Tag Archive for the 'national park events' Tag

The Mountain Doesn’t Care If You’re Black

October 4th, 2012 at 8:35 am by NPPC

To inspire youth of color—and particularly African American youth—to get outside, get active, and become stewards of our wild places, the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) will run an expedition with African American participants who will attempt to summit Denali, the highest peak in North America, in June, 2013, the 100th anniversary of the first ascent of the peak. This journey will involve a group of role models in the African American outdoor community learning and using valuable leadership skills, including expedition behavior, communication, and tolerance for adversity and uncertainty, to work together toward achieving a common goal.

As one participant says in the following preview video, “The mountain doesn’t care if you’re Black,” but the example set by these black mountaineers could inspire a new generation to care about the outdoors.  See more by playing this video.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYSByxcCSFE&feature=player_embedded#![/youtube]

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National Get Outdoors Day

June 7th, 2012 at 10:26 am by NPPC

Sunset Over Everglades National Park (John Anderson | Dreamstime)

National Parks are getting people outdoors on National Get Outdoors Day, Saturday, June 9, with Fee-Free Admissions and special events.

At the Roosevelt-Vanderbilt National Historic Sites, hike at least five of the Hyde Park Trails and receive a free Walkabout 2012 patch.  The hiking experience is enhanced through six audio podcast tours, downloadable website at http://www.nps.gov/hofr (click on “photos and multimedia”) or call 845-475-3819 to access cell phone tours.

Mammoth Cave National Park is offering free Discovery and Mammoth Passage cave tours on Sat., June 9.  “It is time to get outdoors and enjoy the beautiful Kentucky landscapes, above and below ground,” said Park Superintendent Patrick Reed. “A walk in the woods or the cave is refreshing to the mind and body.”  Visitors must pick up the free tickets at the visitor center ticket office prior to tour times.   The self-guided Discovery tour runs between 9:30 a.m. and 3 p.m.; a free Mammoth Passage tour will depart from the visitor center at 4:45 p.m.

At Gettysburg National Military Park, living history reenactors of the U.S. Sharpshooters will present demonstrations and encampments atop Little Round Top on June 9.

Everglades National Park’s daily guided walk on the Anhinga Trail (10:30 a.m.) is one way to experience the “glades” in summer, though insect repellent is advised.  Less “buggy” outings include boat tours out of Flamingo, the Gulf Coast, and Tram tours at Shark Valley or visiting Dry Tortugas by ferry or sea plane from Key West.  Infamous Fort Jefferson at Dry Tortugas was built to defend the southern coast against the British Navy in the Gulf.  A guided tour visits its batteries, then snorkel and seen all types of colorful sea life.

Gadling reports that, “In addition to fee-free entry to the national parks, there are 122 official National Get Outdoors Day locations spread out across the U.S. Each of these locations will play host to a number of scheduled events throughout the day and they offer further opportunities to celebrate the occasion. For instance, those living near Highlands Ranch, Colorado, can join the First Annual Backcountry Community Campout, while residents of New Jersey may want to visit Field Station: Dinosaurs to get in on the fun.”

President Barack Obama has proclaimed June as Great Outdoors Month and encourages all Americans to share in the natural splendor of which we are all proud inheritors.  Additional Fee-Free Days in 2012 include September 29 (National Public Lands Day) and November 10 – 12 (Veterands Day Weekend).

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First Fee-Free Days Of 2012 To Occur This Weekend

January 13th, 2012 at 12:51 pm by NPPC

The first Fee-Free Day of 2012 occurs this weekend, with free admission to all national parks.  With mild weather predicted across much of the United States, areas of parks that would not normally be accessible can be reached, making for a sunny and dry Martin Luther King Holiday Weekend to visit the parks.

Several communities and businesses in and around the national parks are offering special offers and discounts on the weekend.  Though, with fewer park facilities and services open in winter,  they are not as widespread as found later in the year.  Nonetheless, check with local destination marketing organizations for deals and enjoy these Fee-Free Days.  Fee-Free Days in 2012 include:

  • January 14-16 – Martin Luther King Jr. weekend
  • April 21-29 – National Park Week
  • June 9 – Get Outdoors Day
  • September 29 – National Public Lands Day
  • November 10-12 – Veterans Day weekend

Here’s some of what’s being written about Fee-Free Days:

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NPS to Waive Admission Fees on 17 Days in 2012

October 17th, 2011 at 10:48 am by NPPC

WASHINGTON – To encourage Americans to explore America’s natural beauty, rich history and culture, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar today announced that the National Park Service will waive admission fees on 17 days in 2012.

“From Independence Hall to our newest national park, the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, our national parks tell the story of America, from the beauty of our land to our struggle for freedom and justice,” Secretary Salazar said. “Whether or not it’s during one of the 17 fee free days next year, I encourage everyone to visit a park near them and enjoy the remarkable landscapes and historical and cultural sites that are unique to our great country.”

Salazar emphasized that our national parks and public lands serve as an economic engine for many local communities, supports jobs and driving tourism. Recreation in national parks, refuges, and other public lands fueled nearly $55 billion in economic activity and supported 440,000 jobs in 2009.

The fee free dates for 2012 are January 14 to 16 (Martin Luther King, Jr. weekend), April 21 to 29 (National Park Week), June 9 (Get Outdoors Day), September 29 (National Public Lands Day), and November 10 to 12 (Veterans Day weekend). More information is available at http://www.nps.gov/findapark/feefreeparks.htm.

In addition, the Bureau of Land Management, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the U.S. Forest Service will waive their entrance and standard amenity fees January 14 to 16, June 9, September 29, and November 10 to 12.   The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will also have a fee free day on October 14 in recognition of National Wildlife Refuge Week. The Bureau of Reclamation will waive standard amenity fees on September 29 and November 12.

Many park-related hotels, restaurants, gift shops, and tour operators will offer specials on fee free days.

“The majority of national parks don’t have an entrance fee and those that do charge a maximum of $25 a week for an entire family” said National Park Service Director Jonathan B. Jarvis. “We realize there are additional expenses when visiting a park so many associated businesses will have discounts and enhancements on the fee free days.”

“One of the great things about a national park vacation is it can be as economical or luxurious as desired,” added Jarvis. “A visit can be a few hours or several days. One could pack their lunch or eat at a snack bar, cafeteria, or gourmet dining room. One could sleep under the stars in the backcountry or stay in a campground, motel, or majestic lodge. There is something for everyone at each of the country’s 395 national parks. So mark the dates, grab a friend or family member – especially one that has never been to a park before – and come visit one of your national parks.”

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National Kids to Parks Day – May 20

May 19th, 2011 at 7:37 pm by NPPC

The National Park Service and the National Park Trust will launch the first National Kids to Parks Day on the National Mall, Fri., May 20.  After a kick-off ceremony, 500 students will rotate through activity stations that promote physical fitness and environmental conservation.

More than 150 mayors across the country have signed proclamations declaring May 21 as National Kids to Parks Day in their city or town.  They are encouraging families to explore a local, state, or national park and spend quality time in America’s great outdoors.

National Kids to Parks Day is endorsed by First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move Outside initiative, the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Youth in the Great Outdoors initiative, America’s State Parks, American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), National Education Association (NEA), Children’s National Medical Center, Boy Scouts of America, Girl Scouts of the USA, the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports & Nutrition and the National Environmental Education Foundation.

Friday’s event occurs at the NE/NW Quadrant of the Washington Monument Grounds at 15th and Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC, beginning at 10 a.m. and continuing to noon.

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Support Needed For Miami Outing

March 24th, 2011 at 8:47 am by NPPC

As another sign of the times, an organization that has taken under-served residents in the Miami region to national parks for the past 11 years has lost its transportation sponsor necessary for the group to visit Biscayne National Park on Saturday.

Cash donations of $5,000 from the National Park Conservation Association and $4,800 from the National Park Trust, in addition to in-kind donations of commemorative t-shirts and water fell $5,300 short of being able to expose the group of some 850 minority residents of the Miami area to the park. $1,600 of that sum is needed for transportation.

More about “Operation Green Leaves,” the group seeking support, is found at http://www.oglhaiti.com. Contributions can be made to Operation Green Leaves by contacting Nadine Patrice at npatrice2010@gmail.com.

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NP Market Research Summit Stimulates Discussion

January 14th, 2011 at 12:05 pm by NPPC

Yosemite National Park

Over 70 people attended the first National Park Market Research Summit in Yosemite National Park, Jan. 6 – 8. Participants at the workshop included representatives from the National Park Service, numerous universities, gateway communities, park concessioners and park-related businesses, state park and tourism entities, non-profit cooperating associations, individuals and private research companies for the purpose of reviewing current social science research, determining what’s missing and recommending additional studies that help the NPS better serve park visitors.

Sponsored by the non-profit National Parks Promotion Council, the Summit was welcomed and assisted by Yosemite National Park and its concessioner, DNC Parks and Resorts at Yosemite.

Summaries of several of the presentations given at the Summit are posted on this site under the heading “Market Research” and a summary of findings will be made available to NPPC members in coming weeks.

One of the significant presentations at the Summit (they were all exceptional) was made by Greg Dunn, executive vice president at YPartnership,  who spoke of his firm’s 2010 Portrait of the American Traveler Survey.  This survey of 2,500 active leisure travelers found that  “Great Recession” has permanently altered travel attitudes of many Americans — especially Baby Boomers — who are now more focused on value and are waiting longer to commit to travel plans. These travelers use the Internet to be knowledgeable purchasers of leisure travel.

The Y Partnership found that today’s travelers are happier than they were ten years ago — 80% of these travelers report that economic adversity has prompted a new focus on priorities. They are proudly cost-conscious.  Dunn labeled them as believing that “cheaper is chic-er.”

Florida and California are top destinations for park-interested travelers, with 33% of these travelers expressing interest in traveling abroad.  And, while American travelers are environmentally consciousness, they show very limited willingness to pay extra for “green travel.”

The Y Partnership’s study found that of prime national park travelers:

  • 73% say life has become too complicated.
  • Twice as many have an interest in spas, than golf.
  • 81% report planning a vacation around a “life event” – a birthday, anniversary, wedding or retirement – to create memories.
  • National parks rank high as a dream destination (#2, at 66%), because they meet key traveler goals such as “beauty” (84%) and “safety” (82%).
  • On the other hand, a key goal for many travelers is something new – and national parks rarely highlight new offerings.

Research findings such as these help national park managers and related communities, businesses and organizations more effectively focus their communications to visitor interests and motivations.  More about The Summit will appear on this blog, when notes are finished being compiled.  So, RSS this site for updates and more news.

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2011 Fee-Free Offers Now Available

January 10th, 2011 at 10:37 am by NPPC

Crater Lake National Park

The coming Martin Luther King weekend is the first opportunity to receive free admission to our nation’s national parks, as part of Fee-Free Days in 2011.  Many national parks are open on the weekend and businesses at and near these national parks are offering discounts and special values.  To see some of the offers, click on FEE-FREE OFFERS on the green horizontal ribbon above.

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Interior Secretary Salazar Announces Additional Fee-Free Days

April 30th, 2010 at 4:44 pm by NPPC

Fort Marion National Monument

Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar has announced a schedule of more free admission days to many of the public lands managed by the Interior Department.  All national parks, national wildlife refuges, and many areas managed by the Bureau of Land Management will offer free admission on June 5-6, August 14-15, September 25 (Public Lands Day) and November 11 (Veterans Day).  These dates are in addition to the previous Fee-Free period coinciding with National Park Week which occurred in April.

Special offers made available for these days will be posted on this site (see Fee-Free Offers above) and at www.parkpartners.org/Special-Offers-for-2010.html.

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Additional Fee Free Days Announced on Earth Day

April 22nd, 2010 at 9:48 am by NPPC

To mark the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day and to celebrate the launch of the Obama Administration’s America’s Great Outdoors initiative, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar today announced a schedule of free admission days to many of the lands managed by Interior.

All national parks, national wildlife refuges, and many areas managed by the Bureau of Land Management will offer free admission on June 5-6, August 14-15, September 25 (Public Lands Day), and November 11 (Veterans Day).  These dates are in addition to the previously announced free admission at all 392 national parks April 17-25 as part of the celebration of National Park Week.

“President Obama has made connecting Americans to the outdoors and our history a fundamental goal of the conservation initiative announced at Friday’s White House Conference on America’s Great Outdoors,” said Salazar.

“The Interior Department was proud to host that conference and will be even prouder to host Americans who want to get outdoors to visit their public lands.”

America’s public lands offer opportunities to engage in healthy, outdoor activities, whether for a few hours or a few days.  More details about fee free days and activities are available for:

·         National parks at  http://www.nps.gov/findapark/feefreeparks.htm

·         National wildlife refuges at http://www.fws.gov/refuges/

·         Bureau of Land Management areas at http://www.blm.gov/wo/st/en/prog/Recreation/BLM_Fee_Free_Days.html

“What better way to celebrate this Earth Day than to make it easier for all Americans to experience the breathtaking landscapes, amazing creatures, and the stories that make up our shared  heritage,” added Salazar.  “By getting outdoors, we remind ourselves of our blessings and of the responsibility we all have to pass these lands on to our children and our grandchildren.”

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