FEATURED PARK
Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve, Alaska
Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve's dynamic coastal landscape features tidewater glaciers, snow-covered mountains, and lush vegetation--but in the 18th century, the area was just a sheet of ice. The bay was created after the Grand Pacific Glacier retreated 60 miles. Seeds and spores carried on the wind and by birds set the stage for fireweed, dryas, alder, spruce, and hemlock to flourish into forests and meadows. The park is home to a variety of land and sea mammals, including black and brown bears, moose, orcas, and otters. Glacier Bay can only be reached by air and water, so most visitors arrive by boat.
View the slideshow > >
OUR LATEST REPORT
Center for the State of the Parks: Glacier Bay
 Well known for its tourist-packed cruise ships and bustling bay, Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve is home to some of the world's best whale watching and most dramatic, snow-covered mountain peaks. A new report by NPCA's Center for State of the Parks reveals that Glacier Bay's unspoiled image isn't just a facade--its natural resources are, in fact, in very good shape, and the park is in relatively pristine condition compared to other national parks across the country.
The report also finds, however, that Glacier Bay's cultural programs are only in fair condition, despite a strong relationship between the park and the native Huna Tlingit people who have lived in the region for thousands of years. Additional funding is needed to enhance cultural outreach efforts such as recording and transcribing native Huna Tlingit oral traditions that are at risk of being lost as Tlingit elders pass away. The report also finds that the park lacks data about the number of fish caught within the boundaries of the park, and additional studies are needed to determine if fishing within park waters is impacting marine species.
Learn more about the park and threats it faces > >
NEW PSA
Our National Parks
 NPCA's new radio public service announcements can be SEEN and not just HEARD. Check out the engaging video of actor Amy Madigan's public service ad for our national parks here, and then sign our petition to the new President and Congress.
OUR LATEST CAMPAIGN
Help Save a Piece of American History!
 The 1898 Quincy Smelting Works in Keweenaw National Historical Park is the greatest remaining example of a 20th century copper smelter site in the world. But time is running out to save this historic site!
Since closing in 1971, the buildings and equipment have deteriorated as a result of vandalism, theft, lack of maintenance, and harsh winter weather. A local non-profit organization, Copper Country Preservation, Inc., is working to secure federal grants to save this impressive site, but they need your help.
The group has set a fundraising goal of $500,000 to raise required matching grant funds. The combined funding will help stabilize most of the deteriorating structure and allow people to visit this part of the park again.
Time is running out to save this piece of American history, so act now!
Learn more about saving the Quincy Smelter at Keweenaw National Historical Park >>
Send a donation to save the Quincy Smelter.
All donations can be sent to:
Copper Country Preservation, Inc.
25970 Red Jacket Road
Calumet, MI 49913
Cades Cove Heritage Tours Announce Ribbon Cutting for October 24th, 2008
 This fall, something new is coming to Cades Cove in Great Smoky Mountains National Park: guided interpretive tours! Cades Cove Heritage Tours will leave from and return to the Great Smoky Mountain Heritage Center in Townsend, Tennessee. Visitors will now have the opportunity to focus on the wildlife and majestic scenery, instead of brake lights in front of them.
Cades Cove Heritage Tours is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing a meaningful visitor experience while minimizing negative impacts on the cultural and natural resources of Cades Cove. The program is supported by local community leaders, the Great Smoky Mountain Heritage Center, Smoky Mountain Visitor & Convention Bureau, and the National Parks Conservation Association.
To learn more, visit www.cadescoveheritagetours.org or contact Alissa McMahon, Program Analyst, at amcmahon@npca.org or at 865.329.2424 ext 27.
NPCA AT WORK IN THE PARKS
NPCA Staff Receive Conservation Awards
NPCA is excited to announce that several of our employees have been recently recognized for their outstanding conservation work on behalf of our national parks.
 NPCA's Senior Alaska Regional Director Jim Stratton received the Alaska Conservation Foundation's important Olaus Murie Award for Outstanding Professional Contributions. Named in honor of an Alaskan wildlife biologist, the award recognizes Jim's longstanding service to Alaska's environmental concerns.
 Because of the tremendous work of Mid-Atlantic Field Manager Erin Haddix-St. John, NPCA was awarded the Wallace and Peggy Carroll Vigilance Award for Advocacy Group of the Year by the National Committee for the New River. Erin has worked tirelessly to preserve the integrity of West Virginia's New River Gorge National River and the surrounding area.
 The Virginia Conservation Network also recognized NPCA's Virginia Senior Program Manager Catharine Gilliam with a Blue Ridge Award, as she is one of several local residents participating in a Green team that is successfully elevating attention to environmental issues in the state.
National Parks Magazine
 The fall issue of National Parks magazine is out! Many of the articles are included online at www.npca.org/magazine.
You can also view a web exclusive slideshow about non-native species that can be beautiful and even endearing, despite the fact that they threaten our national parks.
To see every single word and every stunning photograph, subscribe to the print version.
We are also proud to announce that National Parks recently won two awards in the Folio's 2008 Eddie and Ozzie Awards. Writer Jeff Rennicke earned a silver for his feature story, "Mary Jane Colter, Architect," which ran in Spring 2008. Photographer Ian Shive won a gold for Best Use of Photography with his photo essay, "The Ghosts of Steamtown," published in Winter 2008. See some of his photos in a web exclusive presentation.
The Eddie and Ozzie Awards recognize excellence in magazine editorial content and design, and this year's competition drew more than 2,800 entries. More than 100 expert judges spent weeks evaluating the entries and selecting the winners. For the full list of winners, click here.
Become a Trustees for the Parks' member!
 With cooler days and shorter nights quickly approaching, it is a great time to curl up in a cozy blanket with a good book. It is also a great time to get out and enjoy autumn in America's national parks! As you walk through the leaves and enjoy the crisp fall air, consider becoming a Trustees for the Parks' member.
As a Trustee for the Parks, you will be one of our visionary leaders who understand the value and importance of our national parks and historical heritage. Annual gifts of $1,000 or more help NPCA continue our work to ensure that our National Park System can be enjoyed and treasured by our children and grandchildren. Plus, you'll receive exclusive mailings specifically designed for our Trustees for the Parks' members, invitations to special events, and special travel opportunities.
As a token of our appreciation for becoming a Trustee for the Parks' member, we would be delighted to send you a beautiful coffee table book titled Our National Parks by renowned photographer David Muench. To join or for more information, click here or contact Michele Gehrig, Trustees for the Parks' Manager, at mgehrig@npca.org or at 1.800.628.7275, ext. 290.
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