Priscilla Geigis, Deputy Commissioner for Conservation and Resource Stewardship
Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation
What was your first job.
In high school, I worked as an assistant for a summer program for kids from K-12 where they were immersed in hands on activities exploring a variety of subjects from rocketry to creative writing. I helped with administrative functions, coordinated special activities for the students and teachers, and eventually designed and taught courses in subsequent summers. This planted the seeds early in life for my passion for working with kids. They absorb so much, are so perceptive and engaged, and really know how to enjoy the moment. My experiences over the years have taught me that kids are not “future leaders” but leaders today and we need to foster and cultivate this leadership.
What got you interested in this industry?
Each summer during my childhood, for the entire month of August, my parents, sister and I would travel across the country hiking and camping in national and state parks. It was transformative. My parents, who grew up in Boston and had never gone camping previously, essentially exposed my sister and me to my first Learn to Camp model. They wanted us to learn to camp as a family and experience new adventures together so that’s what we did. My love of parks and my love of family are intertwined.
We didn’t have computers or smart phones. Instead, my sister and I each had a simple “fun bag” that my mom (a first grade teacher) made for us to keep us entertained along the way. It was filled with information about the places we would visit as well as games. My mom also had us keep a journal of our park visits. In those pages, I chronicled my experiences such as seeing bison for the first time, watching geysers erupt, walking on glaciers, and being awed by the Grand Canyon. The place where I felt truly alive was in Yellowstone National Park. I have a photo of myself at age 7 proudly wearing my coonskin cap standing at Artist Point at the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone pretending to be a park ranger. It was on that trip that I knew that I wanted to have a career in parks and I’m grateful that I have been able to live my dream.
What are you most looking forward to in the coming year?
Our agency is 20 years old, having been formed in 2003 by merging two parks agencies, each over 100 years. It’s taken a generation for staff to feel an affinity to the agency and not the predecessor agencies. It’s also taken the public awhile to understand DCR. We are currently going through a brand refresh and soliciting feedback from stakeholders, the public and our staff to help shape our brand promise. I’m excited to see the results of the surveys and to develop a brand that exudes our mission and core principles in a way that resonates with our staff and the public.
On a personal level, I’m looking forward to more trips in our 1985 VW Westfalia camper van that my husband, Kurt, and I bought during covid. The van’s name is Rascal and we are having a great time exploring with her.
Any exciting projects you are working on that you would like to share?
We’ve been focusing on workforce development and realized that we need to start introducing the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) to people at an earlier age and to new audiences. Through the Hearts of STIHL grant, we were able to launch the DCR Stewardship Corps for junior high and high school students. It’s an eight week after school program that immerses the students in hands on activities about DCR’s mission and varied responsibilities. The kids perform water testing with our aquatics team, calculate carbon in trees with our foresters, sift through dirt to find artifacts with our archeologist, simulate how sea level rise impacts our coasts with our climate team, and more. We have held three Corps in two cities with large environmental justice populations. The kids had not been exposed to DCR previously and many are interested in pursuing summer jobs. Our first Corps launched in Lawrence, Mass in partnership with the Lawrence Boys and Girls Club. The Club and DCR were honored this fall with the Pioneer in Partnership Award from Essex Heritage for launching the Stewardship Corps and we were thrilled that our local STIHL rep could join in the recognition. Our fourth Corps will launch this spring.
Also, this spring, we’re kicking off the 5th season of our Growing Wild movement. During covid, we capitalized on people staying at home and fixing up their yards and encouraged the public to create native habitat. We partner with local nurseries and give away free pollinator starter kits that include live plants so participants can see their stewardship contribution right away. We’re also calculating how much native habitat is created as a result of the program. While each individual pollinator garden is small, the program demonstrates the power of collective impact and that everyone has a role to play in supporting our biodiversity.
What do you enjoy about the outdoors in your state?
There’s so much geographical diversity within reach. We are fortunate to have incredible coastal beaches, forests, and miles of hiking trails. You can be on one of islands within the Boston Harbor Islands State and National Park in the eastern part of the state and watch the sunrise and on top Mount Greylock, the highest mountain in the western part of the state, and see the sunset all in the same day. There’s a special place for everyone to discover and enjoy.
Highlight one or two state parks in your state and why we should visit.
Skinner State Park (South Hadley) is my favorite park not just because I got married in the historic summit house which sits atop the Holyoke Range, but because of the sweeping, panoramic view from the porch which overlooks the Connecticut River and the valley. This site was especially popular during the late 1800s to ride the tram to the top and witness the view. Today, the landscape below is remarkably unchanged given the passage of time due to the land protection efforts of our agency and local land trusts. It’s a testament to our role as conservationists and a setting that inspired artists such as Thomas Cole (The Oxbow) and other Hudson River School artists because of its beauty and still inspires creative pursuits to this day.
If I was a visitor, what would be the top three things you’d show me?
No trip to Massachusetts is complete without a visit to Walden Pond State Reservation, the birthplace of the conservation movement and Henry David Thoreau’s 2 year stay at Walden Pond. Our visitor center is the first (and only) LEED Gold certified building in our system and provides a history of Thoreau and his wide-spread influence. People come from all over the world to visit the pond and experience this sense of place that inspired Thoreau. I’m glad I was able to share the Walden experience with our NASPD colleagues when Massachusetts hosted the Northeast meeting in Fall, 2023.
I’d also bring you to downtown Boston and walk along the beautiful Charles River Esplanade which flanks the Charles River is always teeming with activity. At any given time, you’ll see people walking, running and biking along the pathways while crew teams, community boating and kayaks enjoy the Charles River. It’s such a picturesque setting and the DCR Hatch Shell sits within this park and is the home to the Boston Pops Fourth of July concert. A true oasis in the city.
There are so many beautiful places, so the last one is difficult to choose. Staying east, I’d recommend Revere Beach Reservation, the first public beach in the nation that visitors enjoy year round complete with a stop at Kelley’s for some award-winning Clam “Chowdah!” Heading west to the Berkshires, I’d want visitors to enjoy a hike at Mount Greylock State Reservation and climb the war memorial tower at the summit to see panoramic views spanning 90 miles. Lunch or dinner at the CCC built Bascom Lodge would top off the experience.
Most memorable moment(s) in your career?
Early in my career, I had the privilege to meet some of the men who had served in the Civilian Conservation Corps at our parks. We honored them with our thanks, certificates and cake and they graced us with their stories and photographs. I remember one man, with tears in his eyes, saying to me that he had no idea that he was doing anything special at the time, he just wanted a job to help his family. He was humbled by how much we praised him and his work since he was just doing his job. That sounds like our staff today – they are doing their jobs, with passion and excellence, not expecting to be praised. In those special moments, I felt like I was witnessing the continuum of stewardship and grateful to be part of this legacy of park stewards who have come before me and will come after me.
Another memorable moment was my first phone call with Curt Cottrell. In December 2011, Hawaii was the last state we needed to launch, for the first time, for the first time America’s State Parks First Day Hikes in all 50 states in January, 2012. Curt was reluctant at first and joked that it was too early in the morning and much coffee would be needed. He finally agreed and pulled off an incredible event (as did everyone else) and the rest is history!
What’s the most motivational/inspiring thing anyone has ever said to you?
People will not remember what you said but will remember how you made them feel. I think about that when I’m in the field meeting with staff. Sometimes you don’t realize how impactful just your presence and a simple conversation can be. It goes both ways too. I always tell people that my best days are when I’m in the field. I come home happier because it feels good to interact with colleagues in their world. I learn so much from my team every day.
What are you most passionate about?
Fostering shared stewardship, connecting kids (and kids at heart) to nature, state service, team building, living life and accomplishing my bucket list now, and Town Spa (Stoughton, MA) pizzas – a “south shore bar style” pizza.
What are you reading?
Becoming Kin: An Indigenous Call to Unforgetting the Past and Reimagining the Future. We launched a Read to Lead book discussion forum for staff where we select books designed to inspire action. We are working to foster good working relationships with our Tribal Nations and Indigenous communities and this book was recommended as a good foundation as we lean into our engagement. My husband just bought me Cher’s memoir so that’s next!
Where is your next vacation?
Kurt and I are heading to Yellowstone National Park to see the bison in the winter. We’ve been there several times in the summer, but this will be our first winter experience. I’ve seen incredible photos of the bison in the snow and want to witness that majesty on the landscape. We’ll be snowmobiling, snowshoeing and hiking. I can’t wait!
Hobbies
I dabble with the guitar and learned how to play the Ukulele during COVID-19. I’ve written some songs for fun (and retirement parties). In July, while visiting the Smokey Mountains, I bought a dulcimer so hope to play a few songs in the coming year. I love to cook with family and friends and try challenging recipes. Kurt and I recently bought a smoker so are experimenting with rubs and sauces and wowed our family with a smoked turkey for Thanksgiving. I also love to browse antique stores for vintage souvenirs from national and state parks.
Nickname: PG
The last thing that made me laugh out loud.
Recalling camping adventures with my 91 year old Dad. We had some really funny experiences that have become part of our Geigis lore. The other day, we laughed about the time my sister and I asked my Dad to take a break during a very long driving day. My Dad had a schedule and that day was to drive from the South Rim of the Grand Canyon to Disneyland in CA. That translated to hours in the car and he didn’t want to stop unless there was an emergency. So my sister and I took a pad of paper and markers from our fun bags and made signs that read, “Help! We’re being kidnapped”!” and stuck socks in our mouths and held the signs up to the car windows for other drivers to see. He immediately pulled the car over and we got our break.
A poem, line of poetry, or quote that I return to
An actor/actress I would watch in anything Meryl Streep – she is passionate about her craft and takes on challenging and inspiring roles.
My favorite blockbuster and favorite movie.
I’m a movie buff and hosted an annual Oscar party for 30 years (until COVID) where we created a menu based on the best picture nominees. There are so many that I love, but my two all-time favorites are the Wizard of Oz and the Sound of Music. And, tied for favorite blockbusters are Star Wars and Raiders of the Lost Ark.
A song, band, or musician I love.
I’m a Cher fan and love how she has “turned back time” in her own way by remaining relevant through 5 decades. I also like to listen to jazz so if you were to come over for dinner, you’d hear John Coltraine playing in the background.
My favorite way of wasting time.
Something delightful introduced to me by a kid
My goddaughter is 8 and I recently brought her out at night to see our wildlife biologists band Northern Saw-wet owls. The sense of wonder and excitement on her face when she saw the owl up close was priceless. She intently watched my staff record measurements and peppered them with questions and her own knowledge throughout their observation. She was decked out in her owl shirt and brought an owl stuffie along which she asked one of our biologists to band. Seeing her joy in watching them band the real owl and her stuffie is a reminder to me to soak in every moment. Life is short and it’s memories like this that will last a lifetime.
