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Tag Archive for the 'nps' Tag
NPS to Waive Admission Fees on 17 Days in 2012
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.”
National Park Foundation Leads Effort to Honor Memory of Flight 93
The National Park Foundation is leading an effort to raise funds for the Flight 93 National Memorial to be erected in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
United Airlines Flight 93 was the fourth aircraft on 9/11/01 to be commandeered by terrorists. Its destination was to be the U.S. Capitol or The White House. However, heroic passengers aware of the other hijacked planes prevented that from occurring by attacking the terrorists while in flight. During that process, Flight 93 crashed at the site of the memorial at 10:03 a.m. Dedication of the new Flight 93 National Memorial will occur on Sept. 11, 2011.
To learn more about the Flight 93 National Memorial and to support its construction, CLICK HERE
NPS Town Halls Inspire a Call to Action
National Park Service employees and partners gathered at sites and parks across the nation on Aug. 25, to participate in a national town hall meeting led by NPS Director Jon Jarvis.
The Town Hall meetings included presentation of highlights from ”Call to Action: Preparing for a Second Century of Stewardship and Engagement,” a report being issued by the National Park Service that describes the challenges facing the national parks as they approach the 100th anniversary of their founding in 2016. The report calls all who work in or support the national parks to commit to concrete actions that advance the mission of the Service.
Broad themes, supported by specific actions are described, including: Connecting People to Parks, Advancing the NPS Education Mission, Preserving America’s Special Places, and Enhancing Professional and Organizational Excellence.
The complete report can be read at: CLICK HERE.
National Park Passports – Encouraging Exploration and Loyalty
Passports to the national parks are a fun and engaging way for visitors (especially kids) to explore and discover the wonders to be experienced within the national parks. They provide not only an informational memento of park visits, but encouragement to visit more of the parks. Here’s a video describing how the program works.
Become a National Geographic Photographer During National Park Week
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
