 FEATURED PARK
Fort Pulaski National Monument, Georgia
Fort Pulaski National Monument is located on Cockspur Island at the mouth of the Savannah River in Georgia. Built to protect the city of Savannah, the structure was part of a system of forts built to protect the United States after the War of 1812. Today it stands as one of the best-preserved examples of these coastal defenses.
This massive fort took nearly 20 years to complete, from 1829 to 1847. An estimated 25 million bricks were used to build walls more than seven feet thick. Its designers were convinced it was impenetrable. General Joseph Totten, the United States Chief of Engineers, said, "You might as well bombard the Rocky Mountains."
Built to defend the U.S. from foreign invaders, Fort Pulaski actually gained strategic importance in the Civil War. Confederate troops who occupied the fort came under attack by the Union army on April 10th, 1862. Despite the fort's strength and sheer bulk, the Union's new rifled cannons blew key defenses to bits in a mere 30 hours of bombardment. The fort was surrendered and the Confederacy lost access to a key Georgian port. Warfare too was changed forever as the military realized that large stationary defenses were no match for the new cannons.
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NPCA PODCAST--JOSHUA TREE NATIONAL PARK
Park Stories: The Canaries in the Coal Mine
 In this edition of Park Stories, host Jim Williams walks among the Joshua trees and wildlife in Joshua Tree National Park; explores the changes to this fragile desert ecosystem being wrought by global warming; and introduces us to some of the local park experts, advocates, and friends trying to make a difference for the park they love.
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NPCA CAMPAIGN
Teddy Mather's Campaign to Make National Parks a National Priority
 He may be just a humble bear, but Teddy Mather*--named for President Teddy Roosevelt and Stephen Mather, the first Park Service director--is running for president to make national parks a national priority. The campaign is designed to draw greater attention to the potentially crippling challenges that face our national parks, including the impacts of global warming and an annual operations shortfall in excess of $800 million.
Through this campaign, NPCA hopes to generate a national commitment to reinvest, restore, and reinvigorate our National Park System--which encompasses our most significant natural, cultural, and historic landscapes--in time for their second century.
We invite you to visit Teddy's website, www.electteddy.org, watch his video, and share it with friends and family. Keep an eye out for Teddy. He may be making an appearance at a national park near you, and mixing it up with the candidates on the campaign trail.
Watch Teddy's Campaign Launch Video > >
*While Teddy may not be a real candidate, the issues he represents are real.
Become a Trustee for the Parks!
 The Trustees for the Parks are a special group of dedicated members whose annual commitments of $1,000 or more support NPCA's work to preserve our national parks as a legacy for future generations. With the generosity of our Trustees and members, we are able to pursue our park-protection work across the country and lobby Congress and the Administration for increased park funding. In addition, Trustees' support provides critical resources for us to continue our education, advocacy, and grassroots efforts.
Trustees for the Parks are entitled to exclusive benefits, including regular updates of NPCA's field work, a personal listing in the annual report, invitations to special NPCA events, and more! As a token of our appreciation, we will also send every new Trustee a beautiful coffee table book titled "Our National Parks" by renowned photographer David Muench. We only have a limited number of these books available, so make your gift and join today!
If you would like to become a member, please click here to join online or contact Michele Gehrig, Trustees for the Parks Manager, at mgehrig@npca.org or at 800.628.7275, ext. 290.
TRAVEL WITH NPCA
Featured Tour Type: ParkScapes Active Adventures
Adventures Afoot in Big Bend: March 1-7, 2008
Yosemite & the Merced River: June 16-21, 2008
 Enliven your senses within America's national parks. Redefine enchantment in one of our most remote national parks or take the route less traveled in one of the most visited parks. Explore rugged terrain by day and enjoy scrumptious feasts, engaging presentations, and comfortable accommodations throughout the evenings.
No experience necessary. So bring your family or bring a friend, but don't miss these active adventures with NPCA.
For more information call the NPCA ParkScapes Travel Desk at 800.488.4080 or email us at info@npcatravel.com.
FACES
Meet Lindsay
 Sometimes the most unlikely heroes are the young ones. And yet, young people have such an optimistic view of the world and their passion is without limit. One such young person named Lindsay shared with us how she feels about wildlife, many who call our national parks home:
"I have never been to a national park because I am only 13 and my parents don't have much money. But the reason I help and care about our national parks is because of my deep passion for wildlife, which started at the age of 2 when I started watching Crocodile Hunter. Steve Irwin's compassion for wildlife made me interested in wildlife. Ever since then I have recycled, joined wildlife groups, and played an active role in online campaigns with NPCA and other organizations. Animals are the number one thing in my life."
Lindsay, thank you for your dedication to wildlife and our national parks. You are an inspiration for young people everywhere.
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We always welcome photos from NPCA supporters enjoying Alaska's National Parks. If you have pictures to share 
