Episode Guest
Priscilla Geigis – Deputy Commissioner, Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation
Paul McCormack – President, National Association of State Park Directors
First Day Hike
First Day Hike Stats
- First Day Hikes was started in 1992 in Massachusetts
- It was later adopted by America’s State Parks and expanded across the country in 2012
- 50 states participated
- 1478 hikes were hosted in 2025
- 602,736 participants in the last 10 years (68,890 in 2025)
Speed Round
What is your earliest park memory?
Priscilla: So earliest park memory was when I was four years old, camping in a tent trailer at Mohawk State Forest in Massachusetts, among the tall trees. After we had just eaten outside for the first time at a picnic table. It was just a magical experience.
Paul: That’s my first park memory is DW Fields in Brockton, and it was where we would go every winter with our sleds to go sledding.
What made you love the parks?
Priscilla: So every summer during my childhood, my parents would take the entire month of August and bring my sister and me camping and hiking all across the country. We went to state and national parks and it was amazing, and we would always go to the ranger programs and I was just hooked. So Paul knows this.
I used to pretend that I was a park ranger. I have a picture of me in my little coonskin cap when I was eight years old, standing at the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone. Very proud that I was protecting the park, and I just knew that I wanted to be in parks, and that’s why I’m here today.
Paul: So I fell in love with the outdoors as opposed to the parks. I fell in love with the forest. And I did that when I was middle school and struggling with self-image and being little chubby, redheaded kid was being bullied, but ended up at a camp in the forest and felt at home as a, I always say the forest will both accept you where you’re at and ignore you at the same time, and it’s just such a comforting place to be.
And I fell in love with it that first summer and I graduated college and instead of getting a real job, went back to that summer camp to work for another season because I loved that place so much.
What is your favorite thing about First Day Hike?
Priscilla: Really seeing our staff shine. They love to welcome people into the parks. They’re so packed. Passionate. That’s not just in Massachusetts, that’s all over the nation. And I just love to see them sharing their love for our natural and cultural resources and introducing people to the parks. I also love to see the creativity of the staff because as we said before, it’s a simple concept for First Day Hikes, but they can just, they can make it their own.
And at that fir, when I was calling people after that very first day, January 1st, 2012, to get the statistics, the staff was already telling me about creative ideas that they wanted to do for the next year. So it really allows people to be creative.
Paul: Go into one where there are people who have really never experienced parks before and watching the light bulb moment that this park that is maybe 20 minutes from their home is theirs and it’s in their backyard and it’s accessible and enjoyable. And seeing parents come out with their kids just not knowing what the kids are gonna think of it and watching those kids just love running around on the trail.
I just love seeing people experience what the staff is offering.
What is your favorite thing to do at First Day Hike?
Priscilla: It plays off of what Paul said. I love to talk to people. I love to just find out why they came to that park. I especially love to hear from people who have. Gone, especially to the parks that we have in Massachusetts, when they were a kid and then they’re bringing their own kids why they decided to come out.
I love to find out people, we still get people for the first time who have come to a park and they live very close by. They either are experiencing for the first time or experiencing it in winter for the first time, because people don’t like to go out if they don’t know the trail. So having that guided hike is really important to them.
So I really love to, to talk to people and people that are visiting, you know that in Massachusetts, but they know about a America state parks First Day Hikes. So they were visiting family and they said, we always do this in our home state, and we had to come because we’re visiting family. So I love to talk to people.
Paul: It’s almost ditto. This will be my first year as a First Day Hike participant and not a park director doing them. But I’ve loved to show up and I’m going to some of the same places this year and I think it’s blend into the background, but people just, the community, they just start to talk to you and tell you their story.
And I love the community it creates, and hearing the stories and hearing the people talk,
What park have you yet to visit but is on your bucket list and why?
Priscilla: So I’ve been very privileged to see a lot of state and national parks, both growing up and also in my profession. But one park that has alluded me is Hawking Hills State Park in Ohio. And I really wanna go there because that was the inspiration for Pat to think about these February hikes and start First Day Hikes.
But also my husband’s from Ohio and my, so my family is in Ohio. They’re my in-laws and we haven’t made it to o to Hawking Hill State Park. So we, I’m putting that on my list for 2026.
Paul: So I’ve got I’ve got two and one of them is in upstate New York, Letchworth and it is con, consistently ranked near the top of the list. And I’ve heard so many people talk about the beauty of Letchworth State Park in upstate New York and the other is valley of Fire, Nevada. And it’s just got a new visitor center.
So getting to talk to directors about projects and see things happening remotely is really exciting. And it’s just one of those parks that I’m like, I really wanna get to Valley Fire and see not only the. The new visitor center, but the whole farm.
What are three must-haves you pack for a park visit?
Priscilla: So definitely my camera. Because I am always taking pictures. Paul knows this. I just take, I have a, such a bank of pictures. I pack a tripod. I have a long tripod. I also have a mini tripod ’cause I love to get some great photos. I always wanna have some good team photos when I’m out there. I do a lot of hiking with my staff as well.
So we like to take some photos. And I also like to have a little notebook for getting ideas from other states. And even in our own parks I can get an idea. So I like to have that as well. And I also like to have a little snack ’cause I like to have a reward when I’m after a hike.
Paul: Water. I have I drink way too much water, so I stay hydrated. It makes your experience more enjoyable. I also, camera is another big one because I do, I, not only do I use it for the apps, the phone, for the apps, but I love sharing my experience with other people. Like the, just the beautiful views and the scenery and I’m a horrible photographer, but but we’re in such beautiful areas.
And the other thing, and I’ve said this for years, and I’ve. It’s a cop out, but pack your patience and whenever you visit a park because you just, you are going for an experience and you don’t know what that experience is going to be when you walk out the door. If you could pick the worst day of the year, it could be the most crowded park experience you’ve had, but it’s still probably gonna be beautiful once you get out there and enjoy it.
And the trail conditions could be less than stellar. And so pack your patience and recognize what you’re going there for and what you’re going there to do. And part of that is reconnecting with nature and having an experience.
What is your favorite campfire activity?
Priscilla: Oh, I love to make s’mores, and I just think that is something that you have to do when you’re camping. And in fact, this summer we just brought a group of kids. We started a stewardship corps, and these are junior high and high school kids. And these kids had never been camping before, and so we brought them all camping and some of the kids had never made s’mores before, and it was just really exciting to see them put it together and then take that first bite.
So that was really great. I also like singing by the campfire too. I think that’s such a wonderful communal experience.
Paul: My campfire activity has changed through the years. My kids are all grown and so we have hires a good bit when they’re in town. We have a little outdoor space, out in the woods, a little bit, fire pit area. And so my favorite campfire activity is, conversations in the dark, I’ll call it. It’s amazing how much more open you feel when you feel the blanket of the dark and the warmth of the fire that you can have really in depth conversations with close friends and family that would be uncomfortable in the lights of the living room if that.
Tent, camper, or cabin?
Priscilla: So I am now a van camper because during COVID, my husband and I bought a 1985 VW Salia camper van. So we have been camping around New England and then last summer we went down to. Smoky Mountains, which was really great. But this fall I actually camped I do love cabins of those three. And we were just in Arkansas State parks where we were able to stay in a civilian conservation core cabin at Devil’s Den State Park and then also at Peta Jean State Park.
And I highly recommend that because it is just so great to really feel a part of history for, to have to be in a cabin that was built by the CCCs in the 1930s and to have some of those creature comforts. They’ve been updated a little bit to, but to feel that sense of history, so cabins. And we have CCC cabins here in Massachusetts as well.
Paul: I’ve been all three in my life. And at this point if my wife is gonna join me, which she likes to join me, it is definitely a cabin. But there are some incredible cabins around the country to stay in. We’ve also had an RV for a while and we’re looking at more RVs, but we like the convenience of just being able to find a cabin in the woods book it and head to it.
So stayed in a great one, a floating cabin in Louisiana. And I’m gonna forget the name of the park, but it’s right there outside of New Orleans and they outside the levee and they just float on the water, which is cool.
Hiking with or without trekking poles?
Priscilla: I’m usually without, but I just got some nice trekking poles, so I think I might try them.
Paul: Yeah, I’m usually without, it just depends upon the terrain. If I’m going to hike up to the top of table rock, I’m definitely taking trek and Poles. If I’m just going on a local easy hike, I’m not.
And what is your favorite trail snack?
Priscilla: My favorite anytime snack trail or otherwise is Fritos. And when I’m on the trail, I’ll bring Fritos, but I also bring m and ms because I love to have that, salty of the Fritos and then the funness of the m and ms, and they keep well in my pocket.
Paul: I’m not gonna say Fritos now, but that was up on my list. But the the it’s my, it’s, and you can pick it up at the gas station on the way there. It’s the little, it’s sargento’s like mix with salty pumpernickel and all that kind of stuff in it. I love that sargento’s salty. I like a good salty mix when I’m on the trail.
What is the favorite animal sighting that you’ve had?
Priscilla: So in January, I was just at Yellowstone National Park. I’ve always wanted to see the bison in the winter, so I saw many bison, but it was just amazing to see the bison coming down the park road in the snow with the snow covering them. Truly magnificent. And I also got a really cool picture of a fox in motion jumping as it was getting its prey.
I had my camera set up and I, it was, it’s amazing. So those were my best.
Paul: Priscilla have almost had me convinced I saw a moose in Mount Washington, but it was fake. So that’s still on my bucket list to see a moose. Maybe Priscilla will be with me when I see it in Vermont next year. My favorite is paddling the Green River in Kentucky with my kids. And a bobcat on the side of the river just paced us from maybe 50, a hundred yard, but didn’t take off right away.
And that was such a cool thing to experience with my kids. And then solo hiking. A rattlesnake in the wild, believe it or not, was really just with its rattle up, shaken. It was really a cool thing to experience.
What is your favorite sound in the parks?
Priscilla: The crackling and the pop of the campfire.
Paul: I’m not gonna try to beat that. That’s it. That is it.
What is the greatest gift the parks give to us?
Priscilla: The memories that we create. One of my favorite expressions is from the Ken Burns film on America’s State Parks, and it goes like this. “It’s all about whose hand you hold, when you are witnessing for the first time, the beauty of the landscape,” and that’s what it’s all about.
Paul: A sense of place and a sense of experiencing permanence, I think, and that you can share that with the ones you love and your family and friends, and know that they’re gonna continue to have that opportunity and experience long after you’re gone.
Show Notes & Links
Episode Transcript
Missy Rentz:
A fresh New Year is ahead of us, filled with optimism and opportunity. No better way to celebrate the new year than fresh air, gentle movement, and a caring community. Join me as we explore first day hikes. I’m your host, Missy Rentz, and this is the Parks podcast. In today’s episode, I am thrilled to welcome Priscilla Geigis who is the Deputy Commissioner of Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation, and Paul McCormack, who is the president of the National Association of State Park Directors. They are joining me to prepare us all for January 1st and celebrating First Day Hikes. Priscilla and Paul, welcome to The Parks Podcast.
Priscilla Geigis:
Thank you so much.
Paul McCormack:
Thanks for having us today.
Missy Rentz:
So let me go through some stats about First Day Hikes and then we’ll dive in. First Day Hikes was started in Massachusetts in 1992. It was later adopted by America’s State Parks and expanded across the country in 2012. Last year, 50 states participated in First Day Hikes. There were 1,478 hikes last year. And in the last 10 years, 602,736 people participated in a First Day Hike. This is a great way to celebrate the new year.
Priscilla Geigis:
Oh, it sure is.
Paul McCormack:
It’s my favorite way to celebrate the New Year.
Missy Rentz:
I agree. I agree. Priscilla, I’m gonna start with you because First Day Hikes was started in Massachusetts in 1992, so that’s 34 years ago. How did it all come about?
Priscilla Geigis:
It was the idea of Pat Flynn, who was our park supervisor at the Blue Hills State Reservation in Milton, Mass. He had been a park interpreter, seasonal interpreter in Ohio State Parks at Hawking Hills State Park, and he remembered that time of them offering guided hikes and serving soup. And when he became the supervisor in Massachusetts at the Blue Hills, he said, I really wanna get people to come out in the wintertime. A lot of people, it’s the northeast, it’s cold. So sometimes people think of parks more as, beaches and getting out in the summer. And he said, I wonder if we offered something like that. Let’s invite people to come out on January 1st. We’ll call it First Day Hikes. We’ll serve some soup and we’ll see if people come out. So we asked the staff if they would work on January 1st. Everybody was all in. They weren’t sure how many people to expect. 380 people showed up that first day, January 1st, 1992. So they knew that they had hit on something. And it has really become a beloved tradition since that time. And as you said, it’s expanded, but it was really to just get people out to, to really showcase that parks are four season activities. So it, it was very exciting and still is.
Missy Rentz:
It’s a little bit of a bonus that, the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, the perhaps over consumption of food, and it just to get grounded in the simplicity of nature is really a gift to reset for the first of the year.
Priscilla Geigis:
Yeah, exactly. I think that we really capitalize on people making those New Year’s resolutions, really wanting to exercise more, to take care of your whole body, mind, and spirit. Because it’s really great to be physically active and to be within community as well in the spirit of so many people hiking with you and then seeing all the wonderful natural and cultural resources that the state has to offer. Yeah, it’s a really great way to start the year, and we hope that it becomes part of everyone’s resolution as it has been in Massachusetts and throughout the country.
Missy Rentz:
So, then he started it in 1992 in this one park. And then how was it then adopted throughout Massachusetts.
Priscilla Geigis:
So I came to the Department of Conservation and Recreation in 2004 and that was my first introduction to First Day Hikes. And I love the idea and thought we should really expand this from Blue Hills. And it was also at Breakheart State Reservation. So we expanded it across our state in 2008 and it was so successful. And I was meeting with the Northeast State Park directors, so that’s park directors from Maine down to Maryland. And in the spring of 2011. And I said, you know what? If we all did First Day Hikes, just offer First Day Hike in one park in each of your states, they love that idea. And we decided that we were gonna challenge the other, the all 50 states to do it. So we called it the Northeast Challenge. And so we have a meeting every September of all 50 states and we said,”Hey, what if everybody did a First Day Hike and we called it America State Park’s First Day Hikes. And that could really help people understand that we are these four season places for people to recreate”, and people love the idea. I will say, I had one holdout Hawaii at the, was, he was my last one, Kurt Catrell, who just retired as the state parks director. So I wanna give him a shout out because I said, come on Kurt, we’ve gotta get all 50 states. And he said, oh, it’s gonna be so early and I don’t know, I’m gonna need my coffee. He did it. It has been one of the most beloved hikes that we have had in America State park’s, First Day Hikes because they are, they watch the sunrise in this park. It is just amazing. So we expected that we were gonna get 50 hikes because we made it simple. One hike in every state in one state park. That first year we had 400 hikes and we had 14,000 people come out and do these hikes. So it started a little bit small, but it was just, it made a very big impact. And we have had people since that time come back year after year. That’s what we love to see in Massachusetts too. We have, we, because we’ve been doing it, this will be our 35th year people who were kids that came to First Day Hikes are now bringing their own kids. And that’s what we wanna do with America’s state park’s, First Day Hikes, right? Because it’s all about making memories in those parks. So very exciting, wonderful. Start January 1st, 2012, and really have to hand it to all the states and all of the state park people who are so passionate about bringing people to the outdoors and really said, yeah, we’re in. And then it has just gone bigger and bigger.
Missy Rentz:
And Paul, why do you think it’s taken up? Paul you’re focused on all state parks, and why do you think that has taken an all off? And what is the appeal of being outside on January 1st?
Paul McCormack:
Let me pick up and say I, so I haven’t always been in this role. I was a park ranger in South Carolina for a number of years, and I remember when my director, who was at the meeting with Priscilla came back and announced to all of his leadership team that I was on. We’re doing some First Day Hikes this year and explained to us what Priscilla had done. And so South Carolina, we had never done them before. But we sent it out and I can tell you what the appeal is a couple of things. We all love the outdoors anyways. We are all working on January 1st and we love to see people in our parks. So it was not a really hard sell or staff. People, park rangers and park employees get into this line of work because they love sharing their resource. So to ask them to join into a formal program. And the best part is, like pri said, they had toolkits and everything else. And you can make this as elaborate as you want, but it is as simple as join somebody who works at this park and walk on a trail and enjoy the day. And so it was not hard to get it. Rolling in South Carolina or nationally. And I do think the appeal for us is the opportunity to share something that we really love. As you, not to be ageist,’cause I’m in this category, there’s only so much partying you can do on c it comes a tipping point where just staying up till midnight becomes a, am I gonna do it this year kind
Missy Rentz:
it worth it? Do I wanna pay the price?
Paul McCormack:
But I think regardless of age, I think when you start the new year, you start in a reflection of how, what should I be thankful for? I’m thankful that I start another year. How can I make myself better this year? How can I make the anything better? What do I want to be this year? And. Even if hiking doesn’t become a part of it, there’s nothing like going to an outdoor space to reflect on that and spend time. And I think most people innately know that. So getting outdoors in a safer, secure environment for somebody who’s never hiked or never done this before going to the woods to walk on a trail, for those of us who do it seems easy and to a degree, mindless. We’ve got a routine, but if you’ve never done it before, you’ve got lots of concerns and worries. And to know that you’re gonna go with a group of people in a community just makes it a little bit easier and a great way to kick off the air. So I think it’s grown because of the staff loves doing it. I think people innately want to connect to nature. And this is a great turning point for a lot of people.
Missy Rentz:
Yeah, and it doesn’t, it isn’t always easy. We’ve had some years where it’s been incredibly cold throughout the country, then you had the pandemic year. But through it all, people still long to be outside.
Paul McCormack:
Yeah. And even our pandemic year and Priscilla remembers know as well as I do. We still hosted First Day Hikes and parks. It was our lowest number since the beginning, 430 hikes that year. But they weren’t necessarily guided. It was where we opened parks up and said, here’s a trail. And some of them were guided and I remember them doing social distancing in one way, loops to waterfalls and things like that, to get creative, to get people outdoors. And, but we had zero data because we didn’t count, we didn’t want to get people close enough to count. We didn’t want people to feel they had to check in. We just said, Hey, come on up to the park and enjoy a First Day Hike. And I think a lot of us remember how hungry people were for activities and opportunities that during that time period.
Missy Rentz:
Yeah, and I like, I love First Day Hikes. I think you can either go on the guided hikes or you can just choose to be in the park yourself on those days. But I think for people who aren’t familiar with your parks to your all’s point, the guided programs are a pretty easy entry into it, but they also provide so much more knowledge and, tips on how to enjoy the park or knowledge about the birds that you’re hearing or the animals you’re seeing or tracks. And so it’s really special to get to go with someone who lives in the park, who knows the park so well.
Paul McCormack:
Yeah, it is. And it doesn’t matter if you’ve used parks your entire life, sometimes you can find a per First Day Hike near you that brings in a, an expert burger or somebody who knows the floor and fauna really well, and you can learn so much more about that trail. You hike all the time. And a lot of times, and this is what’s great about this community, I’ve led hikes, I’m sure Priscilla’s led hikes where the most knowledgeable person on the hike is one of the hikers. All of a sudden you have a PhD or an ornithologist out there botanist and they’re giving, they’re teaching you and your staff things on those hikes. So it’s that type of a community you get to learn from.
Missy Rentz:
This year is extra special’cause it is the 250th, and I’m gonna pose this to both of you. From a national to very local how are states embracing the 250th anniversary of the country in incorporating that into what First Day Hikes is becoming?
Priscilla Geigis:
In Massachusetts we like to say, we start revolution. So we started the revolution of First Day Hikes and we are inviting people to, develop their own revolution in terms of fitness and in health and getting out into our parks and really exploring the parks. That is certainly gonna be part of our message. And we’ve got, we’ve got our special logo with First Day Hikes and the, and Mass 250 as well as the regular 250. Just really having people come out and join the national revolution.
Paul McCormack:
I think it’s, so we are tying in, you saw our logo for First Day Hikes to celebrate the 250th. And as Priscilla said, a lot of states have their own logos celebrating the 250th and are doing special things to market. So state parks and First Day Hikes is a great example, are not just an entryway into the outdoors, we protect some of the most special places in our country, significant places in our state. Not just natural resources, but historic resources. And state parks are a great way for you to learn about the history of your state and how your state was involved in the 250th and can make a larger connection to our country. So states are doing it across the country, are doing things differently. But each state has unique historic sites that tell the story of their state, pre- Revolutionary War up through the Revolutionary War. And that is a great way for people to connect with their state and learn more about the 250th. And nationally we have state parks have sites of national significance and there’s gonna be some national events at some of our state parks as well. So we’re pretty excited.
Missy Rentz:
So let’s talk about planning your First Day Hike when this airs, we’ll just be a few days away from it. What are your recommendations for people who are listening and wanna spend January 1st in the park? How should they prepare to do this?
Paul McCormack:
I wanna give the overview and then push it down to Priscilla real quick. So if the easiest way, I think, and we’d love for you to go to our site state parks, we have a First Day Hikes link there, and you can pick your state and it’ll, it will take you directly to their, that state’s program page. And what hikes are available in that particular state. All the states. Really robust marketing teams. Priscilla’s got some great VR people doing their social media up there. I love their Instagram accounts. And it will tell you what hikes are available close to you. So that is a great starting point. And then once you pick your park we’ll ask Priscilla to, and I can chime into, but what kind of things they should be thinking about if they’re gonna hike in Massachusetts?
Priscilla Geigis:
That’s right. So we have 16 hikes that are being offered in Massachusetts, and you can pick from hikes all over the state. We have them varying from different times. Some start at 10, the latest is at one o’clock. They range from, a mile to three miles. Usually easy to moderate. Some parks will offer a couple, and I would say just get onto the website and take a look at what we’re offering. Do you wanna hike along the coastline and see? Some, ducks and birds hike and an old quarry hike up at Halibut State Park. Or if you wanna go to where Henry David Thoreau spent, two years, two months and two days on Walden Pond. You can go and hike there. You wanna hike on a a mountaintop, you can go to Mount Greylock. And we have a wonderful hike that’s going on there. Our canal path, easy canal path along the waterfront at the Blackstone Canal. Some place I would advise people to look at the website because some hikes would allow dogs. And I know that sometimes people like to bring that family member out for the first day as well. And sometimes we want you to have that dog stay home or pick an alternative hike. And also just really be conscious of the weather, up in the northeast, we do get snow. It does get cold. We wanna make sure that people are prepared. So we ask people to dress in layers, bring a water bottle bring a hiking stick if you wanna have that. And usually our places will have some refreshments, we’ll have some cocoa available, and maybe a place to get warm. So really take a look at the website. So in Massachusetts it’s mass.gov/dcr and you can take a look at all the hikes that we have.
Missy Rentz:
We’ll put a link to the America State Parks page where you can go and link to all of the hikes that are happening. I also wanna bring up, we did a series are in the middle of a series, Winter in the Parks, and we just talked to different state parks about what they have going on for the winter. And a couple of them have brought. Up challenges in their area. Weather is one. And Arizona, they were talking about, because a lot of their state parks are rural, really look at it and plan for the travel time that it’s gonna take to get there. Also for places like that, they’re like, I think you might need some sunscreen down here. We always talk about winter and we’re talking Virginia and Massachusetts, but Paul, you probably need sunscreen in South Carolina and things like that. So each park, each state does have unique suggestions and I think if you go to their websites, they’re gonna help you. The other thing I was thinking of this morning with all of the bad weather that’s moving across the country in the middle of December when we’re recording this, is that pay attention to the park social media pages because if there’s any changes, chances are they’re posting them there. If there’s, right now in the Pacific Northwest, there’s a lot of rain and a lot of flooding and stuff. So I think just really staying connected with your state park on their social and websites is really key as you’re putting your plan together.
Paul McCormack:
It absolutely is. And most of our state parks websites have really good information about how to layer for the right weather, how, what footwear to, to use when you’re in certain areas of the state. And we would also encourage people, know your own limitations as well. Pick a hike that’s suited for you. And and that is because this is supposed to be enjoyable. And the, there will be some hikes out there that 10 people will go on because it’s 10 degrees below zero. And those 10 people are crazy, but that is suited for them.
Missy Rentz:
Yes.
Paul McCormack:
So
Missy Rentz:
Like a true South Carolinian.
Priscilla Geigis:
With First Day Hikes, there really is something for everyone. And you’re
Paul McCormack:
there is,
Priscilla Geigis:
right, Paul. So they should really just take a look at what, what speaks to them in terms of the hike that’s being offered.
Paul McCormack:
yeah.
Missy Rentz:
I think also let’s talk about about hiking and what is being offered because it’s, there’s a huge variety around the country and the websites I’ve looked at. Maybe we can just mention any that have sparked your interest, either in Massachusetts or that you’ve heard of around the country.
Paul McCormack:
One of the things that I would encourage, and a lot of states have this resource now, and Priscilla can speak specifically for there, but I know South Carolina, one of the things that is really cool the last couple of years is we have states that have mobility assistance devices at a lot of their parks. So it’s like our track chairs or huckleberry hikers or things like that. So if you are somebody who has never gone, wanted to get to a park,’cause you feel like mobility is an issue. Get on your state’s website and see if there are resources available at certain parks for you to, a lot of times at no cost reserve a chair that can help you enjoy the outdoors. So I’m excited about those types of hikes that are going on. The other fun stuff that goes on in the south I take it back. We call them polar plunges. I know they’re not really, I’m sure that’s happening up north. We do some polar plunges around the south in January, and I know Priscilla probably laughs at that, but we have a couple parks that jump into the lake or jump into the ocean. And it’s no hike, but it’s their first day polar plunge, first day, this or that. And so there are some interesting things. I’ve seen bike rides, I’ve seen horseback rides, I’ve seen snowmobile rides advertised, depending upon what activities go on in your state. So there’s so much cool stuff going on out there.
Priscilla Geigis:
It’s true. And we have a first skate if people wanna do that. We’ve also had folks in, in America state parks bring out horses along the trail. They’ll do a horseback ride. So people have been really creative and I think Paul’s right on in terms of the accessibility. We really want. To make sure that people can come out and have a good time. And the accessible trails, the one that I mentioned at Walden is on an accessible trail. Really important to just get everybody, have it universally accessible for people to enjoy the great outdoors.
Missy Rentz:
Accessible for mobility, but also accessible for ages. There’s things for kids, there’s things for grandparents. It’s really across the board.
Paul McCormack:
Absolutely.
Missy Rentz:
I love the crafts that I’ve always feel like there’s some unique craft that the kids are doing. And I always think it’s so special. Like the memento, they take from playing in the sticks and mud and leaves and all of that. Okay, so obviously weather’s gonna vary around the country, but how do you prepare for whatever weather you’re gonna encounter? And maybe we first talk about if you’re in a cold weather, here’s some things to think about. If you’re in hotter, warmer weather, here are some things to think about. And from your all’s experiences, maybe Priscilla, we’ll let you take the cold. What are some things you recommend if someone is going, I’m taking my family out in the cold. I’ve not done this before. What do I need to know?
Priscilla Geigis:
I think that you really need to have that layering, really dress in layers, make sure that everybody’s got a hat and gloves and maybe if it’s gonna be really cold, have some of those warming packets that you can put in the mittens and the boots. You also really wanna have excellent footwear for what you’re doing. Sturdy boots. I know a lot of times. People like to go out maybe in sneakers or something like that is not like kids. You’ve got to get the boots on the kids and really make sure that they that they’re all dressed. Water is really important, and also, as you said, you mentioned sunscreen before, that is important. Even if there’s snow outside you, especially if there’s snow outside, you’ve gotta, you’ve gotta do that. It’s the reflection. Really just dressing in layers and making sure that you’ve got sturdy boots. And then I would also say, those hiking sticks or those hiking poles, even if you find a stick on the ground to use as hiking, sometimes you can lose your balance. So really important to have that as well.
Missy Rentz:
Yes, Paul, let’s talk about warmer weather. What do people need to think about if they’re in warmer climates?
Paul McCormack:
I’m gonna start at the bottom. Footwear is important and because you’re in a warmer climate, let me tell you, I’ve seen some people take on some mountainous terrain and flip flops, and that’s not advisable. So there are gonna be hikes offered this year where flip flops are great because you’re gonna walk from a parking lot to a beach, and if you wanna walk in the sand, you can just carry them in your hand. But it is not most of your hikes. But there are hikes that sneakers are also good because it’s gonna be on level terrain. You’re not gonna be maybe even some sort of a surface of trail, but know what kind of foot you wear is appropriate for the hike you’re gonna take. And, then I’m gonna go back to what Priscilla said. Be prepared with layers. You’re gonna start with fewer layers in the south, chances are but if it’s windy on the coast or the, you get the weather change, you want to have a light windbreaker or something to put on top of what you’re going out for the temperature, you’re going out for that day. So you want to be able to put something on top of what you have dress for the temperature of the day, but be prepared if it’s gonna go down to warm up on there. Layering is, again, whether you’re in the south or the north. Layering is this is the key to success in any of these events, and it’s a great episode to have, but we don’t want people to get too intimidated, because if you start Google and layering, we’ll start talking about technical wicking, moisture wicking material. I’ve done some backpacking, so like some of the high-end undergarments and all this stuff so that, because you’re like, you gotta get the moisture away from your body, you gotta trap air, you gotta do all this. If you live in the region, you’re hiking in, you’ve been outside in the cold weather, you’ve got the appropriate clothing to do a First Day Hike. Just you again, don’t want to be miserable. So put a little forethought into, I’m gonna carry a little backpack with me’cause I’ll be out there for a mile and a half and I’m gonna throw in the south, I usually say I throw a shell, so a little packable rain coat or something like that. And say something goes on a hat for the sun, not necessarily for the cold weather, but a hat for the sun sunglasses. And I’m probably in shorts all day anyways
Missy Rentz:
that’s so
Paul McCormack:
not that.
Missy Rentz:
It’s 17 degrees here right now. That sounds really nice to me right now. What about, and we talked about like these are relatively shortened, so you don’t necessarily need as much, but what do you think people should consider packing and taking with them on these hikes?
Paul McCormack:
water. I, a snack whether in the car, especially if you’re bringing kids, something to nibble on for the kids. Something right from home, whether it’s fruit, granola bars, just something you’ve got in the pantry so you can whip it out if they get bored to do something like that, a camera to take pictures of. And those are the three things that I’d say for sure to bring with you. What about you? What else do you throw it in that pack?
Priscilla Geigis:
I would say the same thing. And I wanna underscore the camera because we really want people to post on social media their wonderful experiences that they’re having in the hikes because that just, inspires other people to go out to the parks as well. So we’re looking forward to seeing that.
Paul McCormack:
There’s so many tools and apps available for people with smartphones now. Like I, I can’t tell how plant ID has changed the hiking experience and flower id. All of a sudden you see a flower and it’s just a little flower. I don’t know all the flowers, but hey, I’ve got an ID thing and I can take a picture of it, and all of a sudden I know what that flower is and that plant is, or that tree is
Missy Rentz:
Absolutely.
Priscilla Geigis:
and one of the things that we’re doing is we made these big frames so that they will say the First Day Hikes America state park’s First Day Hikes, and the mass two 50, so that people can get behind that wooden frame and then take a picture in that, and then they could post that. So we’re really looking forward to seeing that.
Missy Rentz:
Yeah. Oh, that’s really fun to experience all of the parks that day. My social feeds filled with them around the country, which is really fun. So we wrap up every episode with a speed round of questions. I’m gonna ask these to both of you, maybe we’ll ping pong back and forth from Priscilla to Paul. Okay. What is your earliest park memory?
Priscilla Geigis:
So earliest park memory was when I was four years old, camping in a tent trailer at Mohawk State Forest in Massachusetts among the tall trees. After we had just eaten outside for the first time at a picnic table. It was just a magical experience.
Missy Rentz:
Paul, what is your earliest park memory?
Paul McCormack:
you’re probably gonna hate this, Missy, but my earliest park memory is also in Massachusetts Park and I’m not sure I’m gonna get, is it, and Priscilla, I should have asked this question ahead of time. DW Fields. Does that sound accurate? Dw? Anyways, it,
Priscilla Geigis:
Fields is in Brockton, but it’s not ours.
Paul McCormack:
That’s my first park memory is DW Fields in Brockton, and it was where we would go every winter with our sleds to go sledding.
Priscilla Geigis:
Awesome.
Missy Rentz:
and Priscilla. What made you love the parks?
Priscilla Geigis:
So every summer during my childhood, my parents would take the entire month of August and bring my sister and me camping and hiking all across the country. So we went to state and national parks and it was amazing, and we would always go to the ranger programs and I was just hooked. So Paul knows this. I used to pretend that I was a park ranger. I have a picture of me in my little coonskin cap when I was eight years old, standing at the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone. Very proud that I was protecting the park, and I just knew that I wanted to be in parks, and that’s why I’m here today.
Missy Rentz:
I love it. Paul, what is your what is, what made you love the parks?
Paul McCormack:
So I fell in love with the outdoors as opposed to the parks. I fell in love with the forest. And I did that when I was middle school and struggling with self-image and being little chubby, redheaded kid was being bullied, but ended up at a camp in the forest and felt at home as a, I always say the forest will both accept you where you’re at and ignore you at the same time, and it’s just such a comforting place to be. And I fell in love with it that first summer and I graduated college and instead of getting a real job, went back to that summer camp to work for another season because I loved that place so much.
Missy Rentz:
Priscilla, what is your favorite thing about First Day Hikes?
Priscilla Geigis:
Really seeing our staff shine. They love to welcome people into the parks. They’re so packed. Passionate. That’s not just in Massachusetts, that’s all over the nation. And I just love to see them sharing their love for our natural and cultural resources and introducing people to the parks. I also love to see the creativity of the staff because as we said before, it’s a simple concept for First Day Hikes, but they can just, they can make it their own. And at that fir, when I was calling people after that very first day, January 1st, 2012, to get the statistics, the staff was already telling me about creative ideas that they wanted to do for the next year. So it really allows people to be creative.
Missy Rentz:
Paul, what is your favorite thing about First Day Hikes?
Paul McCormack:
Go into one where there are people who have really never experienced parks before and watching the light bulb moment that this park that is maybe 20 minutes from their home is theirs and it’s in their backyard and it’s accessible and enjoyable. And seeing parents come out with their kids just not knowing what the kids are gonna think of it and watching those kids just love running around on the trail. I, I just love seeing people experience what the staff is offering.
Missy Rentz:
Priscilla, what is your favorite thing to do on a First Day Hike?
Priscilla Geigis:
It plays off of what Paul said. I love to talk to people. I love to just find out why they came to that park. I especially love to hear from people who have. Gone, especially to the parks that we have in Massachusetts, when they were a kid and then they’re bringing their own kids why they decided to come out. I love to find out people, we still get people for the first time who have come to a park and they live very close by. They either are experiencing for the first time or experiencing it in winter for the first time, because people don’t like to go out if they don’t know the trail. So having that guided hike is really important to them. So I really love to, to talk to people and people that are visiting, you know that in Massachusetts, but they know about a America state parks First Day Hikes. So they were visiting family and they said, we always do this in our home state, and we had to come because we’re visiting family. So I love to talk to people.
Missy Rentz:
Paul, what is your favorite thing to do at a First Day Hike?
Paul McCormack:
It’s almost ditto. This will be my first year as a First Day Hike participant and not a park director doing them. But I’ve loved to show up and I’m going to some of the same places this year and I think it’s blend into the background, but people just, the community, they just start to talk to you and tell you their story. And I love the community it creates, and hearing the stories and hearing the people talk,
Missy Rentz:
Priscilla, what park have you yet to visit, but it’s on your bucket list and why?
Priscilla Geigis:
So I’ve been very privileged to see a lot of state and national parks, both growing up and also in my profession. But one park that has alluded me is Hawking Hills State Park in Ohio. And I really wanna go there because that was the inspiration for Pat to think about these February hikes and start First Day Hikes. But also my husband’s from Ohio and my, so my family is in Ohio. They’re my in-laws and we haven’t made it to o to Hawking Hill State Park. So we, I’m putting that on my list for 2026.
Missy Rentz:
Paul, what is, what Park is have you yet to visit, but it’s on your bucket list and why?
Paul McCormack:
So I’ve got I’ve got two and one of them is in upstate New York, Letchworth and it is con, consistently ranked near the top of the list. And I’ve heard so many people talk about the beauty of Letchworth State Park in upstate New York and the other is valley of Fire, Nevada. And it’s just got a new visitor center. So getting to talk to directors about projects and see things happening remotely is really exciting. And it’s just one of those parks that I’m like, I really wanna get to Valley Fire and see not only the. The new visitor center, but the whole farm.
Missy Rentz:
Yeah. Priscilla, what are three must-haves you pack for a park visit?
Priscilla Geigis:
So definitely my camera. Because I am always taking pictures. Paul knows this. I just take, I have a, such a bank of pictures. I pack a tripod. I have a long tripod. I also have a mini tripod’cause I love to get some great photos. I always wanna have some good team photos when I’m out there. I do a lot of hiking with my staff as well. So we like to take some photos. And I also like to have a little notebook for getting ideas from other states. And even in our own parks I can get an idea. So I like to have that as well. And I also like to have a little snack’cause I like to have a reward when I’m after a hike.
Missy Rentz:
Paul, what are three must haves you pack for a park visit?
Paul McCormack:
Water. I have I drink way too much water, so I stay hydrated. It makes your experience more enjoyable. I also, camera is another big one because I do, I, not only do I use it for the apps, the phone, for the apps, but I love sharing my experience with other people. Like the, just the beautiful views and the scenery and I’m a horrible photographer, but but we’re in such beautiful areas. And the other thing, and I’ve said this for years, and I’ve. It’s a cop out, but pack your patience and whenever you visit a park because you just, you are going for an experience and you don’t know what that experience is going to be when you walk out the door. If you could pick the worst day of the year, it could be the most crowded park experience you’ve had, but it’s still probably gonna be beautiful once you get out there and enjoy it. And the trail conditions could be less than stellar. And so pack your patience and recognize what you’re going there for and what you’re going there to do. And part of that is reconnecting with nature and having an experience.
Missy Rentz:
Priscilla, what is your favorite campfire activity?
Priscilla Geigis:
Oh, I love to make s’mores, and I just think that is something that you have to do when you’re camping. And in fact, this summer we just brought a group of kids. We started a stewardship corps, and these are junior high and high school kids. And these kids had never been camping before, and so we brought them all camping and some of the kids had never made s’mores before, and it was just really exciting to see them put it together and then take that first bite. So that was really great. I also like singing by the campfire too. I think that’s such a wonderful communal experience.
Missy Rentz:
Paul, what is your favorite campfire activity?
Paul McCormack:
My campfire activity has changed through the years. My kids are all grown and so we have hires a good bit when they’re in town. We have a little outdoor space, out in the woods, a little bit, fire pit area. And so my favorite campfire activity is, conversations in the dark, I’ll call it. It’s amazing how much more open you feel when you feel the blanket of the dark and the warmth of the fire that you can have really in depth conversations with close friends and family that would be uncomfortable in the lights of the living room if that.
Missy Rentz:
It does. And Priscilla, are you in a tent, camper, or cabin?
Priscilla Geigis:
So I am now a van camper because during COVID, my husband and I bought a 1985 VW Salia camper van. So we have been camping around New England and then last summer we went down to. Smoky Mountains, which was really great. But this fall I actually camped I do love cabins of those three. And we were just in Arkansas State parks where we were able to stay in a civilian conservation core cabin at Devil’s Den State Park and then also at Peta Jean State Park. And I highly recommend that because it is just so great to really feel a part of history for, to have to be in a cabin that was built by the CCCs in the 1930s and to have some of those creature comforts. They’ve been updated a little bit to, but to feel that sense of history, so cabins. And we have CCC cabins here in Massachusetts as well.
Missy Rentz:
That’s cool. That’s a great idea. Paul, are you a tent, camper, or cabin?
Paul McCormack:
I’ve been all three in my life. And at this point if my wife is gonna join me, which she likes to join me, it is definitely a cabin. But there are some incredible cabins around the country to stay in. We’ve also had an RV for a while and we’re looking at more RVs, but we like the convenience of just being able to find a cabin in the woods book it and head to it. So stayed in a great one, a floating cabin in Louisiana. And I’m gonna forget the name of the park, but it’s right there outside of New Orleans and they outside the levee and they just float on the water, which is cool.
Missy Rentz:
Are you hiking with or without trucking poles?
Priscilla Geigis:
I’m usually without, but I just got some nice treking poles, so I think I might try them.
Paul McCormack:
Yeah, I’m usually without, it just depends upon the terrain. If I’m going to hike up to the top of table rock, I’m definitely taking trek and Poles. If I’m just going on a local easy hike, I’m not.
Missy Rentz:
And Priscilla, what is your favorite trail snack?
Priscilla Geigis:
My favorite anytime snack trail or otherwise is Fritos. And when I’m on the trail, I’ll bring Fritos, but I also bring m and ms because I love to have that, salty of the Fritos and then the funness of the m and ms, and they keep well in my pocket.
Missy Rentz:
Paul, what’s your favorite trail snack?
Paul McCormack:
I’m not gonna say Fritos now, but that was up on my list. But the the it’s my, it’s, and you can pick it up at the gas station on the way there. It’s the little, it’s sargento’s like mix with salty pumpernickel and all that kind of stuff in it. I love that sargento’s salty. I like a good salty mix when I’m on the trail.
Missy Rentz:
Yeah. What is Priscilla? What is your favorite animal sighting?
Priscilla Geigis:
So in January, I was just at Yellowstone National Park. I’ve always wanted to see the bison in the winter, so I saw many bison, but it was just amazing to see the bison coming down the park road in the snow with the snow covering them. Truly magnificent. And I also got a really cool picture of a fox in motion jumping as it was getting its prey. I had my camera set up and I, it was, it’s amazing. So those were my best.
Missy Rentz:
Paul, what is your favorite animal sighting?
Paul McCormack:
Priscilla have almost had me convinced I saw a moose in Mount Washington, but it was fake. So that’s still on my bucket list to see a moose. Maybe Priscilla will be with me when I see it in Vermont next year. My favorite is paddling the Green River in Kentucky with my kids. And a bobcat on the side of the river just paced us from maybe 50, a hundred yard, but didn’t take off right away. And that was such a cool thing to experience with my kids. And then solo hiking. A rattlesnake in the wild, believe it or not, was really just with its rattle up, shaken. It was really a cool thing to experience.
Missy Rentz:
Priscilla, what is your favorite sound in the park?
Priscilla Geigis:
The crackling and the pop of the campfire.
Missy Rentz:
Paul, what is your favorite sound in the park?
Paul McCormack:
I’m not gonna try to beat that. That’s it. That is it.
Missy Rentz:
And then finally, Priscilla, what is the greatest gift that the parks give to us,
Priscilla Geigis:
The memories that we create. One of my favorite expressions is from the Ken Burns film on America State Parks, and it goes like this.”It’s all about whose hand you hold, when you are witnessing for the first time, the beauty of the landscape,” and that’s what it’s all about.
Missy Rentz:
Paul? What is the greatest gift that the parks give to us?
Paul McCormack:
A sense of place and a sense of experiencing permanence, I think, and that you can share that with the ones you love and your family and friends, and know that they’re gonna continue to have that opportunity and experience long after you’re gone.
Missy Rentz:
Priscilla and Paul, thank you so much for joining us on the Parks podcast, sharing stories from your states, from the states across the country and just about First Day Hikes. It’s gonna be a great way to kick off 2026.
Priscilla Geigis:
You miss.
Missy Rentz:
Happy New Year to you both. Happy New Year to our listeners, and until next time, we’ll see you in the parks.
Thanks for listening. If you enjoyed today’s episode, please be sure to like and share on your favorite podcast platform. Music for the parks podcast is performed and produced by Porter Hardy. For more information, please follow us at The Parks Podcast, or visit our website at TheParksPodcast.com.