In This Issue
Featured Park: Harpers Ferry and the Niagara Movement Centennial
Resolve to Protect our National Parks!
2006 Elections Could be Critical for Our National Parks
Travel with NPCA to Big Bend National Park: Mountains and Deserts
Parks in the News: Landmark Hearing to be Held in Alaska
You're Invited
National Parks Family Day Was a Great Day for Parks & Families
Save the Date
Featured Park: Harpers Ferry and the Niagara Movement Centennial
If you think the legacy of Harpers Ferry National Historical Park (WV) begins and ends with John Brown's famous 1859 raid, think again. Nineteenth-century developments in the production of firearms pioneered at Harpers Ferry powered the American industrial revolution and armed Civil War soldiers with the deadliest weapons the world had ever seen. In 1862, Confederate General "Stonewall" Jackson captured over 12,000 Union soldiers defending the town--one of the single largest capitulations of American military forces in the nation’s history. And in August 1906, W.E.B. Du Bois convened the second meeting of the Niagara Movement at Harpers Ferry and helped give birth to the modern Civil Rights movement in the United States.
August 16-20, 2006, Harpers Ferry National Historical Park will celebrate the Niagara Centennial with a series of events designed to raise public awareness about this historic gathering. An academic symposium, a gospel concert by the Dixie Hummingbirds, and living history performances are a few of the many activities that will be hosted by the park. Most events are free and open to the public. If you’d like to learn more about the unique role Harpers Ferry has played in the history of the United States, from Civil War to Civil Rights, visit the park this August for a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Visit our Niagara page
Resolve to Protect our National Parks!
From John Brown's Civil War raid to the Civil Rights movement, from the first successful American railroad to the United States Arsenal, Harpers Ferry National Historical Park tells a multitude of stories. A visit to this hallowed ground will give you a glimpse into the town's rich history, but the cultural resources, natural resources, and visitor experience are all in need of protection. You can help by making a generous contribution today!
2006 Elections Could be Critical for Our National Parks
With election season well under way, it's up to us to ensure that our national parks get the attention they deserve from current and potential elected officials. Our national parks have been called, "the best idea America ever had," and it is imperative that elected officials--from mayors to Members of Congress--do what they can to preserve them for future generations.
During the next few months, candidates will be sweeping through town halls, holding in-district meetings, and presenting the reasons why they deserve your vote. Whether you are Democrat or Republican, Libertarian or Independent, we know the parks matter to you. Here are some things you can do to ensure candidates know how important your national parks are to you and future generations:
- Find out when your elected official is coming to town. Let them know how important our national parks are to you.
- Attend a town hall or candidate forum. Check the listing of your local League of Women Voters or other groups that may be sponsoring a forum in which you present your interest in our national parks.
- Write a letter to the editor. If the candidates aren't starting the dialogue, start it for them! Below you will find talking points that could be useful in any of these settings. And be sure to visit us online at www.npca.org for more information on the issues that matter most to you.
Talking Points
- We need to ensure adequate funding for our national parks. The proposed $100 million cut to the Park Service budget currently under consideration by Congress would hinder the ability of the Park Service to address adequate resource protection, visitor experience, and the backlog plaguing so many of our parks.
- In recent years, the parks have been stretched thin by cost-of-living increases, un-reimbursed storm damage, and insufficient funding for new homeland security needs, all of which contribute to the Park Service's annual operating budget shortfall, estimated to be in excess of $600 million.
- Our national parks continue to experience unhealthy air and obscured scenic views. It is imperative that we clean up coal-fired power plants and make sure new power plants use the most advanced technology to improve national parks' air quality.
Travel with NPCA to Big Bend National Park: Mountains and Deserts
September 27—October 1, 2006
Big Bend is known for its hauntingly beautiful landscapes and unique wildlife. Each day of this NPCA trip focuses on different aspects of the region: geology, natural history, cultural history, and current issues. Big Bend National Park is one of the largest, yet least visited, of America's national parks. Search for wildlife uniquely adapted to the region and watch for birds starting their winter migration south. Discover the rich history and cultural diversity of the area. From Apaches and Mexicans to soldiers and pioneers, many have called this harsh region home. The landscape is one of massive canyons, desert expanses, and the entire Chisos Mountain Range. Here you can explore one of the wildest corners of the U. S., with its unforgettable sights and peaceful solitude.
Call our travel office at 1-800-488-4080 to book your trip or download the Big Bend trip brochure for more details.
Parks in the News: Landmark Hearing to be Held in Alaska
On Monday, August 14, Rep. Mark Souder (R-IN) will convene a hearing focusing on the National Parks of Alaska in Anchorage. NPCA Alaska Regional Director Jim Stratton will provide testimony about the condition of Alaska's national parks, including park funding, inholdings, and wildlife management.
This hearing is the ninth in a series of unprecedented hearings on the future of America's national parks, spearheaded by Rep. Souder. Previous hearings have been held in Arizona, California, Florida, Hawaii, Massachusetts, and Washington, D.C. NPCA has provided testimony at each hearing.
Visit Rep. Souder's National Parks page
You're Invited
Join the National Parks Conservation Association for our ongoing series of free, guided Sunday afternoon hikes in Shenandoah National Park. Hikers will explore different trails and learn about critical issues facing our national parks. All hikes begin at 2:00 p.m. Meet at the specified trailhead for each hike. For more information, contact Virginia Program Manager Catharine Gilliam at 540-460-5105. The hikes for August are:
- August 13 - Big Run Loop
A loop trail through the hardwood forest and park wilderness. Difficulty: easy to moderate. Meet at Doyles River parking lot, Mile Marker 81.1.
- August 27 - Snead Farm, Dickey Ridge Trail Loop
A 3.2-mile loop near the Front Royal entrance to the park that includes barn remains from Snead Farm and beautiful views of Signal Knob and the Shenandoah Valley. Meet at Dickey Ridge Visitor Center, Mile Marker 4.6.
National Parks Family Day Was a Great Day for Parks & Families
As a way to encourage Latino, African American, and Southeast Asian communities to visit their local national parks, NPCA's Central Valley Field Office hosted the Third Annual National Parks Family Day in Fresno, California. The July 8 event was a tremendous success, attracting more than 3,800 people--more than doubling the previous year's attendance. Rangers from Yosemite, Pinnacles, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks participated in the event, exposing the wonders of the National Park System to a variety of age groups--in both English and Spanish. Families enjoyed nearly 50 educational and informational booths, plus a rock-climbing wall and an entertainment tent--featuring National Park Ranger talks and cultural dance entertainment. Despite temperatures reaching 107 degrees at the event, many families stayed throughout the day to learn about the National Parks that are just down the road from their homes.
Save the Date
September 30, 2006, is the 13th annual celebration of National Public Lands Day, a nationwide volunteer effort to enhance America's public lands. With the generous support of REI, NPCA will host hands-on volunteer activities in national parks in California, the District of Columbia, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Washington state, and Wyoming. Look inside the next issue of Explorer for more details.
From All the Staff at NPCA,
Thank you for your time and dedication to helping enhance and protect our national parks for present and future generations.
NPCA's park protection work is made possible by the generous support of people like you. An introductory membership is just $15, and includes a subscription to our award-winning National Parks Magazine. Join us Today!
National Park Explorer is a publication of the National Parks Conservation Association. Contact us at TakeAction@npca.org or write to us at 1300 19th Street, NW, Suite 300, Washington, DC 20036.
Visit us online at www.npca.org.
