The Surprising Way Tech Enriches the Outdoors

Tyler Podcast Episode 55, Transcript

Our Tyler Technologies podcast explores a wide range of complex, timely, and important issues facing communities and the public sector. Expect approachable tech talk mixed with insights from subject matter experts and a bit of fun. Host and content marketing director Jeff Harrell – and other guest hosts – highlights the people, places, and technology making a difference. Give us listen today and subscribe.

Episode Summary

With summer in full swing, the number of visitors to shared outdoor spaces such as state parks and campgrounds is just ramping up as families rush to get vacations in before the return of fall and the subsequent return of the school year. In this episode, we learn tips for planning those outdoor adventures from Melissa Miller, an outdoors enthusiast and influencer known as “Miss Rover,” who uses technology in the form of Tyler’s NIC Outdoor + US eDirect, for campground and outdoor recreation management. In this episode, Rikki Ragland, Media Relations Manager for Tyler Technology, talks with Miss Rover about the importance of equity and inclusion in outdoor recreation, how the State of California recently launched innovative programs to help make outdoor recreation more accessible, and how technology plays a role in Miss Rover’s personal outdoor adventures. Enjoy Rikki’s conversation with Miss Rover.

Transcript

Miss Rover: I think this is going to be a great way to involve all communities and increase representation of communities that aren't seen as much in the outdoors, so I think that's going to make a huge difference in getting a variety of people and perspectives and change.

Jeff Harrell: From Tyler Technologies, it's the Tyler Tech Podcast, where we talk about issues facing communities today and highlight the people, places and technology making a difference. My name is Jeff Harrell, I'm the director of content marketing here at Tyler, and I'm so glad that you've joined us. Well, summer is here. It's in full swing, and the number of visitors to shared outdoor spaces such as state parks and campgrounds is just ramping up as families are rushing out to get vacations in before return of fall and the return, of course, of the school year. Well, in this episode, we learn tips for planning those outdoor adventures from Melissa Miller. Melissa is an outdoors enthusiast and influencer, she's actually known as Miss Rover. Now, Miss Rover uses Tyler's NIC Outdoor and US eDirect for both campground and outdoor recreation management. This episode is hosted by Rikki Ragland, our media relations manager here at Tyler, and she talks with Miss Rover about the importance of equity and inclusion in outdoor recreation, how the state of California has recently launched innovative programs to help make outdoor recreation even more accessible, and how technology plays a role in Miss Rover's personal outdoor adventures. Here is Rikki Ragland's conversation with Miss Rover.

Rikki Ragland: Welcome to the Tyler Technology Podcast. I'm Rikki Ragland, your guest host, filling in for Jeff Harrell. If you love getting outside, especially for hiking and camping, you're really going to enjoy the discussion with today's guest. You may already be one of her followers on social media. Miss Rover lives in Northern California, and is an outdoor enthusiast and influencer who has visited four California state parks. She uses Recreation Dynamics to make reservations, buy passes, and book camp sites. She's eager to talk about her experiences in the outdoors, not just in California, but across the country. And as an avid hiker and camper, sometimes you'll find Miss Rover camping in a tent and other times in her van. She's an advocate for people to all communities to get outdoors and loves the equity and inclusion programs that California State Parks has implemented. Miss Rover, welcome to the Tyler Technologies Podcast.

Miss Rover: Hi, thanks so much for having me. I'm excited to be here.

Rikki Ragland: We're excited to have you as well. First of all, can you tell me about your handle, Miss Rover, and your mission as an outdoors influencer?

Miss Rover: Yeah. Miss Rover kind of came about randomly, my name is Melissa Miller, and it's very popular, so I wanted something that kind of stood out and that was more women based and travel based. My mission, it started when I myself traveled across the US to move to the west coast at the young age of 25, and so many people reached out to me, "How did you do that? I wish I could do that as well," and I was lucky that I had a friend that was outdoorsy to give me guidance, and I realized how rare that was and so I wanted to be that person for as many people as I could be.

Rikki Ragland: What inspired you to begin documenting your travels?

Miss Rover: I had so many family members questioning what I was doing and asking for updates on the trip, and that was an easy way for me to give them an overview of what I did. And also for friends that were wanting to do the same, and just wanting to empower and inspire more people to get out there on any budget, because I was definitely a broke postgraduate student, so that was definitely a goal of mine.

Where to Sleep

Rikki Ragland: Well, the neat thing I think about getting outdoors now versus say 15, 20 years ago, is that the lay of the land has really changed when it comes to technology. Now I know that you recently visited several state parks in Northern California. How did you use the technology to aid you in your experience?

Miss Rover: Well, my most recent trip was to a state park in California called Castle Crags State Park. Basically the trip was inspired because I wanted to find warm weather, I was tired of the coastal Marine, kind of chilly weather. And I saw that it was sunny, I was just browsing Northern California, like, where's the sun? So I came across Castle Crags State Park and saw that there was availability on the ReserveCalifornia website, so I used that as my base of planning the trip. Because traveling in a van, finding a camping spot isn't always easy, so I usually start with, "Where can I sleep?" And then build my itinerary.

Rikki Ragland: That's very important!

Miss Rover: Right? Yeah! Sleeping's important. But then I just build my itinerary around that, find local hikes using apps like AllTrails and other blogs and mapping services.

Rikki Ragland: Could you talk about, just especially, where do you sleep? Obviously when you're traveling alone too, that's especially important. How has the technology really helped you in terms of, not just planning, where can I sleep, where can I park my van, but just all of your adventures? The beginning to end of that trip, and as you make your reservations?

Miss Rover: Yeah. I think for me when I travel solo, especially as a woman, I like to have everything planned out so that I can let other people know my plans, people that I trust, so they'll know where I'm at and where I'm going to be at if they don't hear from me, so that's super important. Technology has been so helpful. I mean, having cell service in some areas that never used to have it, and just being able to do my research and know what to expect before going into a place is so helpful for me, and reading reviews from other solo travelers as well.

Rikki Ragland: And you've been using technology for quite some time as you have done your camping and your hiking. How has technology changed since the first time you started using it?

Miss Rover: Oh gosh. I mean, even just GPS has been massive, and I think awareness of destinations, it's just so much more accessible to find what's near you, what is available for you to go and check out. I think that's been a huge change, at least that I have seen.

Equity and Inclusivity

Rikki Ragland: And you also talk about the changing face of camping with technology. And you mentioned at the very beginning of this podcast that you would get out into the outdoors because you didn't have a lot of money, it was a way to really just see California, see America. Let's talk a little bit about equity there. A lot of people here think that if somebody's going out and they're camping and they're hiking and they're doing all these great outdoor things, that it takes a lot of money to do that. Obviously you're having to pay for your reservations, you're having to pay permits to go in. Let's talk a little bit about the equity in the outdoor space. What importance do equity and inclusivity play in the context of the outdoor recreation space?

Miss Rover: Like you mentioned, there are so many barriers to access and financial barriers are a huge one. I mean, not even just the fees to get into a place, but the gear itself and transportation, all of that is such a big barrier. I think a variety of voices is needed and perspectives. I mean, just locally for me, the Indigenous community has been such an important influence in our community and they've recently renamed one of the state parks back to its original Indigenous name, Sue-meg State Park, so that's been awesome to see.

Rikki Ragland: That's pretty incredible. I feel in the last couple of years, we've made great jumps in DEI efforts when it comes to camping and the equity there. We still have further to go, but I think in the technology world, we have really advanced it in terms of that equity and inclusion. As you know, we recently spoke with Brian Ketterer from the State of California about the new Library Parks Pass initiative, which is supported by Recreation Dynamics and its US eDirect reservation software. But California also has the Adventure Pass for fourth graders, the Golden Bear Pass for disadvantaged communities, and of course the Distinguished Veteran's Pass. What impact do you think programs like these are making in the outdoor recreation space?

Miss Rover: Those are such awesome programs, and I was not super familiar with those before, so that is great to hear that those are available. Like we had talked about, I think that those programs are designed to help reduce some of those barriers that we talked about, and bring a sense of belonging to those people in those communities and really increase awareness of access and places that are available. I don't know about you, but my mental health... and during the pandemic, I kind of relied on outdoor spaces near me to have peace and relax and some respite from everything going on. So I think having access and awareness of outdoor spaces near you is so important.

Rikki Ragland: As some of your fellow Californians start to become more aware as you have of these equitable programs and passes that give more accessibility across the board, how do you think they're going to benefit from something like this once they are aware of them?

Miss Rover: I mean, there's so many physical benefits, mental health benefits, and benefits to community overall and the outdoors. More people outside is more people caring about the outside and the outdoors, especially when it comes to politics and legislation surrounding protecting the outdoors and the communities it impacts.

Rikki Ragland: When you hear about programs like the golden passes and being able to use your library card to gain entry into state parks, especially given the inequality that we have right now, why do you think these programs are important to California state parks, as well as parks across the country? What difference do you feel that this will make for people who are eager to get outdoors?

Miss Rover: I think this is going to be a great way to involve all communities and increase representation of communities that aren't seen as much in the outdoors, and so I think that's going to make a huge difference in getting a variety of people and perspectives and change.

 

Rikki Ragland: And it feels like it will help to close that gap as well as years go on in terms of being able to broaden the opportunity for people.

Miss Rover: Absolutely.

The Best Parks

Rikki Ragland: What are some of your favorite parks in California, and what is the best way to plan your visit?

Miss Rover: Oh, my, I have so many. The frequent one I go to near me is Sue-meg State Park and that's on the coast and it's also near a bunch of Redwoods State Parks too. So there's Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park, there's also, gosh, I could go on about the state parks in California, red Rock Canyon State Park. There's just so many. But I think what I like to do to find what state park or natural area is the best match for me is I like to go to parks.ca.gov, and there's an interactive map where you can search by activity or region so you can narrow down. And it's always fun for me as a travel blogger to find places that maybe are a little more of hidden gems or underrated places. So I like to start there, and then I like to look at what season is best to go there, what factors to consider safety-wise, if traveling off season, and then find a camping spot and build up my itinerary and travel blogs and everything else.

Rikki Ragland: As you mentioned the seasons, especially as you were chasing the sunshine from one park to the other, what would you say is one of your more challenging camping experiences that you've had, especially as a solo camper?

Miss Rover: Oh gosh. I've had quite a few challenging experiences. There's been some very unexpected cold nights that I was not very prepared for, especially car camping or sleeping in a van. That has been challenging. Solo, I think my biggest challenge was when I used to not plan as much and kind of wing it, and as an anxious solo female traveler, sometimes that just doesn't work out well for me, just lack of sleep from being anxious. And if I book a camping spot that I know and have done my research and read reviews, then I sleep infinitely better.

Rikki Ragland: Perfect. What is it like when you're out there camping? What is your favorite part of the camping trip? Is it waking up to a beautiful view, listening to the river? What are some of the sounds and sights that you experience when you're camping?

Miss Rover: Oh gosh. All of the above. I am such a sunset lover. I love to be able to go to a camping spot where I have a view and I can stay there, I don't have to fight traffic on the way out or hike back down or anything like that. I love just being able to enjoy the outdoors and then wake up in that same environment and see how incredibly different it can be just with the light change, sunset versus sunrise is so different and beautiful. And oh yeah, definitely the quiet. It's kind of eerie at first for me, because you kind of have that ringing in your ears from the constant input that we're so used to, and being aware of that quiet is just magical.

Rikki Ragland: Do you have a favorite trip that you've taken so far?

Miss Rover: Ooh.

Rikki Ragland: Like one that you just say, "Wow, that was just really magical"?

Miss Rover: Yes. I have many of those for many different reasons, but I think the one that stands out the most for me is when I solo traveled to Alaska from Seattle and lived out of my car during that experience and that was a lot of firsts and a lot of challenges, and very empowering.

Advice to Solo Travelers

Rikki Ragland: When you talk about being a solo traveler, which to me, I just think by the way, is just incredible, off the charts, because I don't know if I have the gumption to do that as a woman. What advice do you give to solo travelers as they're planning their first trip so they're not winging it as much as you did during your first trips?

Miss Rover: Oh my gosh. Yeah, some advice I would give if you're new to solo traveling is make a plan like I had talked about and letting people know your whereabouts. I like to use a Garmin GPS, so even if I don't have cell service, I can still drop my location to a trusted family member or friends. And I think too, like for myself, I was listening to a lot of women inspired travel podcasts to amp myself up before going, and just knowing that I could do it and just to trust your gut. And worst case scenario, go book a hotel or find somewhere safe.

Rikki Ragland: What do you wish you knew in the beginning of your travels that you now know?

Miss Rover: Ooh. That I'm capable. I think that was a big learning moment for me. And that road trip to Alaska, I just felt so much doubt in myself, and now after that I just feel empowered and I just wish I would've felt that going into it, because that would've changed the dynamic of the trip for me for sure.

Rikki Ragland: I can imagine. That's pretty awesome to be able to watch your own evolution as you step out for the first time and think, "Can I do this, can I make it through the night," and now to plan such amazing adventures. What's on the list for you? I follow you on Instagram, but I should ask, can we take a peek into getting a preview of what your next adventures are?

Miss Rover: Yes, it is summer, so it is backpacking season. So most of my travel right now is going to be based around getting into the back country and I'll be taking my van on a journey. I used to live in Washington for three years and that's kind of where I fell in love with the outdoors, and so I will be heading there very soon and I'm very excited to be outside there again.

Rikki Ragland: Is there a challenge of doing this in the summertime? I know that you're in a better climate than where we are in Plano, Texas, but what are some of those challenges when you are backpacking in the summer?

Miss Rover: Oh yeah. You definitely have to still be aware of heat, if it's too hot you don't want to be out in the back country with no shade. There's being aware of thunderstorms, any weather rolling in, and especially in California, the fire season. That's been the biggest thing to be aware of for backpacking and getting outside.

Rikki Ragland: Has that ever been a challenge for you in terms of your personal experience of having to bail out from a trip, because of the California fires?

Miss Rover: Oh, absolutely. I've had to cancel so many backpacking trips in the last couple of years, and also I had to reroute an entire trip in the van just to get around the fires.

Rikki Ragland: That's something that I think a lot of people may not take into consideration as they are getting out to the outdoors. Your tips are very helpful for people to really think ahead as they're planning. One other thing I wanted to ask you is, where can people find you across the social media platforms?

Miss Rover: Yeah, I'm pretty much Miss Rover on everything. It's Miss.Rover on Instagram, but you can find all of my platforms on my blog, that's MissRover.com.

Rikki Ragland: Well thank you very much for joining me today on our Tyler Podcast. This has been really exciting, because I think you have really helped people to understand how technology plays a big part in camping, and how it really has changed the face of getting outside.

Miss Rover: Thanks so much for having me.

Jeff Harrell: Well, I hope you enjoyed that conversation, I know I did. I've been looking at campers and campgrounds and doing things outdoors, and so I took a lot of notes and hope you did too. Well, as always, thanks for listening to the Tyler Tech Podcast, we have lots of great episodes planned throughout the rest of 2022 and into 2023, so please subscribe. Again, my name is Jeff Harrell, director of content marketing here at Tyler Technologies, we'll talk to you soon.