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...

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...

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 of...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

Karen Norris, the mother of Granite Mountain Hotshots crewmember Scott Norris, 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. Karen is a founding member and sits on the board of the Granite Mountain Interagency Hotshot Crew Learning and Tribute Center in Prescott. You can find information and plan your visit to the center at gmihc19.org. Find your next Arizona adventure...

This episode is dedicated in tribute to the Granite Mountain Hotshots who lost their lives in the Yarnell Hill Fire on June 30, 2013: Andrew Ashcraft, Robert Caldwell,  Travis Carter, Dustin DeFord, Christopher MacKenzie, Eric Marsh, Grant McKee,  Sean Misner, Scott Norris, Wade Parker, John Percin Jr., Anthony Rose, Jesse Steed, Joe Thurston, Travis Turbyfill, William Warneke, Clayton Whitted, Kevin Woyjeck, and Garret Zuppiger. Our thoughts are with their families on this ten-year...

Sometimes all it takes is a little knowledge to change fear into fascination. That's why Phoenix Herpetological Sanctuary joined us on this episode: to reintroduce to the world of snakes. Katelyn Garcia, the sanctuary's Education & Outreach Director as well as Cale Morris, Venom Manager for the sanctuary, help us understand the importance of these reptiles and might help you regard snakes in a different light. Check out the Phoenix Herpetological Sanctuary to schedule a tour, learn...

What is historic preservation and how can any resident or visitor be a part of it? Arizona's State Historic Preservation Officer, Kathryn Leonard, joins us on the show to share. We discuss the many sides of historic preservation, from the ideological perspective of anchoring us to our past and providing tangible ways for future generations to understand it, all the way to the practical side, including laws, tax breaks, economic benefits, and more. As far as who can be a part of...

Understand Arizona's climate and its potential dangers with this episode's guest, Dr. Erinanne Saffell. Dr. Saffell is Arizona's State Climatologist and she breaks down our state's diverse climate and the role elevation change plays in our weather, as well as factors like the urban heat island effect and practical measures homeowners in Arizona's low-elevation metro areas can take to temper it on their own property. Dr. Saffell also gives insight into what kind of summer Arizonans can expect...

Listen in as Lexi with Roam Lab simplifies cooking at the campsite! With a little bit of planning and at-home prep work, you can have delicious meals that fuel your next adventure. Lexi and her husband Chris travel full-time and have mastered the art of campsite cooking. Learn how to cook over a campfire and the tricks of heat distribution. Try out some new recipes or even some of Lexi's favorite gear. Lexi shares great ideas for meals when you want to keep cooking short and sweet as well as...

This episode is in celebration of Earth Day! Earth Day is an annual, global event on April 22 that has been going strong for 53 years after it was first created in 1970 to draw attention to environmental protection. To discuss Earth Day and better understand how we can all do our part to protect Arizona's natural resources and beautiful outdoor spaces, we’ve invited four state park rangers from across Arizona to join us on the show: Ranger Ethan from Oracle State Park, Rangers Kyle and Jess...

Meet adventurer, thru-hiker, mountain biker, backpacker, ultra-runner, hiker, and camper Henley Phillips. Based in Tucson, Arizona, Henley has taken on outdoor adventures across the world. He loves coming up with creative ways to explore new areas and connect destinations on the map with the trail less traveled. Henley will inspire you to try something new, explore more, and savor each moment you can in nature. We begin the show talking about Henley's 64-hour adventure across southern...

Adriane Grimaldi, Education Director of Butterfly Wonderland, takes us into the amazing world of butterflies in this episode. There are 28,000 butterfly species around the world and Arizona is home to a whopping 334 species--second in diversity of butterfly species only to the state of Texas! Adriane shares where and when you can observe them here in the Grand Canyon State. Adriane also shares the intricacies of butterfly life, their journey to Butterfly Wonderland from farms throughout the...

Nick Teschler and Conrad Demecs with FishIn48 know Arizona's bass and their favorite habitats. They join us on the show to tell anglers their secrets, including where to find bass, the lures they're most successful with, and when to get on the water. Nick and Conrad also regularly contribute to Arizona State Parks and Trails' online Fishing Report and host a blog with more great resources to catch bass in Arizona. Find them on social media at @FishIn48 and check out their upcoming...

Neil and Elisabeth travel up the Mogollan Rim and near Payson, Arizona to record on location at Tonto Natural Bridge State Park. Park Manager, Andrew Young, and Assistant Park Manager, Katie Ferguson, join the show to share about the plants, wildlife, and geology that make Tonto Natural Bridge one-of-a-kind. They also share the lesser-known history of this area of Pine Creek Canyon, from Ancestral Puebloan to European influence. These two pros also share how they have created their careers...

It's an ever increasingly-popular lifestyle: sell the house, pack the stuff in storage, and hit the open road full-time to see our country's beautiful places. That's what Patti and Jeff Kinzbach opted for upon retirement, and they haven't looked back since... only forward to the next adventure! As their RV travels began, so did a new project to share their experiences, tips for life on the road, places they visited, and the interesting characters they met along the way: Rocking the RV Life...

Welcome in the New Year with Neil and Elisabeth as they kick off Season 4, discuss plans for 2023, and take a look back over the episodes of Season 3. What do you want to hear from the podcast in this new season? We want to hear from YOU! Send your topic ideas and even speaker recommendations to [email protected]. Don't forget to rate and review the show on whatever platform you use to listen to this podcast, and please share the show with your friends!

Sitting under the stillness of a pitch-black sky, illuminated only by celestial bodies, fills you with a sense of peace and wonder... it's something everyone should get to experience. Conserving our dark skies is important on many levels, from human health, to the preservation of wildlife habitat and migration, to energy conservation, and more! Amateur astronomer, International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) member, and former chair of the Oracle Dark Skies Committee, Michael Weasner, joins the...

From planning retirement to launching a national movement... Phil and Shar Roos are most definitely NOT bored. They created an RV-centric volunteer organization called A Year to Volunteer with a goal to give at least 365 days of volunteering in all 50 states. They rally together volunteers from all over the country to help improve parks and other community programs. They’re revolutionizing the way that we think about volunteering, and the positivity this couple has is absolutely infectious....

Want to have more Arizona adventures but not sure how to fit it all in? Josh Coddington with the Arizona Office of Tourism and Lauren and Owen from The AZ Hikeaholics join us on the show to share their best tips. These guests are pros at making the most of every minute exploring the Grand Canyon State. They share how to use a free tool, the digital AZ Parks Passport, created by the Arizona Office of Tourism, to plan adventures and discover even more attractions while they're on the road. The...