, the grandfather of Granite Mountain Hotshots crewmember Garret Zuppiger, joins Arizona State Parks team member Ken "Gecko" Sliwa for a conversation to remember the hotshots who lost their lives fighting the Yarnell Hill Fire on June 30, 2013.  Lew is a former wildland firefighter and currently serves as the Public Relations Officer for the town of Peeple's Valley. Find your next Arizona adventure and sign up for our newsletter at AZStateParks.com/Amazing, and follow @AZStateParks on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, or Twitter for even more inspiration.

  8. 06/26/2023

    Remembering the Granite Mountain Hotshots: A conversation with Ben Palm

    Ben Palm, former fire chief for the town of Yarnell, joins Arizona State Parks team member Ken "Gecko" Sliwa for a conversation to remember the hotshots who lost their lives fighting the Yarnell Hill Fire on June 30, 2013. Ben served as the Yarnell Fire Chief after the fire up through 2019, and currently works as the department's Assistant Chief and a Liaison Officer on Incident Management Teams for wildland fires. Learn more about the Firewise program and creating defensible space around ...

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4.8
out of 5
29 Ratings

About

Do you enjoy outdoor recreation, or want to learn more about Arizona’s outdoor scene? You know…Camping, hiking, mountain biking, fishing, wildlife and bird watching, and more! Join us every other Wednesday as we discuss adventure, beautiful places, and hidden treasures in Arizona’s state parks! Whether you’re a seasoned outdoor veteran or someone looking to get into outdoor recreation, there’s something in this podcast for you!

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