Frequently Asked Questions
The National Parks Conservation Association
What is the National Parks Conservation Association?
What does NPCA do?
What is the difference between NPCA, the National Park Service, and the National Park Foundation?
Where is NPCA located?
How do I contact NPCA?
How can I become a member?
What are membership benefits?
How do I renew or let you know about a change of address?
How do I subscribe to National Parks magazine?
How can I find out about jobs at NPCA?
National Parks
What are national parks?
What problems do the national parks face?
What can I do to help?
Can I purchase a National Parks Pass from NPCA?
The National Parks Conservation Association
What is the National Parks Conservation Association?
We are an independent, nonpartisan voice working to address major threats facing the National Park System. NPCA was established in 1919, just three years after the National Park Service. Stephen Mather, the first director of the Park Service, was one of our founders. He felt very strongly that the national parks would need an independent voice—outside the political system—to ensure these places remained unimpaired for future generations. We have more than 325,000 members and supporters. In addition to our national headquarters in Washington, D.C., NPCA has 23 regional and field offices around the country. Our Mission: To Protect and Enhance America’s National Park System for present and future generations.
What does NPCA do?
NPCA works to address major threats facing the National Park System by gathering the information we need through our two centers, Center for Park Management and Center for State of the Parks, by keeping our eyes and ears to the ground in 11 regional and 12 field offices, and by developing relationships on Capitol Hill and in the administration to counter legislation or policies that would adversely affect the parks. We also pursue solutions in the courts when other avenues fail us.
What is the difference between NPCA, the National Park Service, and the National Park Foundation?
NPCA is the leading voice of the American people in protecting and enhancing the National Park System, the largest and most diverse park system in the world. It is the only independent, membership organization dedicated to protecting the park system. NPCA and its thousands of members and supporters are committed to preserving our nation’s natural, cultural, and historical heritage.
The National Park Service was created by an Act of Congress in 1916 to preserve the natural and cultural resources and values of the National Park System for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations. An agency of the Department of the Interior, the Park Service manages 392 sites, including national parks, monuments, battlefields, seashores, and preserves.
The National Park Foundation was chartered by the U.S. Congress in 1967 and is the official nonprofit partner of the National Park Service. Through private funding and corporate partnerships, the Park Foundation provides grants for park programs and projects. The Secretary of the Interior serves as chairman of the board, and the director of the National Park Service serves as secretary to the board.
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Where is NPCA located?
Our headquarters are in Washington, D.C., at 1300 19th Street, N.W. We have offices in Anchorage, AK; Staunton, VA; Philadelphia, PA; Fayetteville, WV; Chicago, Illinois; New York, NY; Helena, MT; Livingston, MT; Whitefish, MT; Jackson, WY; Seattle, WA; San Francisco, CA; Joshua Tree, CA; Barstow, CA; Fresno, CA; Stockton, CA; Las Vegas, NV; Knoxville, TN; Ashville, NC; Salt Lake City, UT; Fort Collins, CO; Hollywood, FL; Tavernier, FL; Dallas, TX.
How do I contact NPCA?
Please feel free to email us at npca@npca.org, call us at 800-628-7275, or write to us at 1300 19th St. NW, Suite 300, Washington, DC 20036.
How can I become a member?
You can join NPCA online or by calling 800-628-7275 and asking for our member services department.
What are membership benefits?
Our membership benefits include an award-winning quarterly magazine, National Parks; our exclusive travel information kit, which includes maps, a road atlas, park guides, and more; and discounts on NPCA publications and merchandise.
How do I renew or let you know about a change of address?
We will send you renewal notices before your membership expires. You can return the renewal form with a check or credit card number, renew online, or call us at 800-628-7275.
To inform us of a change of address, you may email us at npca@npca.org or call 800-628-7275. Please have your NPCA membership ID number ready. It is located on the NPCA membership card as well as above the name on the mailing label of National Parks magazine.
How do I subscribe to National Parks magazine?
For just $15, you can subscribe online or by calling our member services department at 800-628-7275.
How can I find out about jobs at NPCA?
Our job openings are posted online.
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National Parks
What are national parks?
The U.S. National Park System contains 392 units, which highlight and protect our natural, historic, and cultural treasures. The world's first national park, Yellowstone, was established in 1872. The National Park Service, the agency that oversees the park system, was created in 1916. Today, national parks cover more than 83 million acres and can be found in every state except Delaware, as well as the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. The largest park is Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve in Alaska, which is 13.2 million acres. At .02 acres, Thaddeus Kosciuszko National Memorial in Pennsylvania is the smallest.
For more detailed information about units in the National Park System please visit our "Explore the Parks" web feature.
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What problems do the national parks face?
Although the National Park Service strives to safeguard our national parks, many of the 392 sites suffer from a variety of problems. Insufficient funding is the single greatest threat facing the parks. Some of the nation’s parks have some of the worst air in the country, even though our laws say they should have the cleanest. And, parks are such attractive places to live and work that commercial and other development threatens to overwhelm some of our most cherished lands with subdivisions and commercial development.
What can I do to help?
There are many ways you can help protect national parks.
- Support NPCA's efforts by becoming a member.
- Explore our Web site to learn more about the parks and the problems they face.
- Take action by sending a letter to the President, members of Congress, and other decision makers to reduce threats to the natural, cultural, and historical treasures contained in our parks.
- Subscribe to Park Lines, NPCA's electronic newsletter, which will keep you informed about the latest news and action items regarding federal funding for parks; pollution, global warming, energy, and development threats to parks; congressional legislation to expand or create new national parks, and other critical national park issues.
Can I purchase a National Parks Pass from NPCA?
Due to changes in the National Parks Pass program, passes must now be purchased from participating Federal agencies. Click here to purchase your parks pass from USGS.
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If you have any additional questions, feel free to explore our Web site, email us at npca@npca.org, or call 800-628-7275.
