Tag Archive for the 'national park week' Tag

Five New Mobile Apps Premiere During National Park Week

April 17th, 2013 at 4:59 pm by NPPC
In honor of National Park Week (Apr. 22 – 26), Chimani – a leader developing national park mobile applications – will release a new park app each day of the week.
The new Chimani mobile apps include Grand Teton National Park, Glacier National Park, Olympic National Park, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, and Bryce Canyon National Park. These, as well as all other Chimani apps, will be available for FREE on Apple iTunes, Google Play, and Amazon AppStore starting Monday, April 22 – the first day of National Park Week.
Each app delivers constantly updated content, detailed maps, ranger-led event schedules, auto touring points of interest, hiking details, restroom locations, free shuttle bus schedules, and breaking news alerts. Users can also view sunset and sunrise times for the most memorable scenic overlooks, access tide schedules along the coast, review lodging options, and much, much more. And, each Chimani app is designed to work without a cell phone signal.

Chimani’s new Viewport tool – an augmented reality viewer – available as a $1.99 in-app purchase – allows users to pan around scenic outlooks and identify points of interest that are often left undiscovered.  Because cell phone signals are poor and non-existent in most national parks, Chimani apps are designed to function without any type of data connection. This also applies to the new Chimani augmented reality viewer.

 

New to Chimani are topographic maps based on data from Openstreetmaps.org, which allows Chimani to produce rich topographic maps that are updated monthly with the most recent data available.  Chimani users are also able to actively contribute to the national park community and help build better geo-spatial data for each of the parks.  Kerry Gallivan, co-founder of Chimani said, “An example of this is Openstreetmaps.org’s user “Tomthepom” who spent winter meticulously editing park data within Grand Canyon making the data found within the Chimani maps the most detailed and up-to-date available anywhere - digital or print.”  Kerry added that “Many visitors don’t realize how often trail data changes, so having access to the latest details helps enhance the park experience.”

For the Android versions of the apps, Chimani has introduced a beta feature of a social-sharing tool that uses Near Field Communication (NFC) technology to connect with other Chimani users and share contact information. “We modeled this after the tradition on the Appalachian Trail of hikers exchanging something with people they meet along the trail,” said Gallivan. By touching two Android phones together, the users profile is exchanged using NFC. No cell phone signal is required and when the exchange occurs within a particular park, a unique badge is unlocked between users as a bonus.

Chimani now offers a suite apps from 14 of the most visited national parks in the United States, including: Acadia National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, Cape Cod National Seashore, Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Glacier National Park, Grand Canyon National Park, Grand Teton National Park, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Olympic National Park, Rocky Mountain National Park, Yellowstone National Park, Yosemite National Park, Zion National Park and its National Parks app - which is a virtual passport tool for all National Park Service units.

Each of the national park apps deliver constantly updated content, ranger-led event schedules, auto touring points of interest, hiking details, restroom locations, free shuttle bus schedules, and breaking news alerts. Users can also view sunset and sunrise times for the most memorable scenic overlooks, access tide schedules along the coast, review lodging options, and more.

The Chimani apps are available for iPhone, iPad, Amazon Kindle and Android devices. They can be downloaded directly fromApple’s iTunes App Store, Google Play and Amazon AppStore (keyword: “chimani”).  Founded in 2010, Chimani apps have totaled over 450,000 downloads and rank #1 in each of the major app marketplaces for individual parks. For more information visit http://www.chimani.com or view the app demo filmed in the Grand Canyon National Park: https://vimeo.com/58183356

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CNN Travel Reveals Hidden Treasures

April 20th, 2012 at 12:00 pm by NPPC

In advance of National Park Week (Apr. 21 – 29), CNN Travel’s Katia Hetter describes hidden treasures to be found in the national parks, including a place inhabited for 5,000 years in North America, the longest cave in the world and the longest stretch of undeveloped barrier islands in the world.   CLICK HERE to read her article.

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National Parks and Partners Prepare for National Park Week

April 12th, 2012 at 2:52 pm by NPPC

America’s National Parks and their partners, the businesses, gateway communities, states and organizations that support and benefit from the parks, are preparing for National Park Week (Apr. 21 – 29) with special events and offers.  As the NPPC receives offers from these partners, they’ll be posted on this site under the Offers tab.

Many parks are commemorating the week with special events.  Here is a sampling:

Park volunteer, Paul Young and Rangers Robert Gutierrez and Jeremiah Hockett rest by one of Whiskeytown NRA's waterfalls.

 

Whiskeytown National Recreation Area near Redding, Calif. is encouraging park visitors to visit four of the park’s waterfalls and take rubbings of the bronze plaques at each fall, then return the rubbings to the park visitor center for a special reward, while supplies last.  Throughout National Park Week, special ranger-led hikes will visit Whiskeytown (and Brandy Creek falls will be offered.  On the first weekend, there’ll be an open house at a local environmental school with pond exploration and other environmental adventures, and an event honoring children and those who make a difference in their lives.  The following Saturday, a Whole Earth and Watershed Festival occurs in nearby Redding at City Hall where staff from Lassen Volcanic NP and Whiskeytown NRA will transform kids (with a dash of outdoor fun) into instant Junior Rangers on Junior Ranger Day.

Shenandoah National Park plans these happenings:

  • April 21 – National Junior Ranger Day — a full day of activities for the entire family.
  • April 24 – Spirit Night — Spirit Night at Sticks Kebob Shops in Charlottesville and Richmond, Virginia, between 4:00 and 7:00 pm. Mention Shenandoah National Park Trust to the cashier and 10% of the bill will be donated to it.

Roosevelt-Vanderbilt National Historic Sites is sponsoring a “Folk to Fork” Garden Party and Concert to benefit gardening teens.  Included are local foods,The Bandana Splits, a retro style female vocals, Singer -songwriter  Benji Cossa, and the Garden Boutique by the Roosevelt-Vanderbilt Historical Association. Tickets must be purchased in advance at http://beatrixfarrandgarden.org/events.html or call 845-554-7482 for more information.

To find a park in your area and all that’s planned there, CLICK HERE.

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Popularity Breeds Scalping

April 18th, 2011 at 4:56 pm by NPPC

Years ago, when I was responsible for hotel concession communications in Yosemite National Park, a fellow called from New York asking if he could reserve every room at The Ahwahnee hotel, every day of the year.  He had tried to make a reservation and found all rooms had already been reserved.  When he asked how much in advance the hotel’s rooms were made available for sale, the reservation clerk had said a year and a day in advance, which caused him to attempt to corner the market on Ahwahnee rooms.  To his astonishment, we would not sell all the hotel’s rooms to him.  As a trader in New York, he was used to buying large amounts of the supply of desired commodities, then reselling them at a profit, but national parks and their concessioners protect the public’s right to fair and equitable access.

Today, Marjie Lundstrom of the Sacramento Bee (CLICK HERE to read the story) reported that scalpers have been reserving blocks of campground reservations in Yosemite Valley, then reselling them at greatly increased prices.  The NPS will certainly make changes to the reservation process to stop the practice, but it points out the lengths that some people will go to corner the market on our national parks, particularly those with very limited numbers of campsites or hotel rooms as occurs in Yosemite Valley.  Unfortunately, it is park visitors who end up paying more or miss seeing the parks they’d hoped to visit.

John Poimiroo

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Become a National Geographic Photographer During National Park Week

April 15th, 2011 at 8:35 pm by NPPC

Bumpass Hell, Lassen Volcanic National Park (John Poimiroo)

The National Geographic is inviting national park visitors to submit their best photos of national parks during National Park Week (Apr. 16 – 24) and be eligible to have their photos posted on the National Geographic website.

The National Geographic reports, “Grab your camera, explore a park, and send us your photos. Submit your photos (tagged #parkwk) to My Shot, and we’ll put together a gallery of our favorites.  Follow this link to Submit Your Photos
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Interior Secretary Salazar Announces 2011 Fee-Free Days

January 5th, 2011 at 11:03 am by NPPC

WASHINGTON – Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar today announced that the National Park Service will waive admission fees on 17 selected dates throughout 2011 and encouraged all Americans to make a New Year’s resolution to visit a national park this year.

“Many people have made resolutions to spend more quality time with loved ones and to get outdoors and unplug in 2011,” said Secretary Salazar. “There’s no better place than a national park to help keep those resolutions. Parks offer superb recreational opportunities, making them perfect places to enjoy our beautiful land, history and culture, and nurture a healthy lifestyle.”

Salazar noted that with 394 national parks throughout the country, most Americans live within a few hours of a park, making them places for easy and affordable vacations any time of the year.

“In these tough economic times, our fee-free days will give families many opportunities to enjoy our nation’s heritage and natural beauty in meaningful and affordable ways,” he said.

The 2011 fee-free dates will be the weekend of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (January 15-17), National Park Week (April 16-24), the first day of summer (June 21), National Public Lands Day (September 24), and the weekend of Veterans Day (November 11-13).

The first fee free days are centered on the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday.

“Visitors can literally walk in Dr. King’s footsteps at national parks such as Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site in Georgia, Selma to Montgomery National Historic Trail in Alabama, or the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC,” said National Park Service Director Jonathan Jarvis. “They are just a few of the dozens of national parks which trace the history of African Americans.”

“Several parks will also honor Dr. King by hosting volunteer projects for the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service on January 17,” added Jarvis. “It is the only federal holiday observed as a national day of service – a day on, not a day off.”

Many national park concessions will also offer discounts on fee free days, saving visitors money on food, lodging, tours, and souvenirs. More information is available at http://www.nps.gov/findapark/feefreeparks.htm.

CLICK FEE-FREE OFFERS at the top of this page, to be taken to some of the many offers being offered at or near national parks during fee-free days.

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Postal Service Salutes Scenic American Landscapes

April 22nd, 2010 at 2:21 pm by NPPC

A new series of postcards issued by the U.S. Postal Service on April 20 gives tribute to America’s national parks, The Washington Post reported this week.  The postcards include impressive photographs of grand American landscapes.  The release of the stamped postcards and a book called “The Grandest Things: Our National Parks in Words, Images, and Stamps,” coincides with National Park Week, which runs April 17-25.  CLICK HERE to read more about the new postcards and to see images that appear on them.

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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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NP Week: Hundreds of NP Week Events at NPS.Gov

April 9th, 2010 at 9:40 am by NPPC

Hundreds of National Park Week events, from Acadia to Yosemite, can be reviewed online at nps.gov.  The events include such varied happenings as guided hikes, junior ranger programs, service projects, interpretive programs, and even a moonlit canoe trip.  To find an event near you, CLICK HERE.

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