Experiential Learning for Effective Protected Area Management

US Forest Service Office of International Programs + University of Montana

Overview

THE ISSUE

Protected areas—such as national parks, wilderness areas, and nature reserves—play a critical role in preserving biodiversity, supporting climate resilience, and sustaining communities. But managing them effectively requires more than technical skill—it calls for systems thinking, cross-sector collaboration, and culturally grounded leadership. The U.S. Forest Service (USFS) Office of International Programs wanted to provide a hands-on seminar to build capacity, trust, connection, and a shared commitment to conservation among a group of global practitioners.

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OUR APPROACH

Kirby Crider helped to design and facilitate a 3-week immersive learning experience based in the U.S. that brought together over 25 global professionals each year. Drawing on expertise from academia, Indigenous communities, national and municipal agencies, and the private sector, the program blended strategic planning tools, site visits, and peer learning to build lasting capacity—and community.

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WHAT WE DID

Participants visited national parks, protected areas in cities, and community-led conservation sites. The diverse geography offered powerful contrasts—rural to urban, federally managed to Indigenous- and community-led—and grounded discussions in the complexity of real-world practice. Kirby helped translate and localize complex ideas into practical tools participants could apply at home.

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Experience Design & Facilitation

Kirby played a lead role in experience design, group facilitation, and reflection. From a pre-program “virtual site visit” to daily in-person reflections, every session was designed to build both capacity and connection. Learning methods emphasized peer exchange, shared problem-solving, and personal storytelling.

Place-based Learning

Participants visited iconic landscapes including Glacier National Park, urban protected areas in Washington, D.C., and community-led conservation sites such as those stewarded by the Blackfoot Nation. The diverse geography offered grounded discussions in the complexity of real-world practice.

Cross-Sector & Cross-Cultural Collaboration

Kirby worked closely with global experts from the University of Montana as well as Indigenous leaders, municipal and federal agencies (NPS, USFS), private sector voices, and grassroots community organizations.

Project Outcome

A Global Network Built to Last

The seminar created deep, personal bonds across borders—even among participants from regions with geopolitical tensions. Despite language and cultural differences, the cohort forged a community of practice that has remained connected well beyond the program. Participants left with concrete tools, stronger leadership capacities, and a renewed sense of shared mission.

The International Seminar on Protected Area Management (ISPAM) has become a flagship USFS program—one that proves immersive, well-facilitated learning can do more than build knowledge. It can build solidarity. It can build leaders. And it can build a global community that’s ready to protect the places that matter most.