
By Land Podcast
Welcome to the By Land Podcast! My name is Emory, and this show is all about having real, honest conversations with experienced adventurers, outdoor experts, and everyday people who love spending time outside. My goal is to help you feel inspired, informed, and confident to take on your own outdoor adventures—whether you're into backpacking, hiking, hunting, camping, or just getting started.
I cover a wide range of topics like practical outdoor skills, gear, conservation, mindset, and personal growth. Each episode offers something different—whether it’s an inspiring story, hard-earned lessons, or actionable advice to help you build confidence and develop the backcountry skills you need to explore further and adventure better.
By Land is about learning, growing, and making the most of our time in the outdoors. If you’re into that kind of thing, you’re in the right place.
By Land Podcast
#163 - Planning Made Easy with Janelle Smith of Rec.gov
Janelle Smith is the strategic communications team lead at rec.gov and is responsible for spreading the word about the myriad of offerings the platform has for outdoor enthusiasts. As the summer season approaches, many of us are deep in the planning mode for camping trips, making this conversation with Janelle and her team a no-brainer.
If you're not yet familiar with rec.gov, think of it as your ultimate planning companion for camping and various outdoor activities. Janelle walks us through the functionalities of this planning tool, highlighting how it simplifies the process of discovering available sites, understanding what's out there, and crafting the perfect trip itinerary.
Janelle's role as a key representative for rec.gov makes her insights particularly valuable. Whether you're a seasoned user or a newcomer, this episode will likely uncover nuances about rec.gov that you might not have considered.
Show Notes and Links:
- Getting to know Janelle
- Rec.gov services and mission
- Recreation before Rec.gov
- 2023 recreational trends
- New features for 2024
- Addressing no-show campers
- Post COVID trends
- Advice for booking popular campsites
- The “Trip Builder” feature
- Janelle’s “why” behind what she does
- The “big picture”
- Encouraging exploration
- https://www.recreation.gov/
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