FEATURED PARK
Featured Park: Civil War Parks of Tennessee


Tennessee's location between the North and South made it a critical line of defense for the Confederacy during the Civil War. As a result, many important--and devastating--battles were fought in the state. Today, visitors can experience this rich history for themselves at four national parks that commemorate these Civil War battles:

Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park, which commemorates the battle for control of Chattanooga in 1863;

Fort Donelson National Battlefield, site of the first major Union victory in 1862;

Shiloh National Military Park, where an epic battle involved over 100,000 soldiers in 1862; and

Stones River National Battlefield, where more than 3,000 soldiers died in one of the bloodiest battles of the war.

"As we approach the sesquicentennial of the Civil War, we must ensure that our national treasures, and Tennessee's Civil War heritage, is preserved and protected for our children and grandchildren to enjoy." --Emily Jones, National Parks Conservation Association program manager.  

NPCA is encouraging Congress to fund the President's proposed fiscal year 2010 budget, which would increase federal funding for Tennessee's Civil War parks and national parks across the country.

View the slideshow > >


OUR LATEST REPORT
Center for the State of the Parks: Tennessee's Civil War National Parks

NPCA's Center for State of the Parks recently assessed the condition of cultural and natural resources at four national parks in Tennessee that commemorate important Civil War battles: Fort Donelson National Battlefield, Shiloh National Military Park (part of which lies in Mississippi), Stones River National Battlefield, and Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park (part of which lies in Georgia). All of these parks, except Chickamauga and Chattanooga, include national cemeteries where Civil War soldiers and those who have served our country more recently are interred. Chattanooga National Cemetery is located outside the park and is administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs.

The assessment found that funding and staffing shortfalls affect the parks' ability to care for historic structures, monuments, and landscapes, and to interpret Civil War stories for visitors. In addition, adjacent development threatens to mar scenic and historical views that are essential to interpreting American history and providing visitors with a memorable experience.

In the face of these challenges, park staff are doing all they can to protect the irreplaceable resources under their care and have accomplished many important projects that are detailed in the report.

Learn more about the parks and the threats they face > >


NPCA AT WORK FOR THE PARKS
Eco-Mariner Boater Education Course Helps Boaters Protect Florida Bay

NPCA, along with numerous partners in the angling, paddling, boating, business, government, and conservation fields, has launched Eco-Mariner, a free online education course designed to help boaters and anglers enjoy and preserve Florida Bay in Everglades National Park.

Eco-mariner teaches necessary boating skills, as well as resource-protection skills like proper catch-and-release methods. Users will also learn about proper navigation, critical habitat, and ways to protect the Bay and its resources. After completing the 90-minute course, participants will take a short test for Eco-Mariner certification. The program will also feature instructor-led courses later this year. Eco-Mariner is now available online at www.ecomariner.org.


CAMPAIGN UPDATE
Guns in Parks

As you may already know, a disturbing provision allowing individuals to openly carry assault rifles, shotguns, and semi-automatic weapons in national parks--unless prohibited by the state--has passed in Congress as part of the Credit Cardholders' Bill of Rights Act of 2009. President Obama has signed the bill into law; the new legislation will take effect in February 2010.

NPCA believes that loaded assault rifles, shotguns, and semi-automatic weapons have no place at campfire programs and ranger-led hikes. And although thousands of letters were sent to Capitol Hill by NPCA supporters like you, sadly, both the Senate and House disregarded the concerns of NPCA, national park rangers, and former Park Service directors who want families and wildlife to remain safe in our national parks.

NPCA encourages you to either thank or express your dissatisfaction with your senators and representative, depending on whether or not they voted for the provision. Please visit www.npca.org/keep_parks_safe to find out how your members of Congress voted and information on how to contact them. Thank you for supporting our work to keep national parks safe.


Follow NPCA on Twitter

The National Parks Conservation Association has launched a Twitter account! If you use Twitter, or have friends and family who do, be sure to follow NPCA for the latest national park news.

Twitter is a social networking and micro-blogging site, which enables users to post short updates and link to additional information. Follow our updates about NPCA and the national parks so we can keep you abreast of national park news and the work we are doing to protect the parks. Check out our twitter page here: http://twitter.com/NPCA


Cades Cove Heritage Tours

NPCA is proud to recognize the Alcoa Foundation and Randy Boyd for their support in making the Cades Cove Heritage Tour in Great Smoky Mountains National Park a reality. Faced with congestion, pollution, and a lack of interpretive opportunities, NPCA worked together with the local community to provide not only fuel-efficient vehicles, but also an exciting new interpretive program that teaches passengers about the natural wonders and cultural heritage of Cades Cove as they ride through it. Research is also being conducted to capture visitor feedback about the interpretive tour.  Cades Cove's new tours are truly a success story of a local community coming together to benefit a treasured national resource. Learn More >


Make Plans to Visit a National Park for Free this Summer

This summer as you plan your  vacations and weekend outings, consider visiting a national park.

The National Park Service is making it more affordable than ever to visit national parks such as the Grand Canyon, Yosemite, and Rocky Mountain National Park. On three weekends this summer, entrance fees will be waived.

Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said the free weekends should help American families struggling with the recession afford a memorable vacation.

All 147 Park Service sites from Alaska to Florida that charge fees for entry will waive entrance fees on the following three weekends:

-- June 20-21, 2009
-- July 18-19, 2009
-- August 15-16, 2009

(Entry fees being waived range from $3 to $25. This does not apply to fees charged for camping, reservations, tours, or concessions.)

IN THIS ISSUE

• Featured Park: Civil War Parks of Tennessee
• Our Latest Report: Tennessee's Civil War National Parks
• NPCA at Work for the Parks: Eco-Mariner Boater Education Course Helps Boaters Protect Florida Bay
• NPCA Campaign: Heeding the Call to Service
• Follow NPCA on Twitter!
• Cades Cove Heritage Tours
• History, Nature and Fun in Parks for 2009
• Travel with NPCA

By protecting our national parks, we will leave a rich natural, cultural, and historic legacy for our children and grandchildren--but we can't do it without your support. Won't you help us by giving a tax-deductible gift to NPCA today?

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Feedback? Story ideas? Email us at npca@npca.org.

Are you having trouble making a donation online? Call us at 1.800.628.7275 Monday - Friday from 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Eastern Standard Time and one of our representatives will be able to assist you.

From All the Staff at NPCA,
Thank you for your time and dedication in helping to 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. Membership is just $25, and includes a subscription to our award-winning National Parks magazine, recently recognized for excellence in coverage of environmental tourism by the Society of American Travel Writers. Join Us Today!

Park Lines is a publication of the National Parks Conservation Association. E-mail us at TakeAction@npca.org, write to us at 1300 19th Street, NW, Suite 300, Washington, DC 20036, or call us at 800.NAT.PARK (800.628.7275).

To learn more, visit us at www.npca.org

"I think the Public Lands Service Corps is a wonderful opportunity for Americans to contribute domestically to our most precious resource, our national parks and public lands. It saddens me to see our national parks in a state of disrepair--we are entrusted to take care of these treasures for the next generation."
--Thomas, an NPCA supporter from Cambridge, MA, in a letter to his members of Congress in support of the Public Lands Service Corps Act