In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, we're featuring the beautiful and historic Cabrillo National Monument near San Diego, California. The monument commemorates Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo's California voyage of discovery and exploration. In 1542 Cabrillo led an expedition to the western coast of North America. Seeking new wealth and trade routes for Spain, Cabrillo and his crew were the first Europeans to arrive on the shores of California.

To celebrate this legacy and highlight the cultural diversity of the area, the park organizes an annual Cabrillo Festival, one of the oldest cultural events in San Diego. The festival, held this year on September 27th and 28th, brings together people of diverse backgrounds: Mexican, Spanish, Portuguese, and American Indian, all of whom are connected today by Cabrillo's arrival more than 450 years ago.

If you can't make the festival, this 288-acre park offers many other activities throughout the year. You can explore the secret world of shoreline tidal pools, enjoy spectacular views of the San Diego Bay, spot migrating birds and gray whales, and explore historic buildings, including the 19th-century Old Point Loma Lighthouse and 20th-century coastal defenses.

View the slideshow > >

NPCA's Center for the State of the Parks included Cabrillo National Monument in their recent report on Southern California's Mediterranean Biome parks. The report found that while park staff have done much to protect and improve the park, insufficient funding hinders them--so much so that next year, they might not be able to afford hosting the historic Cabrillo Festival.

Learn more about the park and threats it faces > >

NPCA is sponsoring a new public service advertising campaign to build awareness of our national parks and the urgent need for us to work together to restore these national treasures by the park system's 2016 centennial.

The print ads feature the National Mall in Washington, D.C. and Petrified Forest National Park in Arizona as two examples of national parks that need greater federal investment.

Two of the radio spots were generously recorded by actors Amy Madigan, who has starred in Grey's Anatomy, and Sam Waterston, a lead character in the popular television series Law and Order.

Learn More >>

You Can Be a Part of a Historic Deal for Bison

This past winter, more than 1,400 bison at Yellowstone National Park were captured at the park's border and shipped to slaughter. Another 700 died during the harsh winter. By spring, only half of the original herd remained. A loss this significant hasn't occurred since the infamous slaughter of the late 1800s.

NPCA, our conservation partners, and several government agencies have reached a historic agreement to give bison access to nearly 3,000 acres of prime winter habitat. Instead of being sent to their death, a limited number of bison will soon be allowed to wander as far as nine miles north of Yellowstone into the Royal Teton Ranch during critical winter months.

Your contribution to this historic agreement, which also involves moving livestock off the ranch to make room for the bison herd, will ensure that some of Yellowstone's bison can safely move onto these critical lands this winter.

Bison supporters have already raised $900,000 of the one million dollars needed. Please help us make the final push.

Your contribution to this historic agreement will ensure that more of Yellowstone's bison can safely move onto these critical lands this winter.

Please help the Yellowstone herd by donating today! One hundred percent of your contribution will go directly to securing this critical winter habitat for this icon of the American West.

Make a Donation for the Bison Today

All donations can be sent to an earmarked trust account for the Royal Teton Ranch Lease Agreement at:

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks
c/o Sue Daly
1420 East Sixth Avenue
Helena, MT 59620

All checks should be made out to "Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks." All checks should be accompanied by a letter that includes the following language: "Please deposit the enclosed check(s) in the Wildlife Trust Mitigation Account and these funds should only be used for the purchase of grazing rights and associated activities on the Royal Teton Ranch, which will provide mitigation for wild bison losses."

For more information, read our fact sheet, "Big Gains for Yellowstone's Bison" (PDF/297 KB) > >

Golden Islands & Seashores: February 21-24, 2009
New England Islands & Mountains: June 21-30, 2009
The Black Hills & Badlands: September 14-20, 2009

Experience a deeper understanding of our national history on NPCA's Cultural Heritage tours.

Next February, step back in time to the Gilded Age on the unique natural habitats of Cumberland Island National Seashore in Georgia, and explore Spanish and British Colonial forts at Castillo de San Marcos and Fort Frederica National Monuments in Florida and Georgia. In June 2009, uncover American heritage in various towns and historical sites of New England on a co-sponsored NPCA tour with the National Trust for Historic Preservation. And the following September, explore the natural and historical heritage found across southwestern South Dakota--from Mount Rushmore National Monument and Badlands National Park to Jewel Cave and Wind Cave national parks.

For more information or to reserve your space, call us at 800.628.7275, email us at travel@npca.org, or go online to www.npca.org/travel

As your kids, grandkids, or neighbors' children prepare for another year of school, do you think about how quickly they're growing up? Do you wonder what kind of world they will grow up in and what legacy you'd like to leave them?

Consider becoming a Trustees for the Parks member, and leave these children a lasting legacy! 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.

You will receive exclusive mailings, 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. Visit us online or contact Michele Gehrig, Trustees for the Parks Manager, at mgehrig@npca.org or at 1.800.628.7275, ext. 290.

IN THIS ISSUE

• Featured Park: Cabrillo National Monument
• NPCA Campaign: Help Save Yellowstone's Bison!
• New Public Service Ads Go Live
• Give at Work
• Travel with NPCA: Cultural Heritage Tours
• Become a Trustees for the Parks Member!
• You're Invited

We are pleased to offer free e-cards featuring scenes from our national parks. Send a happy birthday greeting, a get-well wish, or just say hi. Send a card today and share the beauty of our national parks with your friends and family.

NPCA's Partners for the Parks are committed members who express their support for our national parks through an automatic monthly gift. It's a simple, convenient, and manageable way to protect and enhance our national parks. Together, we make a difference!

Join Partners for the Parks today >>

Each year, hundreds of park lovers like you support NPCA's work to protect and preserve our national parks through payroll contributions in workplace giving campaigns.

NPCA is a member of Earth Share, a nationwide federation of the nation's most respected environmental and conservation charities.

To find out more about how you and your workplace can support NPCA through an Earth Share campaign, please visit Earth Share's web site at www.earthshare.org

Help protect America's heritage and our National Park System by carrying the National Parks Conservation Association Platinum Visa® card. This is the only Visa® card that supports NPCA every time you make a purchase.

You will feel proud using this card, knowing that you are helping to preserve our nation's history through beautiful national parks & historic sites like the Grand Canyon in Arizona, the National Mall in Washington, D.C., and the Everglades in Florida--inspiring places you visited as a child, perhaps, that you can now preserve for your children and grandchildren.

Sign up today!

YOU'RE INVITED

Pittsburgh, PA: 2008 International Urban Parks Conference--September 21-23, 2008
Join parks professionals and thought leaders to learn how parks are shaping the future of the world's cities at this NPCA-sponsored event.
Learn More >> 

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country  > >

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

"It is our task in our time and in our generation, to hand down undiminished to those who come after us, as was handed down to us by those who went before, the natural wealth and beauty which is ours."
--John F. Kennedy