Crew Boss Academy

Crew Boss Academy  

Experts in fire management met to share information, ideas and experiences. 

Crew Boss Academy is a training event that focuses on the development and refinement of leadership skills and techniques set in the wildland fire landscape. The class is offered for fire coordinators from all across the country. Florida State Parks personnel joined with fire staff from 15 states and Canada to take part in this training last fall. Over the course of 10 days, leadership is taught in the classroom and reinforced in the field. The academy imitates a real-world emergency incident, preparing attendees for the challenges of prescribed fire. 

Four Florida State Parks staff members attended Crew Boss Academy in October 2023 at Lake Bronson State Park, Minnesota. Andy Noland from Lake Kissimmee State Park and Parks Small from the Bureau of Natural and Cultural Resources participated as instructors. Tay Smith from Charlotte Harbor Preserve State Park and Daniel Cook from Mike Roess Goldhead Branch State Park attended as students. 

“My time at Crew Boss Academy challenged me by taking me away from my home comfort zone, tested me with long busy days and honed my leadership skills through scenarios designed to let me make mistakes with a safety net in place to catch me,” said Cook. “I firmly believe the leadership lessons I learned will help me, not only in fire but in all areas of my life.”