Search results for “Enhancing the Visitor Experience”
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Land Based Trip Fa‘a Samoa: The National Park of American Samoa Talofa! Welcome to American Samoa and to the only U.S. National Park south of the equator. On this tour, you have the rare opportunity to visit all three of the islands where the National Park of American Samoa is located. You will be spending time with the community and learning about the customs of the islands, while also visiting paleotropic rainforests and seeing flora and fauna that are found in no other U.S. National Park. During this unforgettable NPCA small group tour, you’ll feel the warm welcome of Samoan culture as a guest in an immersive experience of community, culture and conservation.
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Blog Post Trivia Challenge: The Longest Stretch of Undeveloped Barrier Island in the World Q: Barrier islands make up about 10 percent of the world’s coastline, and the United States has the greatest number of them with more than 400. The U.S. also holds the world record for the longest stretch of undeveloped barrier island, which happens to be located in a national park. Can you guess which park?
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Blog Post 5 Reasons the Rim of the Valley Should Be Protected National Parks Conservation Association and Nature Valley are working together to protect places in nature for everyone to enjoy – including land that comprises the Rim of the Valley in Los Angeles, California.
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Magazine Article The Writing on the Wall Stephen Alvarez travels the globe to photograph ancient rock art. His collection from the American Southwest includes images of Canyonlands, Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante.
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Spotlight An Insider's Guide to the Four Corners Situated on the Colorado Plateau amid ancient volcanic mountains, statuesque buttes and sharp canyons, the Four Corners region where New Mexico, Colorado, Utah and Arizona meet is rich in cultural and geological wonders.
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Blog Post Clean Water Is the Solution, Not the Problem Everyone has a right to clean water. Recently, 21 states—many located hundreds, if not thousands, of miles away from the Chesapeake—joined the Farm Bureau in efforts to derail the Chesapeake Bay Clean Water Blueprint, a plan for restoring clean water in Chesapeake streams and rivers that went into effect last year. Why? Because elected officials in these states are concerned that if the Chesapeake is successful, their states might have to reduce pollution and clean up their waterways, too.
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Magazine Article The Lay of the Land Meet Frederick Law Olmsted, the man who created Central Park and defined landscape architecture.
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Press Release Bowing to Political Pressure, Acadia Allows for Some E-Bike Use on Historic Carriage Roads "Without properly evaluating impacts, and without adequate time for the public process to help inform this decision, the park is opening itself to unnecessary visitor conflicts," NPCA's Lauren Cosgrove.
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Blog Post 7 for 7: How NPCA Is Improving Your Next Visit to Stonewall Stonewall National Monument in New York City was established seven years ago. NPCA is leading improvements at the site in seven ways — including the addition of a visitor center.
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NPCA at Work Save the Wild Natural Sounds of the Olympic Peninsula The Hear Our Olympics campaign seeks to protect the natural sounds of Olympic National Park, an ancient refuge from noise pollution in the Northwest.
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Blog Post Remembering the Little-Known Battle at One of the Best-Preserved Civil War Parks One hundred and fifty years ago today, in the normally quiet and peaceful countryside just east of Pea Ridge, Arkansas, the largest Civil War battle west of the Mississippi River started.
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Blog Post Help Preserve the Birthplace of the Modern LGBT Movement Join NPCA in the campaign to preserve Stonewall, birthplace of the modern LGBT movement, as the first LGBT-themed national park site.
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Blog Post The Darkest National Parks in the United States Last week, the International Dark-Sky Association named a new dark-sky park — the seventh site in the U.S. National Park System that now holds that honor. This coveted designation recognizes not only excellent stargazing opportunities, but also superior night-sky stewardship through responsible lighting, public education and community outreach.
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Blog Post The 9 Best Things We Saw Online During the Government Shutdown The federal government shutdown was an agonizing time for people around the country, including the thousands of Park Service staff, contractors, business owners, and tourists who love and depend on our national parks. If something positive came out of all this, it was that park closures reminded so many of us how much we truly value these wonderful places.
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Blog Post In Baltimore, the Red and the Blue Wave Together as One The flag at Fort McHenry reminds us what America stands for and how our nation has endured through decades of challenges.
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Press Release Pilot Program at Grand Teton National Park Informs Future of Composting in Teton County As part of the Zero-Landfill Initiative to reduce the amount of visitor-generated waste that national parks send to the landfills, Grand Teton National Park and Teton County are making great inroads with new composting waste removal efforts.
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Press Release EPA Proposes Stronger Methane Regulations to Combat the Climate Crisis and Protect the Health of National Parks and Communities If finalized, these methane regulations will better hold the oil and gas industry accountable to reduce methane pollution and address the climate crisis.
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Blog Post Taking Parks to the Air, with the Help of Some Hams How amateur radio enthusiasts are celebrating the National Park Service centennial by transmitting their adventures around the globe
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Blog Post Florida Students Discover the Beauty of the Everglades by Reviving a Long-Lost Community Park Too often when we think of national parks, we think of distant places enjoyed by tourists—yet millions of people in cities across the country are just a bus ride or a quick car trip away from these inspirational places. Part of what I do is help connect people—especially kids and young adults—to the nature and history that is right there in their own community.
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Blog Post Trivia Challenge: The Most Celebrated People in the Park System Q: National parks don’t just preserve spectacular landscapes and wildlife. They also honor the people who have changed history and influenced American culture, from the Wright brothers to Harriet Tubman to Eugene O’Neill. Two noteworthy people have more national park sites named after them than anyone else, with four sites each. Can you name these two celebrated historic figures?
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Magazine Article 'First, Tell the Truth' Once one of the largest slave markets in the South, Forks of the Road is now part of the National Park System. Is Natchez ready to excavate its troubled past?
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Blog Post After the Storms: 9 Signs of Hope on the Coast Above-normal hurricane activity is predicted for this summer. What does this mean for national parks? See how sustainable practices and technology-based solutions are strengthening them amid climate change.
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Blog Post Protecting the Minidoka Viewshed A proposed large-scale wind farm would mar the land surrounding Minidoka National Historic Site, considered a somber place for reflection by Japanese American survivors and descendants. NPCA and Friends of Minidoka are fighting the project.
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Blog Post The Most-Visited National Park Site in Alaska Summer is the traditional tourist season in Alaska. One national park site in the state attracts far more recreational visitors than any other. Can you guess which one?
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Blog Post Clearing the Air in the Smokies Great Smoky Mountains National Park is starting to win its decades-long fight against dangerous haze, adding hope to the park’s horizon.
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Magazine Article In the Balance In his 1968 book about Arches, "Desert Solitaire," Edward Abbey warned that tourists and cars would destroy the park he loved. Was he right?
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Blog Post Vacationing in the Last Frontier Planning your trip to Alaska can be a daunting task, but the effort is well worth it. A trip to the Last Frontier will provide you with a lifetime of memories.
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Press Release Conservation Groups Welcome the Return of the Grizzly to the North Cascades "Today marks a triumph for park wildlife with grizzly bears returning home to North Cascades National Park. The decision to restore the grizzly bear is a testament to America’s courage to give one of our wildest animals the freedom to rebound." –Theresa Pierno, NPCA's President and CEO
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Policy Update Position on H.R. 2406, the SHARE Act NPCA submitted the following position on H.R. 2406, the Sportsmen’s Heritage and Recreational Enhancement Act and proposed amendments prior to consideration of the bill on the House floor.
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Blog Post 110 Miles and Endless Possibilities at the Ohio & Erie Canalway Whether you like to hike, bicycle, run, ride horses, or explore 19th century history, you’ll find plenty to do at the Ohio & Erie Canalway National Heritage Area in northeast Ohio. Designated a national heritage area by Congress in 1996, the Ohio & Erie Canalway celebrates the nature and history of the canal from Cleveland to New Philadelphia.
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Blog Post FAQ: What the New Fee Increases Will Mean for Visitors and Parks The Trump administration has backed off its original plan to impose steep entrance fee increases at 17 national parks during peak visiting season, opting for more moderate increases at all the park sites that collect fees. Here’s what the plan will cost visitors and where those fees will go.
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Blog Post Capturing the Essence of the Everglades How does Mac Stone photograph such gorgeous images of the Everglades? We got tips, stories, and more in our new Q&A.
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Land Based Trip On the Road to Freedom: Understanding Civil Rights Through Our National Parks and Heritage Areas (WAITLIST ONLY) Join NPCA experts on this remarkable journey through some of the most significant sites associated with American civil rights. Along the way, we will have special opportunities to meet with NPCA partners, local historians and even some of the faithful activists known as foot soldiers who actively played a role in the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s. Throughout this transformative NPCA small-group tour, we’ll make our way from Birmingham to Memphis, immersing ourselves in the extraordinary stories and culture of this defining period in American history.
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Fact Sheet Friends of the National Parks: 113th Congress The National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) is pleased to award the ‘Friend of the National Parks’ Award to 52 Senators and 176 Representatives for their support of legislation that upheld the standards and integrity of the National Park System in the 113th Congress (2013-2014).
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Report Center for State of the Parks: Ninety Six National Historic Site In recognition of the important historical resources protected within Ninety Six National Historic Site, the National Parks Conservation Association’s Center for State of the Parks conducted an assessment to determine current conditions of the park’s resources.
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Fact Sheet Park Friends of the Colorado River NPCA's Colorado River Program, launched in 2011, harnesses the iconic power of national parks, their broad public and political support, their capacity to engage and educate, as well as protect and improve the health of the land and water within which national parks reside.
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The Secret Lives of Parks Hiking with Spoons An advocate in the Pacific Northwest turned a frustrating hike into a mission to make parks more welcoming for the millions of people with disabilities and chronic illnesses.
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Land Based Trip Bears, Whales and Glaciers: Lake Clark and Kenai Fjords National Parks (WAITLIST ONLY) Explore two of Alaska’s most stunning national parks — Kenai Fjords and Lake Clark — and experience some of North America’s wildest places. Incredible scenery abounds, from Alaska’s rugged coastline and tidewater glaciers to lush mountain valleys covered with colorful wildflowers. This trip is a wildlife lover’s delight — we’ll visit prime habitats to seek whales and bears, among other Alaskan icons. Your NPCA expert guides will lead you through hard-to-access and lesser-known areas of the parks, while providing in-depth information on the important role of NPCA and key local partners in the ongoing efforts to preserve Alaska’s Bear Coast.
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Podcast Episode Expecting the Unexpected Photographers and artists helped make the case for America’s national parks. Today, a new generation of artists-in-residence keeps the vital connection alive in sometimes surprising ways.
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Podcast Episode The Undiscovered Cave Explorers in a remote area of Grand Canyon National Park discovered a cave they believe human beings had never entered before. Inside this maze of limestone passageways, researchers found thousands of fossils that could change our understanding of one of the country’s quirkiest animals — bats!
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A Timeline Emmett Till and the Civil Rights Movement A timeline of key moments that changed America, from the 1950s to today.
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Interactive Map Visualizing “Build-Out” in the Upper Delaware River Corridor Envisioning the future of the Upper Delaware River Corridor
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Land Based Trip California’s Desert Landscape: Joshua Tree & Death Valley (REGISTRATION CLOSED) Explore the best of Death Valley and Joshua Tree national parks alongside NPCA experts and partners on this exciting journey through the Mojave Desert. Visit three large desert parks that NPCA helped to establish — Sand to Snow National Monument, Mojave National Preserve, and Avi Kwa Ame National Monument — and get a behind-the-scenes look at how NPCA works with local partners to protect these valuable places.
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Staff Olivia Porter Olivia joined the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) in May 2023. As the Southern Appalachian Landscape Project Director, Olivia is working to build a broad coalition focused on protecting and uplifting the unparalleled biodiversity and unique stories of the Southern Appalachian region. Her work is focused on conserving the landscape anchored by Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the Appalachian National Scenic Trail, and the Blue Ridge Parkway.
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Victory Yellowstone Is Worth More Than Gold Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke signs 20-year mineral withdrawal that will prevent new mining north of the national park.
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Small Ship Cruise Glacier Bay National Park Adventure Cruise Explore parts of Glacier Bay National Park that 99% of visitors never visit. On this eight-day small-ship cruise, you will get an up-close look at glaciers, old-growth forests, and sea life. Hike remote coastlines and take in diverse birding at South Marble Island. Here, you can search for wildlife like bears, sea lions, seals, porpoises and eagles. With a guest to crew ratio of 3:1, you will enjoy the comfort of having a robust onboard team, each with a fierce love of travel and appreciation for the wilderness, to make your journey unforgettable.
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NPCA at Work Protect Eagle Mountain from Dangerous Development Proposals Just outside the boundary of Joshua Tree National Park, the region known as Eagle Mountain has been at the center of controversy over inappropriate, harmful development proposals for years. Incorporating these lands into the park could help protect them from the latest threat, the Eagle Crest Pumped Storage Project. This massive energy development stands to pump millions of gallons of water from the fragile desert aquifer in and around the park.
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Park Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area This recreation area straddles the northern Wyoming and southern Montana borders, preserving approximately 68,000 acres between the Pryor and Bighorn mountain ranges. The park was established in 1966 following the construction of the Yellowtail Dam by the Bureau of Reclamation to preserve the area's diverse landscape, including the spectacular Bighorn Canyon and Bighorn Lake.
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Park Catoctin Mountain Park Visitors to Catoctin Mountain Park find streams replete with native trout; forests of maple, hickory, ash, oak and cherry trees; and air alive with the sounds of birds, chipmunks and other wildlife. The park’s beauty is a triumph of nature’s ability to heal: the area was devastated by logging and agriculture during the 18th and 19th centuries. Catoctin Mountain is also the site of the presidential retreat, Camp David.
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Park Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site Sacagawea, the Indian guide, joined the Lewis and Clark expedition from her home in the Knife River Indian Villages. This historic site celebrates the culture and tradition of the Northern Plains Indians.
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Staff Rachel Holmes Rachel Holmes joined NPCA in 2015 and serves as the organization’s Director of Special Events & Design. Based in the headquarters office in Washington, D.C., Rachel focuses on creating and implementing an overall vision for NPCA’s largest events, including Salute to the Parks and New York Gala.
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Report Making Connections: Linking Outdoor Recreation, Open Space & History Across the country, nature-based outdoor recreation is exploding in popularity. With a rapidly growing population, expanding suburban footprint, and growing demand for natural areas for recreation, the localities around Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park face both an urgent challenge and an enormous opportunity to leverage existing investments in protected lands in ways that will make this area a fantastic place to live–and to visit–for generations to come.
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Gail Dethloff Gail Dethloff is former director of NPCA's Center for the State of the Parks.
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Victory No More Hogwash in Buffalo National River The state of Arkansas is closing an industrial hog farm and will prohibit future large-scale confined animal feeding operations in this protected watershed.
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Report North Las Vegas Council Meeting Statement Statement of Lynn Davis Program Manager, Nevada Field Office National Parks Conservation Association before a meeting of the North Las Vegas City Council regarding Tule Springs.
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Park John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway John D. Rockefeller Memorial Parkway bridges the gap between Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks with scenic drives and outdoor activities year round.
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Park Old Spanish National Historic Trail The Old Spanish Trail is a historic pack-mule trade route that winds through beautiful yet arduous terrain from Santa Fe to Los Angeles.
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NPCA at Work Don’t Drain Our Desert Water NPCA and our allies are working to stop a private company from building a harmful water-mining project near several beloved national park sites in California
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Kristin Henderson Kristin Henderson is a writer based in Washington, D.C.
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Garret Visser As Northern Rockies' Yellowstone Wildlife and Outreach Fellow, Garret is passionate about public lands protection and advocacy.
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