This week 'Into the Great Unknown' is featuring four non-profits close to my heart, each with ties to protecting and preserving National Parks for future generations. Our parks are severely underfunded. Grand Teton had its budget cut by millions, millions needed for road repair, wildlife protections, repairing park structures. Our parks are a core foundation of this nation, a place where families and friends spend their most memorable vacations, bonding over a campfire or the wonder of seeing Old Faithful erupt. Nature is our gateway to adventure. National Parks preserve our ecosystems so our water remains clean and we have open spaces. The parks need our help now more than ever. Whether you contribute with a monetary amount, or decide to spend a summer volunteering with NPS or a Park Association, write letters to your congressmen requesting that they fund our parks without 'political bribery.' This land is your land, take steps to explore and protect it!
National Park Foundation:
The official charity partner of the National Parks, the National Parks Foundation works "to enrich national parks and programs through private support, safeguarding our heritage and inspiring generations of national park enthusiasts." They fund critical projects that the federal parks budget does not provide for or cannot fully cover, from trail maintenance, conservation and preservation projects, educational tools, green fleet bicycles to sponsoring shuttles. The NPF is there to help enhance tourist experiences and protecting the land for future generations - something that is a bigger threat, with encroaching or habitat by development, warming/extreme weather trends and oil spills. http://www.nationalparks.org/our-work
Ways to help NPF: You can give a donation, get a membership or simply buy something cute like an NPF tee-shirt from their online store. http://www.nationalparks.org/support-parks
Follow them on facebook for the latest work projects, AMAZING pictures of our parks and tips for planning your vacation into the great unknown of America's National Parks: https://www.facebook.com/nationalpark
National Parks Conservation Association:
Mission of NPCA: http://www.npca.org/about-us/
"Since 1919, the nonpartisan National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) has been the leading voice of the American people in protecting and enhancing our National Park System’s most significant lands and landmarks"
NPCA works to actively protect our parks, working for the best interest of the parks and supporting programs to protect and enhance park experiences (education, preservation, research...everything they can do to ensure the conservation of our treasured parks).
NPCA is one of my favorite Park non-profits because they do such a wide variety of action in the park system and work, as well as being an advocate for the parks in a non-partisan way - they have a great website full of information about their projects, tourist vacation tips for the parks and a long list of ways that you can get involved in our parks and donate to the cause.
Ways to Give:
Volunteer, get a membership to NPCA, make a one time donation or monthly donation, sign their petitions...find out ways you can be an advocate with NPCA on their website.
Yellowstone Association:
Yellowstone's hotels and gift shops are primarily run by for-profit concessionaires, and only about one percent to ten percent of that income goes back into the parks. There are pluses and severe negatives of this system as it stands, but it is what it is. That is why I appreciate the service the Yellowstone Association provides in the park. They operate gift shops in Park Visitor Centers - with the money going directly towards park projects. In addition to Yellowstone Association stores, they operate educational and science tour packages throughout the year: including wildlife viewing, wolf seminars and retreats and more. The Yellowstone Association funds critical park needs and their volunteers work to on various park projects.
Ways to Give:
The best way to give to the Yellowstone Association is to purchase a membership. There are different membership levels, each offering rewards such as discounts in the park, a newsletter and more. This money goes directly into the park and works to ensure its protection for generations.
You can also shop in their online store - where they offer numerous YNP books and calendars.
If you are adventurous, contact the Yellowstone Association about spending a summer volunteering in the park, or working in one of their stores. You'll make a big difference and receive the gift of exploration, living and working in the world's first national park.
Grand Teton Association:
I spend summers in the majesty of Yellowstone and Grand Teton. I was made aware on a recent Grand Teton trip that the park is in serious need of funds for critical park projects. Grand Teton Association helps fill the gap. As a non-profit concessionaire in the park, purchases in their store are used for park outreach and preservation. While membership and other donations go directly to park investments. A membership gives you a discount to the park stores (you can shop online) and you know you are investing into a gift that will give back countless times over - the natural majesty and serenity of chiseled, windswept Grand Teton National Park.
Other ways to get involved/Non-Profits:
- Most every park has a non-profit 'association' attached that act in similar ways to the YA and GRTE. An internet search or call to the park offices will give you insight on how to give to the parks you treasure most.
- The Sierra Club - join your local chapter - they have outings and activities, fundraisers to help local parks in need. Membership only runs around $20
- Volunteer with the NPS or other park organizations.
- Write letters to congress, sign petitions, use your voice to be an advocate for our parks.
- Buy a National Parks Pass ($80) - the money helps fund the parks and you get in all national parks for free or a discounted rate!
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