Who we are
The Friends of Idaho State Parks was formed in 2009 when a state budget crisis threatened to dismantle the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation and close many state parks. Initially, the group was just a Facebook page devoted to passing along news about possible closures.
In 2013, the Friends of Idaho State Parks became a 501 (c)3 nonprofit, dedicated to supporting Idaho’s state parks.
In 2013, the Friends of Idaho State Parks became a 501 (c)3 nonprofit, dedicated to supporting Idaho’s state parks.
President, Rick JustRick Just worked for the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation for 29 years as communications manager and then as chief of planning. He has served on boards for the Learning Lab of Boise, ANSER Charter School, the National Association of Recreation Resource Planners, the Presto Preservation Association, the Idaho Writers Guild, and the Society of Outdoor Recreation Professionals. He has written several books, including Images of America, Idaho's State Parks. Rick writes a daily Idaho history blog, available on Facebook, called Speaking of Idaho.
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Vice President, Dennis McLaneDennis McLane is retired from the Bureau of Land Management. He has a BS degree in Park and Recreation Management from Sacramento State University. He started his career with Sacramento County Parks and then was hired as a California State Park Ranger with assignments in the redwood parks, the Mendocino coastal parks, Topanga State Park, and Silverwood Lake State Recreation Area. The greater part of Dennis’ career was spent as a ranger with the Bureau of Land Management. He served as Chief Ranger in the California Desert before becoming the BLM’s first national chief ranger in Washington, DC. Dennis received the Department of the Interior’s Meritorious Service Award in 2002. Dennis retired from the BLM as Deputy Chief of Law Enforcement in 2003. In his retirement, Dennis and his wife are avid campers in the Idaho State Parks. They own a pop-up trailer and a canoe and have created many family memories in places like Ponderosa and Bruneau Dunes State Parks. They have visited 19 out of the 30 state parks and plan on seeing them all eventually. Dennis’s quote is, "You can take the ranger out of the parks, but you can’t take the parks out of the ranger!"
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Treasurer, Ray HoustonRay retired in July 2017 after 28 years with Idaho Legislative Services. As a budget analyst, he assisted legislators with motions to set the state budget. Over the years, his budget assignments transitioned from general government, transportation, and taxes to agriculture and natural resources. He served as the legislative budget analyst for the Department of Parks and Recreation for the last ten years of his career. Ray grew up in Twin Falls and attended the College of Southern Idaho. He has a Bachelor of Science in botany, from Idaho State University, a Bachelor of Science in soil science, from the University of Idaho, and a Masters in Business Administration from Idaho State University. After visiting all 44 counties, he and his wife, Joyce, were accepted into the Idaho Corps of Discovery in 2002. They enjoy camping at Idaho’s state parks in their 19-foot travel trailer.
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Secretary, Christine GertschenChristine Certschen has long been involved as a natural resources educator and scholarly writer. She has served on the board of the Ketchum-Sun Valley Ski and Heritage Museum, been the director of the Idaho State University Blaine County Center, was president and executive secretary of the Idaho Environmental Education Association, and was the founding director of the Sawtooth Science Institute. She was a collaborator and steering committee member in the founding of the Master Naturalist program through the Idaho Department of Fish and Game.
Chris, who lives in Hagerman, has a BA in English from California State College, Long Beach, a secondary teaching certificate from the College of Idaho, and an MS in Natural History from Boise State University. |
Board Member, Steve SmylieSteve Smylie is a lifelong Idaho native and holds degrees from NNU, BSU, and the U. of I. He worked as a teacher, coach, and educational leader for 38 years and is currently an adjunct professor at BSU. He served 4 terms in the Idaho Legislature, representing West Boise and Meridian. Parks hold a special place in Steve's heart, his father, Gov. Robert E. Smylie championed the creation of the Idaho Dept. of Parks and Recreation in 1963. Steve participated in an historical preservation project at Harriman Park in 2006 and has researched the history of the parks system, writing a chapter in the book 100 Years: Idaho and It's Parks (2008). He also serves as Idaho President of Phi Delta Kappa International and on the Advisory Board of the Treasure Valley Salvation Army, as well as other community organizations. He and his wife, Marsha, love hiking, cross country skiing, travel, and so many other things that make Idaho special.
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Board Member, Dave RicksI'm a native Idahoan, and after a hitch in the Navy, I graduated from Boise State University where I majored in accounting. I started my career as a staff accountant with the Department of Health and Welfare and worked my way up to being the Budget Director for the Department. I went on to the Division of Veterans Services as the Controller/Assistant Administrator and eventual became the Administrator at the Veterans Home in Boise. During that time I also served as Interim Director at State Hospital North in Orofino, and was part of the team that built two additional veterans homes in Pocatello and Lewiston. Along the way I also served as Cub-master for a pack in Meridian where we had over 100 scouts. Pinewood Derby was quite a production. After 30 years at the Department of Health and Welfare, I joined the team at the Department of Parks and Recreation where among other things was the Interim Director and last served as the Deputy Director for the Department. A big part of those 7 years was working to get funded, appropriated, and implementing the largest construction budget the Department ever had where we upgraded restrooms, water/sewer/electrical systems, along with creating a few new campgrounds and visitor centers like the one at Ponderosa State Park. My wife, Denise, and I have 3 boys - all employed and living their lives in Boise, Palo Alto, and Seattle/Alaska. We enjoy camping and exploring Idaho by foot, by boat, and on our ATVs. As we do this, I'm often heard saying "it doesn't get any better than this"! My goal is to help make Idaho's State Parks be the best they can be.
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Board Member, Dick GardnerDr. Gardner has a BS in Resource Development from Michigan State University, an MS in Natural Resource and Agricultural Economics the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, and a PhD in Natural Resource Economics from Colorado State University.
He served as a policy economist in Governor Cecil D. Andrus’ budget office for nine years before becoming the executive director of the Idaho Rural Partnership in 1992. In 2001 Dick started a nation-wide consulting practice that specializes in economic and public policy analysis, community economic development, strategic planning, and group facilitation. In 2000 he received the USDA Honor Award for Individual Public Service, the highest employee award issued by the Secretary of Agriculture. He was also the first recipient of the national Ron Shaffer Award for Collaborative Leadership from the National Rural Development Partnership, and was given the Idaho Governor’s Award for Excellence in Agriculture by Governor Dirk Kempthorne. |
Board Member, Bill DrakeBill is the chairman of Drake Cooper, an marketing and public relations firm in Boise. Bill is an author, a frequent lecturer for BSU, U of I and a myriad of marketing venues, and a contributor to the book, Inside the Minds: Advertising Best Practices. Bill gives back to the community, serving on boards and working with non-profits such as: The Idaho Shakespeare Festival, FUNDSY, Bogus Basin, the Red Cross, the Boise Philharmonic Association, The Boy Scouts of America, Friends of Idaho State Parks, and the Metro Boise Chamber of Commerce.
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Board Member, Ron JonesRon has a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Resources and a Master of Science in Leisure Studies and is an Air Force veteran.
He spent one summer as an interpreter for the U S Forest Service and 21 years as a State Park Ranger working for the California State Park System. In his final years he was Chief ranger for five California state parks overseeing park law enforcement, campground operations, interpretation. He served on the management team representing California State Parks with Redwood National Park. Ron has extensive experience working with park employees, volunteer interpreters, and horse patrol volunteers. He is a trained as a law enforcement officer, firefighter, and EMT. He was a fire arms and range master for 20 years and has training in park interpretation. Ron’s greatest satisfaction in his career was putting together and working on interpretive brochures to explain the natural areas. He is currently involved as a volunteer on the Latah County Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, Potlatch Lions Club, and USFS. Ron and his wife Janet I have been married 55 years with two grown children and three grandchildren. |
Board Member, Jennifer OkerlundJennifer Okerlund served as the Communications Manager for the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation for nearly 20 years and is currently Director of the Idaho Forest Products Commission. A lover of the outdoors, Jennifer supports efforts that expand recreational opportunity and create connections for Idahoans to experience the wonder, beauty and uniqueness of our state. She lives in Eagle, Idaho with her daughter and relishes time spent camping and kayaking.
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