Phone:
312.263.0111
Email:
midwest@npca.org
Address:
333 North Michigan Avenue
Suite 921
Chicago, IL 60601
States:
IL, IN, IA, KS, NE, OH, MI, MN, MO, SD, WI
IL, IN, IA, KS, NE, OH, MI, MN, MO, SD, WI
Sweep over the stark Badlands of South Dakota, under the curve of St. Louis Arch, along the shores of Indiana Dunes, and through the rugged wild of Isle Royale to gain a sense of the vast and diverse territory covered by NPCA's Midwest Regional Office. Spanning eleven states, the parks in this region – such as Lincoln Home National Historic Site – reverberate with the stories of America, teaching us about our journey as a country, from our early residents to our presidents, and from tragic battles to triumphs of progress. In addition, they inspire us with their beauty, size, and natural resources. Building support for, and ensuring the protection of, these special places is the focus of NPCA’s Midwest Regional Office.
The Midwest regional team is based in Chicago, with a field office in St. Paul, Minnesota. The diversity of this region’s parks means that the staff might spend one day fighting for the continued survival of wolves in the wilderness of Isle Royale National Park and the next day working to improve public transit at Chicago’s first national park, Pullman National Monument.
Because parks do not exist in isolation, the Midwest team works with the National Park Service and many landowners to protect parks in their landscapes. For example, at Indiana Dunes National Park on the shores of Lake Michigan, NPCA brings public and private land managers together to solve conservation challenges, such as controlling invasive species, managing erosion, and leveraging staff and project funds to better protect wildlife and nature in the highly industrialized and fragmented landscape.
In the urban environment, after advocating diligently for the designation of Pullman, the team is working with hundreds of Chicago residents, businesses and government agencies to implement the award-winning vision, Positioning Pullman.
The Midwest team will continue to build national park advocates in its 11 states to fight for enhanced protections of the beautiful and historic national parks that make this region so exceptional.
Cuyahoga Valley: What's in a Name?
Cuyahoga is the Mohawk word meaning “crooked river.”
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Press Release
Voyageurs National Park, Boundary Waters Protected from Toxic Mining
"Banning mining activities in the region’s watershed will protect the broader park ecosystem now and for years to come.” -- Christine Goepfert
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Magazine Article
A Turnaround at Grand Portage
A Native American Tribe and a national park unit find common ground
Field Offices in the Midwest Region
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Minnesota Field Office
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- Address:
- Minneapolis
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- Phone:
- 612.270.8564
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Michigan Field Office
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- Address:
- Suttons Bay
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- Phone:
- 231.880.7031
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More about the Midwest region
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Read more about Wolves at Isle Royale
Victory Wolves at Isle Royale Isle Royale National Park in Michigan is a wild, remote island in Lake Superior that serves as a natural refuge for wildlife, including its most famous residents: wolves and moose. Ninety-nine percent of Isle Royale is designated as a federal wilderness area and as the island’s top predator, wolves are essential to controlling the island’s moose population.
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Read more about Stand Up to Polluters at Indiana Dunes
NPCA at Work Stand Up to Polluters at Indiana Dunes EPA must enforce the Clean Water Act to protect this national park site from toxic chemicals.
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Read more about Keep the Great Lakes Great: Support Restoration Funding in the Midwest
NPCA at Work Keep the Great Lakes Great: Support Restoration Funding in the Midwest Since 2010, a federal program known as the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative has funded a variety of projects to help water quality, wildlife habitat and a range of other issues. Congress could slash this funding — a move that could reverse years of progress for the region’s 13 national parks.
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Read more about Positioning Pullman
NPCA at Work Positioning Pullman Pullman honors the unique stories of railroads in America’s industrial past, labor history — including formation of the first African-American labor union, urban planning and development of the country’s first model industrial town.
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The desire to change our way of thinking is a proactive kind of feeling but regret and shame only arise after the fact; when it's too late. Let us not wish we had been more accountable and wonder what happened to such wonderful pieces of our great nations history after they have been parceled and dissected into sparse reminders of their sublime majesty. Let us, instead, continue to be good stewards to the land which has provided us with so many rich and wonderful personal experiences and stories of good times shared with good people in a great land. — Ian
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Read more about Ozone Fact Sheet
Fact Sheet Ozone Fact Sheet Ozone threatens the health of park visitors and contributes to the disease and death of park species such as the black cherry tree in the East and aspen and ponderosa pine in the West. National park ecosystems across the country are already showing damage from ground-level ozone pollution.
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Read more about What Does Veterans Day Mean to You?
Blog Post What Does Veterans Day Mean to You? We asked members of NPCA’s Veterans Council and veteran staff members to share their thoughts on this special day and the role national parks play in telling the story of veteran history.
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Read more about Steven Moss: Memories of Fish and Wildlife Changes at Cuyahoga Valley National Park
National Park Service Steven Moss: Memories of Fish and Wildlife Changes at Cuyahoga Valley National Park Listen to a longtime resident talk about the many changes he has witnessed in Cuyahoga Valley.
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Read more about Reflections on the Clean Water Act
Blog Post Reflections on the Clean Water Act 50 years after the Clean Water Act brought the Cuyahoga River back to life, an NPCA staffer looks back on the progress made — and what still needs to be done — to ensure clean water in national parks.
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Read more about Pullman National Monument Leaders Celebrated with National Conservation Award
Press Release Pullman National Monument Leaders Celebrated with National Conservation Award Pullman National Monument Superintendent Teri Gage and Pullman Project Manager Todd Ravesloot celebrated for their innovative and unwavering work to transform Chicago’s first and only national park site.
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Read more about Secretary Haaland, Park Advocates Meet at Emmett Till Funeral Site
Press Release Secretary Haaland, Park Advocates Meet at Emmett Till Funeral Site Emmett’s mother, Mamie Till-Mobley, insisted on a public, open-casket funeral for her son at Roberts Temple Church of God in Christ in Chicago, saying “Let the world see what they did to my boy.”
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Read more about FAQs: A National Park Site for Emmett Till
Blog Post FAQs: A National Park Site for Emmett Till NPCA and its partners have advocated for years for the establishment of a national park site to honor Emmett Till, a 14-year-old Chicago native murdered in Mississippi, and his mother, Mamie Till-Mobley, who became a civil rights icon after his death. Read frequently asked questions about the possible site and why it is important.
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Read more about The Supreme Court Case that Threatens Our Waters
Blog Post The Supreme Court Case that Threatens Our Waters 5 things you should know about the legal fight over the Clean Water Act
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Read more about 6 National Parks That Will Benefit from New Fossil Protections
Blog Post 6 National Parks That Will Benefit from New Fossil Protections In early September, the Interior Department implemented a long-awaited rule that will protect fossils from theft and loss on hundreds of public lands, including national park sites. Here are just a few of the places that are better off as a result.
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Read more about Hamill Calumet Conservation Senior Coordinator
Staff Tim Koenning Tim is the Hamill Calumet Conservation Senior Coordinator in NPCA's Midwest office in Chicago. Tim cooperates with NPCA's partners in the Calumet region of Northwest Indiana and Chicago to protect and restore Indiana Dunes National Park, Pullman National Monument, and the natural areas in between.
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Read more about 9 Park Success Stories Advocates Made Possible
Blog Post 9 Park Success Stories Advocates Made Possible On the two-year anniversary of the Great American Outdoors Act, parks around the country are seeing big, tangible improvements as a result of this historic bipartisan victory.
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Read more about 'Let the World See'
Blog Post 'Let the World See' These four journalists reported on the unspeakable, braving danger, and in some cases discrimination, to bring the brutal injustice of Emmett Till’s murder to light.
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Read more about See a Sky Full of Stars at These Certified Dark-Sky Parks
Blog Post See a Sky Full of Stars at These Certified Dark-Sky Parks Lay out a blanket after the sun goes down and see a clearer view of the galaxy at these designated dark-sky parks.
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Read more about Great Lakes Senior Program Manager
Staff Kira Davis Kira Davis is the Great Lakes Senior Program Manager in NPCA’s Michigan Field Office in Suttons Bay. Kira leads NPCA’s work to protect and enhance the parks of the Great Lakes Region, including Sleeping Bear Dunes, Isle Royale, and Pictured Rocks.
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Read more about Park Talks
Regional Events Park Talks Join our NPCA community for virtual "Park Talks" to learn about our work and ways you can get involved.
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Read more about Sustaining Indiana Beaches
Resource Sustaining Indiana Beaches The scenic beaches of Indiana Dunes are disappearing. In order to sustain this critical asset to Indiana’s economy and quality of life, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers must conduct a federal damage mitigation feasibility study.
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Read more about Senior Outreach Coordinator for the Midwest Region
Staff Mark Mesle Mark Mesle is the Senior Outreach Coordinator in NPCA’s Chicago office. Mark works with community groups and local officials to build support for parks throughout the region.
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Read more about Restoring Wolves at Isle Royale
Infographic Restoring Wolves at Isle Royale Through years-long advocacy efforts by National Parks Conservation Association, the National Park Service will bring more wolves to Isle Royale National Park, an island in Lake Superior. More wolves will keep the island’s rapidly growing moose population in check and improve the overall health of the park landscape.
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Read more about When Nature Is Out of Balance
Fact Sheet When Nature Is Out of Balance The wolf population at Isle Royale National Park has been dwindling for years but a new plan to introduce more wolves brings hope.
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Read more about Midwest Regional Office Field Reports
Report Midwest Regional Office Field Reports NPCA's Midwest Regional Office produces a newsletter twice a year. These field reports provide timely updates and perspectives on issues of interest in the more than 50 diverse national park sites throughout the region.
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Read more about More Wolves at Isle Royale National Park
Infographic More Wolves at Isle Royale National Park NPCA has long advocated to bring new wolves to the national park to protect the long-term survival of this iconic species.
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Read more about 10 Ways to Be a Park Advocate
Resource 10 Ways to Be a Park Advocate Want to be an advocate for parks, but don't know where to start?
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Read more about Voyageurs National Park at Risk from Sulfide Mining
Fact Sheet Voyageurs National Park at Risk from Sulfide Mining Recent mining proposals could pose a significant threat to this watershed. Even small amounts of contamination could harm the park's fish and wildlife.
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Read more about Transforming the Lock
Report Transforming the Lock Transforming the Lock is a vision for a national park visitor experience at the Upper St. Anthony Falls Lock in Minneapolis.
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Read more about Pullman Transportation Plan
Report Pullman Transportation Plan As one of America’s newest national parks, Pullman National Monument is preparing for as many as 300,000 visitors by 2020. The Pullman Transportation Plan, produced with funding secured by NPCA, outlines ways to improve access to and within Pullman for visitors and community residents.
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Read more about Regional Director of Development
Staff Diane Gerrish Diane Gerrish serves as the Regional Director of Development for the Midwest. Diane connects National Parks Conservation Association's most generous Midwest-based supporters with our advocacy and activities to protect our national parks.
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Read more about Campaign Director, Midwest Region
Staff Christine R. Goepfert Chris is the region’s Associate Director in NPCA's Minnesota Field Office in Minneapolis.
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Read more about Director, Communications
Staff and Media Personnel Alison Zemanski Heis Alison Heis joined the organization in 2010 and oversees media outreach and communications for the East Coast, Midwest, and NPCA’s national water initiatives. She leads communication outreach focused on strengthening NPCA’s brand and our emerging celebrity engagement efforts.
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Read more about Senior Regional Director
Staff Lynn McClure Lynn came to NPCA in 2007 to launch the Midwest office in Chicago. As the Regional Director, she leads protection of more than 50 national parks in NPCA’s largest region.
Explore Our Parks
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A–H
- Agate Fossil Beds National Monument ›
- Apostle Islands National Lakeshore ›
- Badlands National Park ›
- Brown v. Board of Education National Historical Park ›
- Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument ›
- Cuyahoga Valley National Park ›
- Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park ›
- Effigy Mounds National Monument ›
- First Ladies National Historic Site ›
- Fort Larned National Historic Site ›
- Fort Scott National Historic Site ›
- Gateway Arch National Park ›
- George Rogers Clark National Historical Park ›
- George Washington Carver National Monument ›
- Grand Portage National Monument ›
- Harry S Truman National Historic Site ›
- Herbert Hoover National Historic Site ›
- Homestead National Historical Park ›
- Hopewell Culture National Historical Park ›
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I-O
- Ice Age National Scenic Trail ›
- Indiana Dunes National Park ›
- Isle Royale National Park ›
- James A. Garfield National Historic Site ›
- Jewel Cave National Monument ›
- Keweenaw National Historical Park ›
- Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial ›
- Lincoln Home National Historic Site ›
- Minuteman Missile National Historic Site ›
- Mississippi National River & Recreation Area ›
- Missouri National Recreational River ›
- Mount Rushmore National Memorial ›
- New Philadelphia National Historic Site ›
- Nicodemus National Historic Site ›
- Niobrara National Scenic River ›
- North Country National Scenic Trail ›
- Ozark National Scenic Riverways ›
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P-Z
- Perry's Victory And International Peace Memorial ›
- Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore ›
- Pipestone National Monument ›
- Pullman National Historical Park ›
- River Raisin National Battlefield Park ›
- Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway ›
- Scotts Bluff National Monument ›
- Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore ›
- Ste. Geneviève National Historical Park ›
- Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve ›
- Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site ›
- Voyageurs National Park ›
- William Howard Taft National Historic Site ›
- Wilson's Creek National Battlefield ›
- Wind Cave National Park ›
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