April 23, 2025 • 39 mins
What happens when a deep love of the outdoors becomes a mission to connect an entire community with nature? Ranger Jen Young joins host Christy Weeks to share how Milton's Parks and Rec team is making the natural world more accessible, educational, and exciting for everyone.
From birding apps and stargazing tools to frog facts and first-fish stories, this episode is packed with inspiration and a whole lot of fun. Whether you're a seasoned hiker, an avid outdoorsy type, or a curious newbie, you'll come away ready to explore more—right in your own backyard.
To learn more about outdoor programming through the Parks and Rec department, visit our website HERE!
Want to connect with Ranger Jen Young? Email her at: jen.young@miltonga.gov
For more information about the Wildlife 101 webinar series, visit:
www.miltonga.gov/wildlife101
With the community in mind, this podcast explores the stories, people, and initiatives that make our community unique. Each episode offers insights into local government, highlights Milton's history and future developments, and showcases the vibrant arts, culture, and sustainability efforts shaping our city. Join the conversation, celebrate our community, and discover how we're building a better Milton together.
Do you have an idea for an episode or would like to request a specific topic to be covered? Email Christy Weeks, christy.weeks@miltonga.gov
Learn more about the City of Milton at www.miltonga.gov.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:07):
Welcome to Milton and Maine, the official podcast for
the city of Milton.
We want to bring you closer tothe heart of our community
through stories that inform,inspire and connect.
Each episode offers abehind-the-scenes look at the
people, projects and prioritiesshaping Milton, covering
everything from local governmentand future development to arts,
culture, sustainability andpublic safety.
(00:28):
Whether you're a resident, alocal business owner or just
curious about our city, this isyour front row seat to what
makes Milton special.
Welcome back to another episodeof Milton in Maine.
My name is Christy Weeks and Iam the communications manager
for the city of Milton.
Today we're welcoming back avery familiar voice.
She's a familiar face aroundour parks.
She works closely with ouryouth programs and she's someone
(00:49):
who brings a lot of heart and alot of hustle to everything she
does.
You know her, you love her.
It's the one and only Jen Young, milton's outdoor recreation
supervisor, also known as RangerJen.
So grab your water bottle, laceup up those hiking boots,
whatever you got to do, becauseranger gin is back on the mic
and we're ready for today.
(01:10):
We're ready for a greatconversation, and she's laughing
and I can't wait because thisis gonna be good.
Speaker 2 (01:16):
That was the best intro ever grab your boots, grab
your water bottle, all the morefacts.
Speaker 1 (01:21):
You just never know.
You never know with you.
I feel like I should also havea fishing rod.
Yeah, like I should have thaton board with me right now, but
I don't fish.
Speaker 2 (01:29):
Well, I promise you, I have walked down every hallway
in this place and probablyagitated everybody in their
cubicle by casting my line andthen reeling it in over top of
them.
Speaker 1 (01:42):
It's like hey, I have been witness to that.
You're in a cubicle.
You need to have a little fun,too A little fun.
So why don't you remindeverybody, give us a little
history on you, how you got here, what got you into all this,
let us know, yeah.
Speaker 2 (01:57):
I'll take you way back to the early eighties.
Um, I was born and I came outthe womb, as my mom would say,
like ready to take on the world.
So throughout my wholechildhood I don't think they saw
me in the daylight hours Ibuilt my own tree fort.
My mom said I had an ax at theage of eight.
I don't recommend, if any kidsare listening.
Speaker 1 (02:18):
that's kind of a parenting no, no don't judge
them.
Speaker 2 (02:23):
This is also the eighties.
No, no, don't judge them.
This is also the eighties, um,so I lived in the wilderness by
choice.
No one in my family really hada desire to be outside, so it
was really just me.
So all of my exploration was onmy own, solo, dolo, um, I got
really good at that and then asI got older and you go to
college and you move on and andyou figure out your career, I
(02:45):
learned that I was.
I had a like special gift ofworking with kids.
Speaker 1 (02:50):
That is a special gift because not everybody has
it.
Speaker 2 (02:53):
Yeah, so I found very honestly, honestly, as I'm like
looking for volunteers andhopefully I get to share a
little later about the futurejourney but, as I'm like looking
for volunteers, I'm like dothey have that energy that makes
kids just want to do and be andengage, Right?
Um?
So when I figured out I hadthat gift, I worked with kids
(03:14):
for 15 years, Um, and then COVIDhit and I was like I need to be
in the woods, I need to be innature.
Yeah, I think a lot of peoplefelt that way, yeah yeah, and,
and I think career, this careerstarted opening up for a lot
more of us because people wantto go outside and they're like,
hey, all these people are in theparks.
We got to do something withthem, right?
(03:35):
Uh, so I got lucky to find ajob working in Tucker where I
could have a hybrid working withkids and also working in nature
.
And then this job opened inMilton two years ago and now I
get to breathe fresh air everyday in Milton.
Would you do that for me?
Speaker 1 (03:54):
I don't get that every day, yeah no, people say
it all the time.
Speaker 2 (03:57):
Go outside, especially you.
I'll walk by and you're like goget some fresh air for me,
which makes me really sadbecause I'm like come with me.
Speaker 1 (04:05):
There are days, but I'll do it for you.
Yeah, I need somebody to livevicariously through, so I'm
going to make it you, justbecause you do a lot of things
that are not second nature to meand so I can respect it.
I remember when I mean I've gotthree kids and when they were
little, when my oldest was three, I was like, okay, so this poor
(04:28):
child needs somebody other thanme impacting her experiences,
because I didn't like messes, sothe artsy mess was never an
option inside my house.
Speaker 2 (04:42):
The level of stress and anxiety that I experienced
was off the chart, but did youfeel the same way about the
third one, or did you just kindof have to like, let it go?
Speaker 1 (04:51):
poor third one.
I'd have probably left him abread trail from the park to the
house and said follow it whenyou get home.
Speaker 2 (04:58):
It's always the first one that you like.
Speaker 1 (05:00):
Micromanage all the details pretty sure she's gonna
need some sort of therapy alongthe way to recover from the
things I did and didn't do.
But I put her in this reallycool preschool right when they
had them outside, they hadsecond languages, they did a lot
of art, they explored thingsoutside and I was like, okay,
perfect, and guess who's mynature lover Her, she loves
(05:24):
being outside, she's the hiker,she's the hunter, she's the one
that artistic-wise.
Sorry, sarah, probably not yourgift, that went to the youngest
, but you know it was a reallygood option for me.
So people like you in thecommunity make a definite impact
on those of us who don't knowhow to manage those things.
Speaker 2 (05:44):
Yeah, and I get that quite a bit in Milton.
Even if you are comfortable innature, there's elements that I
think make most peopleuncomfortable right.
Speaker 1 (05:54):
Snakes make me uncomfortable.
Yeah, I don't do snakes.
Speaker 2 (05:56):
Snakes are not comfortable for me either, and
for my own kid's career day Itook in a giant snake skin that
was donated to me by a neighborin Crabapple here.
Oh my goodness, he brought itin.
He's like can you use this?
I'm like I bet you I can Do.
You have gloves.
No, but you know what?
I convinced a kid to kiss thesnakeskin and I thought that was
the greatest day ever.
He was a hero.
(06:17):
In the fourth grade.
Everyone went ew.
And then they what do you feellike?
He's cool.
Yeah, he was like dry, scaly.
I'm like.
There you go, you touched thesnake skin.
But like things that I'm notcomfortable with, I'm constantly
challenged.
Somebody asked me in thislittle fourth grade career day
(06:39):
class, right, they said have youever encountered a bear?
I was like once and it was ablack bear and I didn't feel
afraid.
But I've never encounteredwildlife that felt dangerous to
me, like where I felt threatened.
But I'm sure if I did it mightchange my perspective about
something.
So snakes is about as close asit's ever gotten to making me
(07:02):
feel a little fearful.
Speaker 1 (07:03):
I am more afraid of a snake than I am.
So quick little bear story.
Because I lived in Estes Park,Colorado, up in the mountains,
and we had bears.
I loved seeing them from afar.
It was lovely.
But on occasion if you leftyour trash out or something like
that, they would revisit.
So I was out at my dad's placeand it's like 1130 at night, my
(07:24):
sister staying across the wayfrom me in a cabin and we hear
the bear in the trash.
So I go out with my littleflashlight and I'm looking at it
and it's looking at me and it'shissing and I'm bears hiss and
my sisters.
My sister and I are on the phonebecause we're too far apart to
conversate properly.
(07:44):
So the bear runs off and I'mlike looking for it.
Who knows what possessed me togo looking for the bear.
But I come off the step of thecabin, I walk around the back of
the building and I got myflashlight.
My sister calls and she goeswhere are you?
And I go.
I'm behind the cabin.
She goes, the bear's behind thecabin and all you could see, my
sister said, was my littleflashlight bouncing up and down.
(08:07):
As I came running back aroundto the front of the cabin, I
thought, okay, we're going toleave that bear to do bear
things and I'm going to mind myown business in here.
That's right, that's what Iwant to see.
But, they're super cool.
Speaker 2 (08:19):
I mean, I love them, I love watching them I think
we're all curious about thethings that were were not meant
to be close to.
You know, like I'm curiousabout a grizzly bear, but I I I
feel too irresponsible to getclose enough to really inspect
that thing.
Speaker 1 (08:35):
That seems like well you couldn't choice, you
couldn't take all your stuffedfish like in your pocket and
stuff with you.
That would.
That would be a bad draw no, nostuffed fish no stuffed fish,
no live fish either no life.
Speaker 2 (08:48):
I feel like we should check your pockets daily yeah,
yeah, I um, I try not to leavebreadcrumbs along the trail, but
I've been known to to drop ahalf a granola bar to, whether
at my cubicle or on the pier.
Speaker 1 (09:03):
it happens, happens, you turn around and there's a
line of little crittersfollowing you down the trail.
That's no bueno.
That would be fun.
Speaker 2 (09:11):
Yeah, I think the most fun part of my day is when
I get to be outside and seewildlife.
Honestly, like you're saying,like that's how you lived and
that's your life, and isn't itcrazy Because I live close to
the city, your life?
And isn't it crazy because Ilive close to the city and the
wildlife that I get is mainlybirds and squirrels, like a lot
of?
Speaker 1 (09:29):
you know I use your bird app, by the way, do you?
I do, I've done it.
I do so backstory here foreverybody listening.
Speaker 2 (09:37):
I'm so proud of you.
Speaker 1 (09:38):
I know right, I'm not a bird person.
I mean I love them.
I love seeing the blue birdsand the cardinals because, for
me.
I feel like they have a meaningand I love seeing them.
They make me happy.
So Jen comes in the other dayand she had sent this recording
of birds chirping to thecommunications department Some
of you may have seen it on theFacebook page and we we asked if
(09:59):
you could identify any of thebirds chirping.
Well, jen uses this app calledMerlin and it will record the
sounds and identify the bird.
It then provides you with apicture of the bird and a
description.
It's awesome.
So I'm like well, I'm gonnadownload Merlin.
I'm on a walk the other day andI'm like you want to know what
that bird is.
I'll tell you what that bird is.
It was awesome.
Speaker 2 (10:21):
I'm so proud of you.
Okay, I'm going to next levelyour outdoor adventure with
iNaturalist.
It's an app for animals, fungi,plants, trees you name it
anything in nature.
You snap a photo of it.
It tells you what it is.
It tells you if it's native,how rare it is.
It will give you like a fulldescription.
(10:43):
So I probably used that.
I used it in my backyard threetimes this morning really things
are sprouting up and I'm likewhat is that?
that's not grass.
What is that?
I take a picture.
I'm like that's a native plantor flower that I've never seen
in my yard before that justpopped up and because I use
fertilizer to grow some grass,okay, I think it popped up some
(11:08):
native species of flowers.
Speaker 1 (11:09):
I would need that.
If, if I gardened, yeah, and ifI put the time into the yard
which, for the record, I do not,because it is my children I
grew them.
Nobody's starved to death.
Everybody's good plants a wholedifferent ball game.
I'm just saying some of usdon't have that green thumb.
I feel the same way If I wereto do that, I feel like that
(11:33):
would save me from like goingOoh, that looks like a weed.
Speaker 2 (11:37):
Yes, yes.
I regret 20 years of my life ofgetting rid of things that
could have been like the mostbeautiful blossoming plant in
the world.
Speaker 1 (11:46):
Cry softly in the corner for what you've
eliminated.
Speaker 2 (11:49):
That's it.
That's that's really it,because I'm making up for it in
due time, I promise.
Speaker 1 (11:55):
I'm saving them now.
Speaker 2 (11:57):
Yes, I mean I'll be in parks and I'm like what is
that thing?
I like that and I want it in myyard or I want it in in a park
and, um, that app has saved mylife.
Speaker 1 (12:06):
That's awesome.
So my I was telling my husbandabout Merlin and he goes Ooh,
you ought to tell Jen about the?
Um, the app Stellaris, I thinkit is, and it's for the stars
and and and constellations andit'll identify.
If you see a star and you pointit up there, it'll tell you
what that star is.
It's awesome.
Speaker 2 (12:27):
It's so cool, tell him I love it.
I don't use it often, but if Iknow it's going to be one of
those like when Saturn andjupiter are huge and in line and
bright, because stars aretricky, it's like is it a plane?
Is it a star?
That's how we feel in myneighborhood.
Is it superman?
I'm like that star is moving.
Is it a plane or a shootingstar?
(12:49):
And I'm like that was a planedefinitely definitely a plane I
mean, we have some dark skieshere that I've.
I have been reaching out to allthe astronomy clubs in Georgia
like come to Milton, yeah,birmingham park or Milton city
park, and preserve.
Speaker 1 (13:08):
It does get dark out here.
Speaker 2 (13:10):
It does, and you could have some of the most
beautiful night skies, yeah, soI would love it if they'd come
up here.
Speaker 1 (13:17):
That would be fun.
Yeah, right, that might besomething I could get on board
with, because I mean, it'sfascinating, right Hard to
identify unless you know exactlywhat you're looking at.
Speaker 2 (13:28):
Yeah, and to learn the lore behind the stars, or to
understand why things arealigned the way they are at this
time and the best times thoseclubs are meeting in their
spaces.
So I'm like just pick a, notbest time.
We'd still enjoy thatpresentation, we'll take it,
we'll take it.
Speaker 1 (13:47):
Speaking of presentations, jen, um, kind of
shifting gears here a little bit, because you got a few things
going on.
I obviously there's too much todig into in in one little
sitting here, but you've gotsome things going on that I
really feel need some love,because they're new, they're
brand new and they're super funand super cool.
And you know where I'm goingwith this, because I'm involved
(14:11):
in it, because I think it's thecoolest thing and I love doing
it with you, and the only thingI do is I push buttons.
Speaker 2 (14:18):
It's it's the most important thing.
Just so you know, like hittingstart on something is the it's
the best part.
Speaker 1 (14:26):
More importantly than start is record Yep.
Speaker 2 (14:29):
That's right.
That's the big button that yougot to push but it's wildlife
101.
Speaker 1 (14:34):
It's a webinar series that you started three weeks
ago.
We're getting ready to haveour-.
Three months ago.
Three months ago, oh shoot,christy and her calendar a
little off kilter.
You were actually at the firstone.
Let's go back.
I did, I did come to-.
Speaker 2 (14:49):
Coyote 101.
The first in-person Wild Birds101.
And it was about coyotes and-.
Speaker 1 (14:56):
And a multitude of other little animals.
Speaker 2 (14:58):
Yes, yes, yes, yes.
The intention was coyotes,right, and I absolutely loved
the concept of getting peopletogether that want to learn
about wildlife, right?
And so I asked you.
I was like, hey, maybe werecord it or put it on the
website and people can view itlater and not just have it as
like a one-time deal, becausewhat a bummer when you have a
(15:21):
life to live and you have tomiss something.
That's just one time and fromthere you're like I, I'm gonna
one-up that one.
I got a better idea.
Let's turn this into a webinar.
People can do it from wherever,sure, and it's recorded and
people can view it for alifetime, right.
So I was like deal, say less,I'm going to do that from my
(15:42):
home office.
Yeah, in the comfort of my home, like everybody else, cooking
dinner.
I'm not cooking dinner, butmaybe you are.
Do you know me?
Speaker 1 (15:52):
No, this girl don't cook dinner.
Speaker 2 (15:54):
Maybe you're having a PB and J while we do this
Survival of the fittest in myhouse but I think you and I
affectionately appreciate thisbecause it's unique, it's
providing access to anybody andeverybody who has technology of
any kind and it's creative.
We can bring anyone on to speak.
Speaker 1 (16:15):
It opens up the door to people who want to present,
want to talk about their passionthat maybe has a little bit
harder time getting to anin-person opportunity.
So it's a win-win.
That's right.
And then, just as we looked atthe other day, we looked at the
history of the recordings onYouTube because that's where I
(16:36):
originally store them beforethey go on the website, which,
by the way, all of the previouswebinars can be found on our
website at MiltonGAgovwildlife101, forward slash
wildlife101.
So they're all there.
And that was the orphaned andinjured wildlife, which was
fabulous.
We just had the one on pondecology, which I did learn some
(17:02):
things, even though I am not afish person.
It was super interesting.
Glad I was there to listen incase I ever decide to acquire a
pond.
But the next one which I haveto say I'm terribly excited
about, because who doesn't wantto listen to beavers?
And this podcast will air theday before the beaver
(17:27):
presentation.
I love it.
So if you're listening to this,yes, we want to see you
tomorrow, yep tomorrow on the onthe webinar from 6 to 7 30.
And it is everything you wantedto know about beavers.
Speaker 2 (17:42):
That's right.
So, Ranger Jonah, he's a rangerfor DeKalb County and he has
his own following of people whoabsolutely he's a storyteller.
He's an incredible storyteller,first and foremost.
Like outside of nature, he'sjust a great storyteller.
And then you put him in naturewith the storytelling.
I could almost point atanything a leaf, a tree and
(18:05):
there is a story behind it,thanks to Jonah.
So I'm honored that he would dothis and be on our webinar,
because he's dynamic, so I'mexcited for the questions that
people have.
Everyone's curious aboutbeavers, even if they don't know
it.
They're elusive.
Yes, they are, and you seesigns of them and you don't know
(18:28):
.
You see signs of them, and sothat's what I'm excited to have
him talk about.
And also, how do we live withthem?
yeah that's most important to meis it's hard when you live in a
developed area it is to liveand coincide with beavers, your
first instinct is to want to ridof them or tear down their dams
, and hopefully ranger joan willgive us some tips on how to
live amongst beavers or how canthey live amongst us, is more
(18:51):
important that's a good point.
Speaker 1 (18:54):
That's a good point.
I mean, we're a little harderto deal with than they are.
We're.
We're real complicated.
Speaker 2 (18:58):
They want to eat they want to build a little shelter
and they want to.
They are, we're, realcomplicated.
They want to eat, they want tobuild a little shelter and they
want to make babies.
And we've got a lot more goingon.
A little bit, a little bit.
Speaker 1 (19:07):
A little bit, but that'll be interesting.
So if you're interested, jumpon.
It's free.
It's registration can be foundon our website.
So get on there, get registered, we'd love to have you.
And then, just to wrap that up,we've got a couple others
already planned, which are alsoregistration links found on our
website, and that I think may,as frogs.
(19:28):
I like frogs because I likelistening to them at night.
It's my favorite time of yearwhen I can go out and I can hear
them.
Speaker 2 (19:36):
Just like there are bird people, there are amphibian
people.
Speaker 1 (19:39):
Wait a minute.
Is there a frog identifier app?
Speaker 2 (19:42):
Let's hope Linda May tells us about it.
Speaker 1 (19:43):
I need a frog identifier app.
Speaker 2 (19:45):
That would really change the game for a lot of us
at night, because we're like isthat a cricket?
Is that a frog?
Is that a bird?
Speaker 1 (19:52):
They do make funny noises.
Speaker 2 (19:54):
Yes, they do.
Speaker 1 (19:54):
And sometimes it's not frog-like.
Speaker 2 (20:01):
So that's what Linda's going to run us through.
Linda May works for DNR and shehas come highly recommended by
many amphibian folks sayingshe's dynamic, she's fun, but
the best part is she plays frog.
Sounds for you.
You get to listen and try toidentify what kind of frog you
think it is.
Speaker 1 (20:16):
Is that the neighbor screaming kid or is that a frog
in the pond.
Speaker 2 (20:20):
That's right.
So we're going to learn a lot.
Speaker 1 (20:22):
I'm excited for that one and then, following that up,
we have bears.
Speaker 2 (20:26):
Which bears this all stemmed for those of you in
Milton listening to this podcast, to the crab apple infamous
bear.
Yes, there's an annual bearsighting.
Speaker 1 (20:37):
Correct.
Speaker 2 (20:38):
It rolls to Milton, it heads on down to Roswell and
then we lose it.
And I've told that story amillion times.
How fun that we get an annualbear sighting for one day, even
here in the suburbs, right?
Oh, I love it.
Speaker 1 (20:51):
Yeah, I haven't seen him walking through here.
All I know is that we getnotified very quickly.
That's right we usually throwit up on social media.
Quick side note, learning fromthe orphaned and injured
wildlife webinar do not out thelocation of these animals when
you see them.
It's dangerous for them becausethen people group around them
(21:12):
or they scare them or it causessome potential dangerous
situation for them.
So we will no longer be outingthe location of the bear.
Speaker 2 (21:21):
I think I'm going to have to get you a badge.
You're now going to be a ranger, because that was some advocacy
right there.
I'm proud of you.
That was pretty good.
Love me a bear, thanks.
Speaker 1 (21:32):
Yes, thanks, you've coached me well.
That's right.
See, there is benefit tosharing a floor with Parks and
Rec.
You learn a lot of things thatyou didn't know you needed to
know.
Speaker 2 (21:41):
Yeah, they might make you kiss a fish.
Speaker 1 (21:43):
I'm not kissing a fish.
I'll do a lot of things.
Speaker 2 (21:46):
I will not kiss a fish.
At my last fishing class Ialways offer kids the
opportunity to kiss their firstfish they catch.
Speaker 1 (21:52):
That's where we disconnect.
Speaker 2 (21:53):
Really, just because it's fun for me.
It's silly for them and thesefish are small so really, it
just brings you joy, it doesbrings me joy for you to connect
with, with something you catchin nature right and right,
before you send it back into itshome and say thank you for your
time.
None of the kids have taken meup on that offer, though.
Speaker 1 (22:12):
Just for the record can't get anybody to do it.
Speaker 2 (22:15):
No, no, I got a kid to kiss the snakeskin, but
didn't get a kid to kiss fish.
Speaker 1 (22:21):
I like that kid.
Speaker 2 (22:22):
Yeah, she hasn't given up.
Speaker 1 (22:24):
So, since you're talking about fishing, tell us
about this fishing class youhave.
Yeah, because that's coming up.
Speaker 2 (22:29):
Yeah, once a month in the summer months or in the
warm season months, I should sayso, like March to October,
november, I will host a fishingclass.
It's about an hour and a halfin the class.
It's really meant for beginners.
I want to teach you how to usethe equipment that you have or
the stuff that you borrow fromus.
I want to teach you how to fishright.
(22:49):
So we're going to cast, we'regoing to catch fish, and then
the fish that you pull out, youmight get to take your first
fish off the line.
And that's really the mostexciting part for me, the kids
and the parents.
You've never seen somebody soproud than a mom who comes
screaming down the pier.
You got one, you got one, andit fills me with joy when Oksana
takes photos.
Speaker 1 (23:10):
Oksana in our communication department.
Speaker 2 (23:12):
I think she loves to come, just because that feeling
doesn't get old of having peoplecelebrate.
Even for somebody who you mighthave caught a million fish in
your lifetime, and somebody nextto you catches a fish, you're
just excited for them.
So you catch your fish, I helpyou take it off the hook, I
teach you how to do that, andafter that, my goal is that you
(23:34):
can go out and fish on your own.
That's really what it's set upto do is, if this is something
you're interested in, I want togive you enough tools to be able
to do it on your own.
That's really what it's set upto do is, if this is something
you're interested in, I want togive you enough tools to be able
to do it on your own.
Speaker 1 (23:43):
That's very cool, so you can do one and done.
Speaker 2 (23:46):
You can come every month.
They do sell out like, yeah,it's five bucks, you're merely
paying for a little bit ofequipment use and that's about
it and get no wealth ofknowledge yes full of fish
knowledge.
Speaker 1 (24:00):
oddly, I've learned a little bit Yesterday.
She pulls out all these littlestuffed fish and she's making me
identify fish.
Now, if you know me, you knowthat I don't do fish Snakes fish
.
I don't eat them, I don't keepthem, but I like them in the
water, except for when I'm inthe lake and they're nibbling on
me.
That sends me a little outer,outer limits because I can't see
(24:26):
them, but I know they're really.
I mean, they're not eating me,I get it, but I still learn
things.
So funny thing is is the firsttime I took my kids.
They were not blessed to have aranger gin in their life, so
the first time Did they catch?
Well, you have no option but tocatch, because I took them to a
place called trout haven ohgosh, I love those trout spots.
(24:49):
It was this, this, completelyenclosed.
It had been in estes parkforever dawn of time, I mean
even when I was a kid, going upthere, they had Trout Haven and
it's fully stocked big old troutand you're guaranteed to catch
8,000 fish if you're willing topay for it.
You know what I mean.
(25:09):
And it's not cheap.
No, you pull them out by theweight, right, yeah, but it is
super cool for the little kidsbecause they're not afraid of
fish yet-ish.
But it's fun.
It's like you said, it's thatwhole joy thing.
But that's right, you know,that's that's, that's my kids
get for fishing.
Speaker 2 (25:29):
But you know, I hear from people in Milton all the
time cause we don't really havea large river way Right and
they're like, hey, it'd bereally neat if we turned one of
these ponds into a trout fishingpond, because it's really
exciting for people to catchtrout and it's something they
want to eat.
Right, not a lot, not a lot ofpeople want to eat bass or
catfish, right, some do, though.
Speaker 1 (25:50):
yeah, so yeah, strange things down here man do.
Speaker 2 (25:55):
Is that what you think?
I think y'all eat some strangethings.
Well, I didn't grow up eatingcatfish?
We didn't.
Speaker 1 (25:59):
We didn't eat carp or catfish, you're from up north
too.
Speaker 2 (26:02):
That's right, that's right, so we eat large, yeah,
river fish or but yeah, so theywant these trout ponds, but it
requires, like really cold water, a certain season.
It's finicky, and for a publicpond to ban it would be so
expensive and time consuming,and so the best we can do is
give you a cat, bass andbluegill.
(26:22):
Hey man, it's free fishing outthere, it is free.
Speaker 1 (26:27):
It's a cool experience that you have access
to it.
That's right.
That's right, that's very cool.
I have gone fly fishing.
Once I didn't know that I didEarly 20s Put on the waders.
What'd you think?
Didn't know that I did earlytwenties put on the waders.
I'm not going to lie.
I stood in the middle of theriver with my waders on and
laughed because the waders weresqueezing me, the water was
running.
It was um the oddest, mostweird experience of my life and
(26:56):
I mean I couldn't, I can't casta fly rod to save my life.
I don't even know if I tried,because I was laughing too hard
in the middle of the river in mywaders.
Hilarious.
That was the extent of my.
Yeah, that was it, but I didtry.
Speaker 2 (27:08):
If you ever watch the river runs through it, there's
a whole generation of peoplethat are obsessed with the idea
of fly fishing just because ofthat movie.
Speaker 1 (27:18):
Oh well, it's very calming People Fishing just
because of that movie?
Speaker 2 (27:21):
Oh well it's very calming People who do it love it
.
Speaker 1 (27:23):
Yes, it's a very calming, meditative movie,
peaceful thing, and it's a verystrategic game of patience.
Speaker 2 (27:32):
Oh, that's where you lose me.
Yeah, that's a game.
Fishing is a game of patience,I think, just like putting your
kids in martial arts, makingyour kids fish is a game of
patience.
That they need to learn it at ayoung age, I agree.
And so if you want disciplineand patience, go see Ranger Jen
go fishing.
Speaker 1 (27:53):
Do not come to Christy in the communications
department.
She has none.
Speaker 2 (27:58):
Ask my children If you want art and perfection,
come upstairs.
There you go.
Speaker 1 (28:05):
At least.
At least, the line is divided.
No it's good, but we're goodfor each other.
So what else you got going onthat you want to talk about?
Speaker 2 (28:14):
Well, we just finished Junior Ranger Academy
and I'll say that was ahighlight of my season.
Speaker 1 (28:20):
That's pretty cool.
Speaker 2 (28:21):
I love the fishing classes, but it brings me more
joy to just freely explore innature with the kids, where we
don't have an objective or atimeline, it's just this large
block of time and we go out, wesee what we can discover and we
just learn through creativity oflooking and touching and
closing our eyes and seeing whatwe can hear.
(28:43):
And it's so fun because, I'llbe honest, some of these kids
know more than I do about topics.
And it blew my mind when aseven year old said I think we
have some erosion here.
Um, what are the erosion thingsyou're going to do to fix it?
And I was like what?
Okay, you're brilliant, where'dyou learn about erosion?
(29:04):
He's like I'm in third grade, I, that's when we learn about it.
Speaker 1 (29:08):
Really, I think I was sick that day.
Speaker 2 (29:10):
Yeah, I was sick all those days in school and so they
could point out erosion controlmeasures that we did and I was
like these are future engineers.
I mean, they don't know.
Speaker 1 (29:22):
They're processing information on a level that me
as a third grader.
Sorry, I was your typical thirdgrader there you go.
Speaker 2 (29:30):
But I'm also like, like who's your parents?
Good job, proud of you, I'mgonna shake their hand, yeah,
good job um so their curiosity.
I mean, let's be honest,christy, I have a really fun job
you do I get to go outside allthe time.
yep, uh, I had a really funconversation with a resident the
other day who called to talk tome about cameras and next thing
(29:51):
you know we're talking aboutwildflowers.
And he's like well, what do youthink if, when I retire, I just
take that little meadow in thatpark and transform it to be
something beautiful and natural?
And I was like well, call mewhen you retire and we can work
out a plan.
What a cool job that people callyou and want to improve their
(30:12):
beautiful green spaces.
Which sends me down a rabbithole of distracting everybody on
the second floor, of talkingabout how cool my job is and I'm
sorry that you're preparing.
Speaker 1 (30:23):
We know how cool your job is.
We get it.
Speaker 2 (30:26):
I know it's very clear.
No, it's such a bummer to beTom who's the parks director and
I come in with all of this fun,cool stuff and he's like, hey,
I'm putting a presentationtogether for a really important
thing tonight at council meetingand I'm like you don't want to
hear about the wildflowers.
Speaker 1 (30:43):
Talk about patience.
That man has the patience ofall of us.
He really does Into one person.
Speaker 2 (30:53):
He does because of all of us he really does into
one person.
He does because, um, we're alldifferent in our department,
which makes it fun and engagingand interesting like we have
such a diverse amount ofabilities and skill sets.
But one thing we have in commonis we appreciate where we're at
yep and I'm grateful for thatevery day.
This is the first team I'veever worked on that.
I think the commonality is weknow that we have a really great
(31:16):
situation, we know that we'rein a great community.
We know that we work forincredible people.
We know that we serve a publicthat's invested in what we're
doing and we're not sleeping onthat.
Speaker 1 (31:28):
We're taking advantage of it and I'll tell
you, as a new person, and Idon't know how long I have
sleeping on that, no, you don't.
And I'll tell you, as a newperson, and I don't know how
long I have to say that I don'tknow how long I have to be here
until I'm not a new person.
I guess I have to wait untilsomebody else comes on board,
but as a new person, it's been ablessing to be on the floor
with y'all, because it'snoticeable when you guys are out
of office and I'm like God,it's so quiet up here.
(31:49):
Wow, it's a blessing for some,I think no, I enjoy it because
it's very lively and y'all mademe feel welcome from the get go.
So there's that.
And then I became an honorarymember of the parks and rec
department because I eavesdropon all your meetings and we
bring up your name quite often.
You had your.
Speaker 2 (32:10):
You had your AirPods in on Wednesday when we have our
staff meeting at 10 AM, and wekept saying like, well, maybe
Christy would want to beinvolved in this.
And I kept looking over.
You didn't.
Usually, when you hear yourname, you'll pop right into our
meeting.
Speaker 1 (32:22):
I had my run playlist going on in my head Cause I was
.
I was deep in an art projectthat needed a little more than I
had in me, but no, it's verycool.
Project that needed a littlemore ump than I had in me, yeah,
but no, it's very cool.
And I and I appreciate all thatyou guys do, because you really
do cover the gamut ofprogramming in Milton and offer
such a wide variety of it thatyou know unmatched in my opinion
(32:44):
.
Speaker 2 (32:45):
I think it'd be really cool if you retire and
then, just like you can do aride along with the police.
You just like do a ride alongwith the parks department and
there's our new program.
Speaker 1 (32:56):
Right, I'm sitting here thinking of what are we
going to do next.
Yeah, like, how fun would thatbe?
Speaker 2 (33:00):
right along with ranger jen yes, you just get in
my truck and it's like, well, wegot to go look at this gate.
It looks like this gate needs anew two posts and we're going
to put two posts in today.
And hey, I just happened tohave my binoculars and let's see
if we find those bald eagleswe've been looking for.
And next thing, you know, aresident wants to talk to me
about coyotes in their backyard.
(33:20):
And how fun could that be?
You retire and you're doing aride along with the police, or
parks, parks, police.
Same thing, yeah, same, justdifferent wildlife.
That's right.
That's right.
That's right that was good.
Speaker 1 (33:36):
Yeah, well, that's cool.
So, as we're kind of wrappingup this conversation, I know you
have 8,000 hilarious stories inyour back pocket.
I need you to share one now.
Speaker 2 (33:49):
I can tell you a fun karma-related story that
happened in a park.
So we have rules everywhere wego, rules exist for reasons and
even though you think you're inthe great wide wilderness where
there's no rules there are,there are you know, this public
land is owned by the people andnot just by you, and so what
(34:10):
oftentimes happens is peoplethink they're the only ones out
in the woods, right?
And so they behave like they'rethe only ones out in the woods
and they do things that theyprobably wouldn't do if they
knew a bunch of people werearound, right?
So I'm out in one of our remoteparks and I got a call that
somebody said hey, there'ssomebody living out here, we
(34:31):
think, and they have a house setup and they've been doing a
campfire and I see snacks andfood and all kinds of really
just gnarly stuff that would saythere's an unhoused person
living which does happen Ofcourse, that's a real thing
People get displaced and theymove to the woods happen.
(34:53):
That's a real thing.
People get displaced and theymove to the woods.
So it took me a little bit oftime to get out there.
But I explore it and I amhoofing it on this closed park,
right, because it's not reallyblazed properly and I don't have
it memorized, and so I'm up anddown and up and down.
I'm calling this resident.
I'm like can you FaceTime withme?
Because I don't even know whereI'm at in my own park.
And so she's guiding me whereto go.
(35:14):
And I come upon it and I saw oneof the most beautifully
engineered wilderness sheltersthat I could imagine coming upon
in a city park.
Right, I would imagine that ifI were watching Bear Grylls on
the Nature Channel, I was notexpecting that in a city park.
You wouldn't know it from thetrail either.
(35:35):
So I'm like wow, how did shesee that?
And I get closer and it has abeautiful bottom.
And then I look and there's ascooter in the creek, like
somebody just abandoned theirlittle two-wheeled scooter.
And as I'm looking I go this isa beautiful work of art done by
a nine-year-old.
A nine-year-old built one ofthe most incredible shelters,
(35:57):
and only if you have YouTube ora Navy SEAL.
Dad, did you learn how toconstruct something?
Speaker 1 (36:05):
this incredible?
Or you're a nine-year-old NavySEAL?
You're a nine-year-old?
Speaker 2 (36:08):
Navy SEAL.
So if you're a nine-year-oldNavy SE, so if you're a
nine-year-old navy seal whobuilt this beautifully
engineered shelter in the park,I'm I left you a note, says
ranger jen does not appreciateyou cutting down trees in a park
, but I do appreciate howbeautifully designed the shelter
is explore that in college,please, yeah explore that.
(36:33):
Explore that not on public land, not on public land.
Speaker 1 (36:36):
I can't even imagine some of the things you come
across, but we do appreciateeverything that you do out there
, because you are in and out ofthe office, mostly out in the
parks working with the fish.
I mean making sure things areclean and programming's
available.
It's amazing, and we are solucky as a city to have not only
(36:58):
you but your entire team doingwhat y'all do.
Wow, thank you.
Speaker 2 (37:02):
Thank you, we're appreciative.
Speaker 1 (37:04):
Anything else you want to add before we go.
Speaker 2 (37:05):
No, I just want to say go outside, even if it's in
your backyard.
Peace out.
I'm gone.
That's it.
Go outside, even if it's inyour backyard.
Peace out, I'm gone, that's it.
Go outside, close your eyes,just listen, and when you open
them, I want you to findsomething you've never seen
before or noticed before andexplore that, and it's a great
meditative way to spend twominutes of your day.
Speaker 1 (37:27):
Yeah, great advice.
I'll try that.
Speaker 2 (37:29):
Yeah, if you want to laugh more in your life, go in
nature.
I promise you there's plenty tolaugh about, mainly when you're
falling.
Speaker 1 (37:38):
There are.
There are some things I do notdo by myself for that exact
reason Literally literally.
Jen, thank you so much forjoining us today.
I know this isn't the last timeyou're going to be on here,
because you've a wealth ofinformation and there's always
new programming.
So when you got a new message,when you got a new program,
shout at me, we'll get you onand we'll get you put out there.
(37:58):
Thank you so much for having me.
You are welcome, Everybody.
If you have any questions aboutwhat is going on next with Parks
and Rec or the OutdoorRecreation program, you can
visit our website atwwwmiltongagov, go to the parks
and recreation tab and there isa slew of items to choose from,
(38:20):
especially with summer coming up.
We have a lot of camps comingup outdoor, indoor, all the
things.
Check it out.
Until next time, stay safe,stay curious.
Thanks for listening to Miltonin Maine.
We hope this episode gave youfresh insights into what makes
our city so special.
Stay connected and don't missan episode by subscribing to
(38:41):
this podcast on your favoriteplatform and following us on
social media for all updates and, of course, if you want to
learn more about the city, visitus online at wwwmiltongagov for
resources, news and upcomingevents.
Until next time.
Thanks for being part of theconversation and we'll see you
on the next Milton and Maine.
Welcome to Milton and Maine, the official podcast for
the city of Milton.
We want to bring you closer tothe heart of our community
through stories that inform,inspire and connect.
Each episode offers abehind-the-scenes look at the
people, projects and prioritiesshaping Milton, covering
everything from local governmentand future development to arts,
culture, sustainability andpublic safety.
(00:28):
Whether you're a resident, alocal business owner or just
curious about our city, this isyour front row seat to what
makes Milton special.
Welcome back to another episodeof Milton in Maine.
My name is Christy Weeks and Iam the communications manager
for the city of Milton.
Today we're welcoming back avery familiar voice.
She's a familiar face aroundour parks.
She works closely with ouryouth programs and she's someone
(00:49):
who brings a lot of heart and alot of hustle to everything she
does.
You know her, you love her.
It's the one and only Jen Young, milton's outdoor recreation
supervisor, also known as RangerJen.
So grab your water bottle, laceup up those hiking boots,
whatever you got to do, becauseranger gin is back on the mic
and we're ready for today.
(01:10):
We're ready for a greatconversation, and she's laughing
and I can't wait because thisis gonna be good.
Speaker 2 (01:16):
That was the best intro ever grab your boots, grab
your water bottle, all the morefacts.
Speaker 1 (01:21):
You just never know.
You never know with you.
I feel like I should also havea fishing rod.
Yeah, like I should have thaton board with me right now, but
I don't fish.
Speaker 2 (01:29):
Well, I promise you, I have walked down every hallway
in this place and probablyagitated everybody in their
cubicle by casting my line andthen reeling it in over top of
them.
Speaker 1 (01:42):
It's like hey, I have been witness to that.
You're in a cubicle.
You need to have a little fun,too A little fun.
So why don't you remindeverybody, give us a little
history on you, how you got here, what got you into all this,
let us know, yeah.
Speaker 2 (01:57):
I'll take you way back to the early eighties.
Um, I was born and I came outthe womb, as my mom would say,
like ready to take on the world.
So throughout my wholechildhood I don't think they saw
me in the daylight hours Ibuilt my own tree fort.
My mom said I had an ax at theage of eight.
I don't recommend, if any kidsare listening.
Speaker 1 (02:18):
that's kind of a parenting no, no don't judge
them.
Speaker 2 (02:23):
This is also the eighties.
No, no, don't judge them.
This is also the eighties, um,so I lived in the wilderness by
choice.
No one in my family really hada desire to be outside, so it
was really just me.
So all of my exploration was onmy own, solo, dolo, um, I got
really good at that and then asI got older and you go to
college and you move on and andyou figure out your career, I
(02:45):
learned that I was.
I had a like special gift ofworking with kids.
Speaker 1 (02:50):
That is a special gift because not everybody has
it.
Speaker 2 (02:53):
Yeah, so I found very honestly, honestly, as I'm like
looking for volunteers andhopefully I get to share a
little later about the futurejourney but, as I'm like looking
for volunteers, I'm like dothey have that energy that makes
kids just want to do and be andengage, Right?
Um?
So when I figured out I hadthat gift, I worked with kids
(03:14):
for 15 years, Um, and then COVIDhit and I was like I need to be
in the woods, I need to be innature.
Yeah, I think a lot of peoplefelt that way, yeah yeah, and,
and I think career, this careerstarted opening up for a lot
more of us because people wantto go outside and they're like,
hey, all these people are in theparks.
We got to do something withthem, right?
(03:35):
Uh, so I got lucky to find ajob working in Tucker where I
could have a hybrid working withkids and also working in nature
.
And then this job opened inMilton two years ago and now I
get to breathe fresh air everyday in Milton.
Would you do that for me?
Speaker 1 (03:54):
I don't get that every day, yeah no, people say
it all the time.
Speaker 2 (03:57):
Go outside, especially you.
I'll walk by and you're like goget some fresh air for me,
which makes me really sadbecause I'm like come with me.
Speaker 1 (04:05):
There are days, but I'll do it for you.
Yeah, I need somebody to livevicariously through, so I'm
going to make it you, justbecause you do a lot of things
that are not second nature to meand so I can respect it.
I remember when I mean I've gotthree kids and when they were
little, when my oldest was three, I was like, okay, so this poor
(04:28):
child needs somebody other thanme impacting her experiences,
because I didn't like messes, sothe artsy mess was never an
option inside my house.
Speaker 2 (04:42):
The level of stress and anxiety that I experienced
was off the chart, but did youfeel the same way about the
third one, or did you just kindof have to like, let it go?
Speaker 1 (04:51):
poor third one.
I'd have probably left him abread trail from the park to the
house and said follow it whenyou get home.
Speaker 2 (04:58):
It's always the first one that you like.
Speaker 1 (05:00):
Micromanage all the details pretty sure she's gonna
need some sort of therapy alongthe way to recover from the
things I did and didn't do.
But I put her in this reallycool preschool right when they
had them outside, they hadsecond languages, they did a lot
of art, they explored thingsoutside and I was like, okay,
perfect, and guess who's mynature lover Her, she loves
(05:24):
being outside, she's the hiker,she's the hunter, she's the one
that artistic-wise.
Sorry, sarah, probably not yourgift, that went to the youngest
, but you know it was a reallygood option for me.
So people like you in thecommunity make a definite impact
on those of us who don't knowhow to manage those things.
Speaker 2 (05:44):
Yeah, and I get that quite a bit in Milton.
Even if you are comfortable innature, there's elements that I
think make most peopleuncomfortable right.
Speaker 1 (05:54):
Snakes make me uncomfortable.
Yeah, I don't do snakes.
Speaker 2 (05:56):
Snakes are not comfortable for me either, and
for my own kid's career day Itook in a giant snake skin that
was donated to me by a neighborin Crabapple here.
Oh my goodness, he brought itin.
He's like can you use this?
I'm like I bet you I can Do.
You have gloves.
No, but you know what?
I convinced a kid to kiss thesnakeskin and I thought that was
the greatest day ever.
He was a hero.
(06:17):
In the fourth grade.
Everyone went ew.
And then they what do you feellike?
He's cool.
Yeah, he was like dry, scaly.
I'm like.
There you go, you touched thesnake skin.
But like things that I'm notcomfortable with, I'm constantly
challenged.
Somebody asked me in thislittle fourth grade career day
(06:39):
class, right, they said have youever encountered a bear?
I was like once and it was ablack bear and I didn't feel
afraid.
But I've never encounteredwildlife that felt dangerous to
me, like where I felt threatened.
But I'm sure if I did it mightchange my perspective about
something.
So snakes is about as close asit's ever gotten to making me
(07:02):
feel a little fearful.
Speaker 1 (07:03):
I am more afraid of a snake than I am.
So quick little bear story.
Because I lived in Estes Park,Colorado, up in the mountains,
and we had bears.
I loved seeing them from afar.
It was lovely.
But on occasion if you leftyour trash out or something like
that, they would revisit.
So I was out at my dad's placeand it's like 1130 at night, my
(07:24):
sister staying across the wayfrom me in a cabin and we hear
the bear in the trash.
So I go out with my littleflashlight and I'm looking at it
and it's looking at me and it'shissing and I'm bears hiss and
my sisters.
My sister and I are on the phonebecause we're too far apart to
conversate properly.
(07:44):
So the bear runs off and I'mlike looking for it.
Who knows what possessed me togo looking for the bear.
But I come off the step of thecabin, I walk around the back of
the building and I got myflashlight.
My sister calls and she goeswhere are you?
And I go.
I'm behind the cabin.
She goes, the bear's behind thecabin and all you could see, my
sister said, was my littleflashlight bouncing up and down.
(08:07):
As I came running back aroundto the front of the cabin, I
thought, okay, we're going toleave that bear to do bear
things and I'm going to mind myown business in here.
That's right, that's what Iwant to see.
But, they're super cool.
Speaker 2 (08:19):
I mean, I love them, I love watching them I think
we're all curious about thethings that were were not meant
to be close to.
You know, like I'm curiousabout a grizzly bear, but I I I
feel too irresponsible to getclose enough to really inspect
that thing.
Speaker 1 (08:35):
That seems like well you couldn't choice, you
couldn't take all your stuffedfish like in your pocket and
stuff with you.
That would.
That would be a bad draw no, nostuffed fish no stuffed fish,
no live fish either no life.
Speaker 2 (08:48):
I feel like we should check your pockets daily yeah,
yeah, I um, I try not to leavebreadcrumbs along the trail, but
I've been known to to drop ahalf a granola bar to, whether
at my cubicle or on the pier.
Speaker 1 (09:03):
it happens, happens, you turn around and there's a
line of little crittersfollowing you down the trail.
That's no bueno.
That would be fun.
Speaker 2 (09:11):
Yeah, I think the most fun part of my day is when
I get to be outside and seewildlife.
Honestly, like you're saying,like that's how you lived and
that's your life, and isn't itcrazy Because I live close to
the city, your life?
And isn't it crazy because Ilive close to the city and the
wildlife that I get is mainlybirds and squirrels, like a lot
of?
Speaker 1 (09:29):
you know I use your bird app, by the way, do you?
I do, I've done it.
I do so backstory here foreverybody listening.
Speaker 2 (09:37):
I'm so proud of you.
Speaker 1 (09:38):
I know right, I'm not a bird person.
I mean I love them.
I love seeing the blue birdsand the cardinals because, for
me.
I feel like they have a meaningand I love seeing them.
They make me happy.
So Jen comes in the other dayand she had sent this recording
of birds chirping to thecommunications department Some
of you may have seen it on theFacebook page and we we asked if
(09:59):
you could identify any of thebirds chirping.
Well, jen uses this app calledMerlin and it will record the
sounds and identify the bird.
It then provides you with apicture of the bird and a
description.
It's awesome.
So I'm like well, I'm gonnadownload Merlin.
I'm on a walk the other day andI'm like you want to know what
that bird is.
I'll tell you what that bird is.
It was awesome.
Speaker 2 (10:21):
I'm so proud of you.
Okay, I'm going to next levelyour outdoor adventure with
iNaturalist.
It's an app for animals, fungi,plants, trees you name it
anything in nature.
You snap a photo of it.
It tells you what it is.
It tells you if it's native,how rare it is.
It will give you like a fulldescription.
(10:43):
So I probably used that.
I used it in my backyard threetimes this morning really things
are sprouting up and I'm likewhat is that?
that's not grass.
What is that?
I take a picture.
I'm like that's a native plantor flower that I've never seen
in my yard before that justpopped up and because I use
fertilizer to grow some grass,okay, I think it popped up some
(11:08):
native species of flowers.
Speaker 1 (11:09):
I would need that.
If, if I gardened, yeah, and ifI put the time into the yard
which, for the record, I do not,because it is my children I
grew them.
Nobody's starved to death.
Everybody's good plants a wholedifferent ball game.
I'm just saying some of usdon't have that green thumb.
I feel the same way If I wereto do that, I feel like that
(11:33):
would save me from like goingOoh, that looks like a weed.
Speaker 2 (11:37):
Yes, yes.
I regret 20 years of my life ofgetting rid of things that
could have been like the mostbeautiful blossoming plant in
the world.
Speaker 1 (11:46):
Cry softly in the corner for what you've
eliminated.
Speaker 2 (11:49):
That's it.
That's that's really it,because I'm making up for it in
due time, I promise.
Speaker 1 (11:55):
I'm saving them now.
Speaker 2 (11:57):
Yes, I mean I'll be in parks and I'm like what is
that thing?
I like that and I want it in myyard or I want it in in a park
and, um, that app has saved mylife.
Speaker 1 (12:06):
That's awesome.
So my I was telling my husbandabout Merlin and he goes Ooh,
you ought to tell Jen about the?
Um, the app Stellaris, I thinkit is, and it's for the stars
and and and constellations andit'll identify.
If you see a star and you pointit up there, it'll tell you
what that star is.
It's awesome.
Speaker 2 (12:27):
It's so cool, tell him I love it.
I don't use it often, but if Iknow it's going to be one of
those like when Saturn andjupiter are huge and in line and
bright, because stars aretricky, it's like is it a plane?
Is it a star?
That's how we feel in myneighborhood.
Is it superman?
I'm like that star is moving.
Is it a plane or a shootingstar?
(12:49):
And I'm like that was a planedefinitely definitely a plane I
mean, we have some dark skieshere that I've.
I have been reaching out to allthe astronomy clubs in Georgia
like come to Milton, yeah,birmingham park or Milton city
park, and preserve.
Speaker 1 (13:08):
It does get dark out here.
Speaker 2 (13:10):
It does, and you could have some of the most
beautiful night skies, yeah, soI would love it if they'd come
up here.
Speaker 1 (13:17):
That would be fun.
Yeah, right, that might besomething I could get on board
with, because I mean, it'sfascinating, right Hard to
identify unless you know exactlywhat you're looking at.
Speaker 2 (13:28):
Yeah, and to learn the lore behind the stars, or to
understand why things arealigned the way they are at this
time and the best times thoseclubs are meeting in their
spaces.
So I'm like just pick a, notbest time.
We'd still enjoy thatpresentation, we'll take it,
we'll take it.
Speaker 1 (13:47):
Speaking of presentations, jen, um, kind of
shifting gears here a little bit, because you got a few things
going on.
I obviously there's too much todig into in in one little
sitting here, but you've gotsome things going on that I
really feel need some love,because they're new, they're
brand new and they're super funand super cool.
And you know where I'm goingwith this, because I'm involved
(14:11):
in it, because I think it's thecoolest thing and I love doing
it with you, and the only thingI do is I push buttons.
Speaker 2 (14:18):
It's it's the most important thing.
Just so you know, like hittingstart on something is the it's
the best part.
Speaker 1 (14:26):
More importantly than start is record Yep.
Speaker 2 (14:29):
That's right.
That's the big button that yougot to push but it's wildlife
101.
Speaker 1 (14:34):
It's a webinar series that you started three weeks
ago.
We're getting ready to haveour-.
Three months ago.
Three months ago, oh shoot,christy and her calendar a
little off kilter.
You were actually at the firstone.
Let's go back.
I did, I did come to-.
Speaker 2 (14:49):
Coyote 101.
The first in-person Wild Birds101.
And it was about coyotes and-.
Speaker 1 (14:56):
And a multitude of other little animals.
Speaker 2 (14:58):
Yes, yes, yes, yes.
The intention was coyotes,right, and I absolutely loved
the concept of getting peopletogether that want to learn
about wildlife, right?
And so I asked you.
I was like, hey, maybe werecord it or put it on the
website and people can view itlater and not just have it as
like a one-time deal, becausewhat a bummer when you have a
(15:21):
life to live and you have tomiss something.
That's just one time and fromthere you're like I, I'm gonna
one-up that one.
I got a better idea.
Let's turn this into a webinar.
People can do it from wherever,sure, and it's recorded and
people can view it for alifetime, right.
So I was like deal, say less,I'm going to do that from my
(15:42):
home office.
Yeah, in the comfort of my home, like everybody else, cooking
dinner.
I'm not cooking dinner, butmaybe you are.
Do you know me?
Speaker 1 (15:52):
No, this girl don't cook dinner.
Speaker 2 (15:54):
Maybe you're having a PB and J while we do this
Survival of the fittest in myhouse but I think you and I
affectionately appreciate thisbecause it's unique, it's
providing access to anybody andeverybody who has technology of
any kind and it's creative.
We can bring anyone on to speak.
Speaker 1 (16:15):
It opens up the door to people who want to present,
want to talk about their passionthat maybe has a little bit
harder time getting to anin-person opportunity.
So it's a win-win.
That's right.
And then, just as we looked atthe other day, we looked at the
history of the recordings onYouTube because that's where I
(16:36):
originally store them beforethey go on the website, which,
by the way, all of the previouswebinars can be found on our
website at MiltonGAgovwildlife101, forward slash
wildlife101.
So they're all there.
And that was the orphaned andinjured wildlife, which was
fabulous.
We just had the one on pondecology, which I did learn some
(17:02):
things, even though I am not afish person.
It was super interesting.
Glad I was there to listen incase I ever decide to acquire a
pond.
But the next one which I haveto say I'm terribly excited
about, because who doesn't wantto listen to beavers?
And this podcast will air theday before the beaver
(17:27):
presentation.
I love it.
So if you're listening to this,yes, we want to see you
tomorrow, yep tomorrow on the onthe webinar from 6 to 7 30.
And it is everything you wantedto know about beavers.
Speaker 2 (17:42):
That's right.
So, Ranger Jonah, he's a rangerfor DeKalb County and he has
his own following of people whoabsolutely he's a storyteller.
He's an incredible storyteller,first and foremost.
Like outside of nature, he'sjust a great storyteller.
And then you put him in naturewith the storytelling.
I could almost point atanything a leaf, a tree and
(18:05):
there is a story behind it,thanks to Jonah.
So I'm honored that he would dothis and be on our webinar,
because he's dynamic, so I'mexcited for the questions that
people have.
Everyone's curious aboutbeavers, even if they don't know
it.
They're elusive.
Yes, they are, and you seesigns of them and you don't know
(18:28):
.
You see signs of them, and sothat's what I'm excited to have
him talk about.
And also, how do we live withthem?
yeah that's most important to meis it's hard when you live in a
developed area it is to liveand coincide with beavers, your
first instinct is to want to ridof them or tear down their dams
, and hopefully ranger joan willgive us some tips on how to
live amongst beavers or how canthey live amongst us, is more
(18:51):
important that's a good point.
Speaker 1 (18:54):
That's a good point.
I mean, we're a little harderto deal with than they are.
We're.
We're real complicated.
Speaker 2 (18:58):
They want to eat they want to build a little shelter
and they want to.
They are, we're, realcomplicated.
They want to eat, they want tobuild a little shelter and they
want to make babies.
And we've got a lot more goingon.
A little bit, a little bit.
Speaker 1 (19:07):
A little bit, but that'll be interesting.
So if you're interested, jumpon.
It's free.
It's registration can be foundon our website.
So get on there, get registered, we'd love to have you.
And then, just to wrap that up,we've got a couple others
already planned, which are alsoregistration links found on our
website, and that I think may,as frogs.
(19:28):
I like frogs because I likelistening to them at night.
It's my favorite time of yearwhen I can go out and I can hear
them.
Speaker 2 (19:36):
Just like there are bird people, there are amphibian
people.
Speaker 1 (19:39):
Wait a minute.
Is there a frog identifier app?
Speaker 2 (19:42):
Let's hope Linda May tells us about it.
Speaker 1 (19:43):
I need a frog identifier app.
Speaker 2 (19:45):
That would really change the game for a lot of us
at night, because we're like isthat a cricket?
Is that a frog?
Is that a bird?
Speaker 1 (19:52):
They do make funny noises.
Speaker 2 (19:54):
Yes, they do.
Speaker 1 (19:54):
And sometimes it's not frog-like.
Speaker 2 (20:01):
So that's what Linda's going to run us through.
Linda May works for DNR and shehas come highly recommended by
many amphibian folks sayingshe's dynamic, she's fun, but
the best part is she plays frog.
Sounds for you.
You get to listen and try toidentify what kind of frog you
think it is.
Speaker 1 (20:16):
Is that the neighbor screaming kid or is that a frog
in the pond.
Speaker 2 (20:20):
That's right.
So we're going to learn a lot.
Speaker 1 (20:22):
I'm excited for that one and then, following that up,
we have bears.
Speaker 2 (20:26):
Which bears this all stemmed for those of you in
Milton listening to this podcast, to the crab apple infamous
bear.
Yes, there's an annual bearsighting.
Speaker 1 (20:37):
Correct.
Speaker 2 (20:38):
It rolls to Milton, it heads on down to Roswell and
then we lose it.
And I've told that story amillion times.
How fun that we get an annualbear sighting for one day, even
here in the suburbs, right?
Oh, I love it.
Speaker 1 (20:51):
Yeah, I haven't seen him walking through here.
All I know is that we getnotified very quickly.
That's right we usually throwit up on social media.
Quick side note, learning fromthe orphaned and injured
wildlife webinar do not out thelocation of these animals when
you see them.
It's dangerous for them becausethen people group around them
(21:12):
or they scare them or it causessome potential dangerous
situation for them.
So we will no longer be outingthe location of the bear.
Speaker 2 (21:21):
I think I'm going to have to get you a badge.
You're now going to be a ranger, because that was some advocacy
right there.
I'm proud of you.
That was pretty good.
Love me a bear, thanks.
Speaker 1 (21:32):
Yes, thanks, you've coached me well.
That's right.
See, there is benefit tosharing a floor with Parks and
Rec.
You learn a lot of things thatyou didn't know you needed to
know.
Speaker 2 (21:41):
Yeah, they might make you kiss a fish.
Speaker 1 (21:43):
I'm not kissing a fish.
I'll do a lot of things.
Speaker 2 (21:46):
I will not kiss a fish.
At my last fishing class Ialways offer kids the
opportunity to kiss their firstfish they catch.
Speaker 1 (21:52):
That's where we disconnect.
Speaker 2 (21:53):
Really, just because it's fun for me.
It's silly for them and thesefish are small so really, it
just brings you joy, it doesbrings me joy for you to connect
with, with something you catchin nature right and right,
before you send it back into itshome and say thank you for your
time.
None of the kids have taken meup on that offer, though.
Speaker 1 (22:12):
Just for the record can't get anybody to do it.
Speaker 2 (22:15):
No, no, I got a kid to kiss the snakeskin, but
didn't get a kid to kiss fish.
Speaker 1 (22:21):
I like that kid.
Speaker 2 (22:22):
Yeah, she hasn't given up.
Speaker 1 (22:24):
So, since you're talking about fishing, tell us
about this fishing class youhave.
Yeah, because that's coming up.
Speaker 2 (22:29):
Yeah, once a month in the summer months or in the
warm season months, I should sayso, like March to October,
november, I will host a fishingclass.
It's about an hour and a halfin the class.
It's really meant for beginners.
I want to teach you how to usethe equipment that you have or
the stuff that you borrow fromus.
I want to teach you how to fishright.
(22:49):
So we're going to cast, we'regoing to catch fish, and then
the fish that you pull out, youmight get to take your first
fish off the line.
And that's really the mostexciting part for me, the kids
and the parents.
You've never seen somebody soproud than a mom who comes
screaming down the pier.
You got one, you got one, andit fills me with joy when Oksana
takes photos.
Speaker 1 (23:10):
Oksana in our communication department.
Speaker 2 (23:12):
I think she loves to come, just because that feeling
doesn't get old of having peoplecelebrate.
Even for somebody who you mighthave caught a million fish in
your lifetime, and somebody nextto you catches a fish, you're
just excited for them.
So you catch your fish, I helpyou take it off the hook, I
teach you how to do that, andafter that, my goal is that you
(23:34):
can go out and fish on your own.
That's really what it's set upto do is, if this is something
you're interested in, I want togive you enough tools to be able
to do it on your own.
That's really what it's set upto do is, if this is something
you're interested in, I want togive you enough tools to be able
to do it on your own.
Speaker 1 (23:43):
That's very cool, so you can do one and done.
Speaker 2 (23:46):
You can come every month.
They do sell out like, yeah,it's five bucks, you're merely
paying for a little bit ofequipment use and that's about
it and get no wealth ofknowledge yes full of fish
knowledge.
Speaker 1 (24:00):
oddly, I've learned a little bit Yesterday.
She pulls out all these littlestuffed fish and she's making me
identify fish.
Now, if you know me, you knowthat I don't do fish Snakes fish
.
I don't eat them, I don't keepthem, but I like them in the
water, except for when I'm inthe lake and they're nibbling on
me.
That sends me a little outer,outer limits because I can't see
(24:26):
them, but I know they're really.
I mean, they're not eating me,I get it, but I still learn
things.
So funny thing is is the firsttime I took my kids.
They were not blessed to have aranger gin in their life, so
the first time Did they catch?
Well, you have no option but tocatch, because I took them to a
place called trout haven ohgosh, I love those trout spots.
(24:49):
It was this, this, completelyenclosed.
It had been in estes parkforever dawn of time, I mean
even when I was a kid, going upthere, they had Trout Haven and
it's fully stocked big old troutand you're guaranteed to catch
8,000 fish if you're willing topay for it.
You know what I mean.
(25:09):
And it's not cheap.
No, you pull them out by theweight, right, yeah, but it is
super cool for the little kidsbecause they're not afraid of
fish yet-ish.
But it's fun.
It's like you said, it's thatwhole joy thing.
But that's right, you know,that's that's, that's my kids
get for fishing.
Speaker 2 (25:29):
But you know, I hear from people in Milton all the
time cause we don't really havea large river way Right and
they're like, hey, it'd bereally neat if we turned one of
these ponds into a trout fishingpond, because it's really
exciting for people to catchtrout and it's something they
want to eat.
Right, not a lot, not a lot ofpeople want to eat bass or
catfish, right, some do, though.
Speaker 1 (25:50):
yeah, so yeah, strange things down here man do.
Speaker 2 (25:55):
Is that what you think?
I think y'all eat some strangethings.
Well, I didn't grow up eatingcatfish?
We didn't.
Speaker 1 (25:59):
We didn't eat carp or catfish, you're from up north
too.
Speaker 2 (26:02):
That's right, that's right, so we eat large, yeah,
river fish or but yeah, so theywant these trout ponds, but it
requires, like really cold water, a certain season.
It's finicky, and for a publicpond to ban it would be so
expensive and time consuming,and so the best we can do is
give you a cat, bass andbluegill.
(26:22):
Hey man, it's free fishing outthere, it is free.
Speaker 1 (26:27):
It's a cool experience that you have access
to it.
That's right.
That's right, that's very cool.
I have gone fly fishing.
Once I didn't know that I didEarly 20s Put on the waders.
What'd you think?
Didn't know that I did earlytwenties put on the waders.
I'm not going to lie.
I stood in the middle of theriver with my waders on and
laughed because the waders weresqueezing me, the water was
running.
It was um the oddest, mostweird experience of my life and
(26:56):
I mean I couldn't, I can't casta fly rod to save my life.
I don't even know if I tried,because I was laughing too hard
in the middle of the river in mywaders.
Hilarious.
That was the extent of my.
Yeah, that was it, but I didtry.
Speaker 2 (27:08):
If you ever watch the river runs through it, there's
a whole generation of peoplethat are obsessed with the idea
of fly fishing just because ofthat movie.
Speaker 1 (27:18):
Oh well, it's very calming People Fishing just
because of that movie?
Speaker 2 (27:21):
Oh well it's very calming People who do it love it
.
Speaker 1 (27:23):
Yes, it's a very calming, meditative movie,
peaceful thing, and it's a verystrategic game of patience.
Speaker 2 (27:32):
Oh, that's where you lose me.
Yeah, that's a game.
Fishing is a game of patience,I think, just like putting your
kids in martial arts, makingyour kids fish is a game of
patience.
That they need to learn it at ayoung age, I agree.
And so if you want disciplineand patience, go see Ranger Jen
go fishing.
Speaker 1 (27:53):
Do not come to Christy in the communications
department.
She has none.
Speaker 2 (27:58):
Ask my children If you want art and perfection,
come upstairs.
There you go.
Speaker 1 (28:05):
At least.
At least, the line is divided.
No it's good, but we're goodfor each other.
So what else you got going onthat you want to talk about?
Speaker 2 (28:14):
Well, we just finished Junior Ranger Academy
and I'll say that was ahighlight of my season.
Speaker 1 (28:20):
That's pretty cool.
Speaker 2 (28:21):
I love the fishing classes, but it brings me more
joy to just freely explore innature with the kids, where we
don't have an objective or atimeline, it's just this large
block of time and we go out, wesee what we can discover and we
just learn through creativity oflooking and touching and
closing our eyes and seeing whatwe can hear.
(28:43):
And it's so fun because, I'llbe honest, some of these kids
know more than I do about topics.
And it blew my mind when aseven year old said I think we
have some erosion here.
Um, what are the erosion thingsyou're going to do to fix it?
And I was like what?
Okay, you're brilliant, where'dyou learn about erosion?
(29:04):
He's like I'm in third grade, I, that's when we learn about it.
Speaker 1 (29:08):
Really, I think I was sick that day.
Speaker 2 (29:10):
Yeah, I was sick all those days in school and so they
could point out erosion controlmeasures that we did and I was
like these are future engineers.
I mean, they don't know.
Speaker 1 (29:22):
They're processing information on a level that me
as a third grader.
Sorry, I was your typical thirdgrader there you go.
Speaker 2 (29:30):
But I'm also like, like who's your parents?
Good job, proud of you, I'mgonna shake their hand, yeah,
good job um so their curiosity.
I mean, let's be honest,christy, I have a really fun job
you do I get to go outside allthe time.
yep, uh, I had a really funconversation with a resident the
other day who called to talk tome about cameras and next thing
(29:51):
you know we're talking aboutwildflowers.
And he's like well, what do youthink if, when I retire, I just
take that little meadow in thatpark and transform it to be
something beautiful and natural?
And I was like well, call mewhen you retire and we can work
out a plan.
What a cool job that people callyou and want to improve their
(30:12):
beautiful green spaces.
Which sends me down a rabbithole of distracting everybody on
the second floor, of talkingabout how cool my job is and I'm
sorry that you're preparing.
Speaker 1 (30:23):
We know how cool your job is.
We get it.
Speaker 2 (30:26):
I know it's very clear.
No, it's such a bummer to beTom who's the parks director and
I come in with all of this fun,cool stuff and he's like, hey,
I'm putting a presentationtogether for a really important
thing tonight at council meetingand I'm like you don't want to
hear about the wildflowers.
Speaker 1 (30:43):
Talk about patience.
That man has the patience ofall of us.
He really does Into one person.
Speaker 2 (30:53):
He does because of all of us he really does into
one person.
He does because, um, we're alldifferent in our department,
which makes it fun and engagingand interesting like we have
such a diverse amount ofabilities and skill sets.
But one thing we have in commonis we appreciate where we're at
yep and I'm grateful for thatevery day.
This is the first team I'veever worked on that.
I think the commonality is weknow that we have a really great
(31:16):
situation, we know that we'rein a great community.
We know that we work forincredible people.
We know that we serve a publicthat's invested in what we're
doing and we're not sleeping onthat.
Speaker 1 (31:28):
We're taking advantage of it and I'll tell
you, as a new person, and Idon't know how long I have
sleeping on that, no, you don't.
And I'll tell you, as a newperson, and I don't know how
long I have to say that I don'tknow how long I have to be here
until I'm not a new person.
I guess I have to wait untilsomebody else comes on board,
but as a new person, it's been ablessing to be on the floor
with y'all, because it'snoticeable when you guys are out
of office and I'm like God,it's so quiet up here.
(31:49):
Wow, it's a blessing for some,I think no, I enjoy it because
it's very lively and y'all mademe feel welcome from the get go.
So there's that.
And then I became an honorarymember of the parks and rec
department because I eavesdropon all your meetings and we
bring up your name quite often.
You had your.
Speaker 2 (32:10):
You had your AirPods in on Wednesday when we have our
staff meeting at 10 AM, and wekept saying like, well, maybe
Christy would want to beinvolved in this.
And I kept looking over.
You didn't.
Usually, when you hear yourname, you'll pop right into our
meeting.
Speaker 1 (32:22):
I had my run playlist going on in my head Cause I was
.
I was deep in an art projectthat needed a little more than I
had in me, but no, it's verycool.
Project that needed a littlemore ump than I had in me, yeah,
but no, it's very cool.
And I and I appreciate all thatyou guys do, because you really
do cover the gamut ofprogramming in Milton and offer
such a wide variety of it thatyou know unmatched in my opinion
(32:44):
.
Speaker 2 (32:45):
I think it'd be really cool if you retire and
then, just like you can do aride along with the police.
You just like do a ride alongwith the parks department and
there's our new program.
Speaker 1 (32:56):
Right, I'm sitting here thinking of what are we
going to do next.
Yeah, like, how fun would thatbe?
Speaker 2 (33:00):
right along with ranger jen yes, you just get in
my truck and it's like, well, wegot to go look at this gate.
It looks like this gate needs anew two posts and we're going
to put two posts in today.
And hey, I just happened tohave my binoculars and let's see
if we find those bald eagleswe've been looking for.
And next thing, you know, aresident wants to talk to me
about coyotes in their backyard.
(33:20):
And how fun could that be?
You retire and you're doing aride along with the police, or
parks, parks, police.
Same thing, yeah, same, justdifferent wildlife.
That's right.
That's right.
That's right that was good.
Speaker 1 (33:36):
Yeah, well, that's cool.
So, as we're kind of wrappingup this conversation, I know you
have 8,000 hilarious stories inyour back pocket.
I need you to share one now.
Speaker 2 (33:49):
I can tell you a fun karma-related story that
happened in a park.
So we have rules everywhere wego, rules exist for reasons and
even though you think you're inthe great wide wilderness where
there's no rules there are,there are you know, this public
land is owned by the people andnot just by you, and so what
(34:10):
oftentimes happens is peoplethink they're the only ones out
in the woods, right?
And so they behave like they'rethe only ones out in the woods
and they do things that theyprobably wouldn't do if they
knew a bunch of people werearound, right?
So I'm out in one of our remoteparks and I got a call that
somebody said hey, there'ssomebody living out here, we
(34:31):
think, and they have a house setup and they've been doing a
campfire and I see snacks andfood and all kinds of really
just gnarly stuff that would saythere's an unhoused person
living which does happen Ofcourse, that's a real thing
People get displaced and theymove to the woods happen.
(34:53):
That's a real thing.
People get displaced and theymove to the woods.
So it took me a little bit oftime to get out there.
But I explore it and I amhoofing it on this closed park,
right, because it's not reallyblazed properly and I don't have
it memorized, and so I'm up anddown and up and down.
I'm calling this resident.
I'm like can you FaceTime withme?
Because I don't even know whereI'm at in my own park.
And so she's guiding me whereto go.
(35:14):
And I come upon it and I saw oneof the most beautifully
engineered wilderness sheltersthat I could imagine coming upon
in a city park.
Right, I would imagine that ifI were watching Bear Grylls on
the Nature Channel, I was notexpecting that in a city park.
You wouldn't know it from thetrail either.
(35:35):
So I'm like wow, how did shesee that?
And I get closer and it has abeautiful bottom.
And then I look and there's ascooter in the creek, like
somebody just abandoned theirlittle two-wheeled scooter.
And as I'm looking I go this isa beautiful work of art done by
a nine-year-old.
A nine-year-old built one ofthe most incredible shelters,
(35:57):
and only if you have YouTube ora Navy SEAL.
Dad, did you learn how toconstruct something?
Speaker 1 (36:05):
this incredible?
Or you're a nine-year-old NavySEAL?
You're a nine-year-old?
Speaker 2 (36:08):
Navy SEAL.
So if you're a nine-year-oldNavy SE, so if you're a
nine-year-old navy seal whobuilt this beautifully
engineered shelter in the park,I'm I left you a note, says
ranger jen does not appreciateyou cutting down trees in a park
, but I do appreciate howbeautifully designed the shelter
is explore that in college,please, yeah explore that.
(36:33):
Explore that not on public land, not on public land.
Speaker 1 (36:36):
I can't even imagine some of the things you come
across, but we do appreciateeverything that you do out there
, because you are in and out ofthe office, mostly out in the
parks working with the fish.
I mean making sure things areclean and programming's
available.
It's amazing, and we are solucky as a city to have not only
(36:58):
you but your entire team doingwhat y'all do.
Wow, thank you.
Speaker 2 (37:02):
Thank you, we're appreciative.
Speaker 1 (37:04):
Anything else you want to add before we go.
Speaker 2 (37:05):
No, I just want to say go outside, even if it's in
your backyard.
Peace out.
I'm gone.
That's it.
Go outside, even if it's inyour backyard.
Peace out, I'm gone, that's it.
Go outside, close your eyes,just listen, and when you open
them, I want you to findsomething you've never seen
before or noticed before andexplore that, and it's a great
meditative way to spend twominutes of your day.
Speaker 1 (37:27):
Yeah, great advice.
I'll try that.
Speaker 2 (37:29):
Yeah, if you want to laugh more in your life, go in
nature.
I promise you there's plenty tolaugh about, mainly when you're
falling.
Speaker 1 (37:38):
There are.
There are some things I do notdo by myself for that exact
reason Literally literally.
Jen, thank you so much forjoining us today.
I know this isn't the last timeyou're going to be on here,
because you've a wealth ofinformation and there's always
new programming.
So when you got a new message,when you got a new program,
shout at me, we'll get you onand we'll get you put out there.
(37:58):
Thank you so much for having me.
You are welcome, Everybody.
If you have any questions aboutwhat is going on next with Parks
and Rec or the OutdoorRecreation program, you can
visit our website atwwwmiltongagov, go to the parks
and recreation tab and there isa slew of items to choose from,
(38:20):
especially with summer coming up.
We have a lot of camps comingup outdoor, indoor, all the
things.
Check it out.
Until next time, stay safe,stay curious.
Thanks for listening to Miltonin Maine.
We hope this episode gave youfresh insights into what makes
our city so special.
Stay connected and don't missan episode by subscribing to
(38:41):
this podcast on your favoriteplatform and following us on
social media for all updates and, of course, if you want to
learn more about the city, visitus online at wwwmiltongagov for
resources, news and upcomingevents.
Until next time.
Thanks for being part of theconversation and we'll see you
on the next Milton and Maine.
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