Permitting: Tips and Best Practices for Guides

The Big Picture:

Needing to get a permit to guide in a certain place can be challenging. In fact, it can be downright discouraging. While we can’t offer you a magic wand to make it all happen with ease, we can offer these solid tips and best practices. 

Things to be aware of:

1. Each region operates differently
2. Start early and plan ahead!
3. Strategies for Reducing Costs
4. Ask about rain dates
5. Connecting with park rangers and staff
6. Alternative Land Options
7. Application Tips
8. Description of what you’ll be doing: Bio, Website, etc.
9. Concerns about impact on the land
10. Alternative Ways of Obtaining Permission to Guide
11. This all takes time

Each region operates differently

Each region and land management agency has their own permitting office and does things slightly differently. This can be one of the most frustrating aspects of seeking permits. There is not “one way that works best” when seeking a permit.  Each national, federal, regional, provincial, state county, city or town, they will have their own variation. Keep in mind that you will be dealing with different staff in each permitting office, all with different timelines, management styles, personalities and each with their own workload and communication preferences. It is useful to try and understand how they work and even ask so you know how to navigate best in their ecosystem. Even within the scope of the United States Forest Service or a Provincial Park in Canada, each park or forest has their unique processes. There will be similarities and differences. This can mean some heavy lifting on your part as you navigate the process that each individual park is using.  This is not to discourage you. Rather just don’t be put off if you encounter this and know it is the norm.

Start early and plan ahead!

Getting permits can sometimes take a very long time. Ask what the standard time is to receive your permit and plan for it to be a bit longer. Applying for your first permit may put kinks in your plans, depending on the time of year that you apply. In future years, you’ll be able to plan ahead and apply for any permits early.

Strategies for Reducing Costs

Apply for a series of walks/programs for the year. Often you can get a permit for a series of events that span a year. While this requires some planning ahead, one could also just put on their permit that they are applying for a series where there is a monthly or weekly walk occurring. (If there was no walk one week, it would likely not be a problem). Fees for a series of walks often do not cost any more.

Ask about rain dates

How will needing to reschedule due to weather affect your permit? Can you add rain dates to your permit application?

Connecting with park rangers and staff

Park staff can sometimes be helpful in providing information about the permitting process for that land. They may or may not know how the process works or who is in charge of permitting. 

Alternative Land Options

Permits can be expensive and it may not make sense to guide on these lands. Guiding on land that requires a permit may also be your only option. Take a close look at other land options for guiding. Even private land may be an option and may turn out to be a fruitful partner in the end. If you are properly insured, private landowners may be happy to collaborate. Look at hotels, B&Bs, Land Trusts. Any place that has a large chunk of suitable land may be a possible collaboration. Allow for time to build the connection and don’t skip the step of taking them on a walk! You are planting seeds in the ground.

Application Tips

You will need to fill out an application. Find out what information you’ll need to provide on or with the permit application and get prepared. Some things you might be asked for are:

• Proof of Insurance
• Guide certification certificate
• WFA certification certificate 
• CPR certification certificate
• Description of what you’ll be doing, Bio, Website, etc.

You may not need everything on this list but think about being prepared to show up as professional and credible. You are, in most cases, dealing with a government agency. Allow the time it takes to build the relationship. Getting an introduction can go a long way and help build your credibility. 

Concerns About Impact On the Land

Park staff can be very protective about impact on the land or park. They may want you to only guide in places where there is less impact or less people. Each park is different. Take land managers on a walk so they understand what forest bathing is and the type of impact your programs will have on their land. This may take time to arrange and you may get your permit before doing a walk for rangers. It is still worth doing so they understand what forest therapy is. 

Alternative Ways of Obtaining Permission to Guide

In addition to applying for a permit:

1. If you are not collecting money or collecting money on-site, sometimes you will not need a permit. Most times you do need a permit but occasionally you do not.
2. Are there organizations that already have permission or permits for that land? Can you offer walks through them and avoid the permitting process altogether? Build a relationship with these entities.
3. Connect with organizations that help conserve the land you are interested in guiding on. They may have a permit already and might even organize events with their own registration system. Even if they don’t do events, they likely know the park managers of where you are seeking permission or permits for. 

This all takes time

It can be discouraging to finish training and hit these bumps in the road that slow you down. There is no denying this. Pace yourself for the long haul. This is how we build our guide stamina. We are planting seeds and some of them may take years to sprout.

If you have additional Tips or Best Practices that could be added to this article, please let us know. Email info@amongthetrees.net and we’ll add it to this article. Thank you!

The tips and best practices in this article were compiled through conversations with multiple guides. Thank you to the following guides for sharing their experiences and best practices. Gratitude to: Ronna Schneberger, Andrea Prazmowski, Pat Bavin, Tammie Brewer Rouse, Melanie Choukas-Bradley, Jodi Trendler, Tamberly Kerr Conway, Toby Bloom, Paul Jaris, Clare Kelly, and J. Sage Raindancer.