FEATURED PARK: New River Gorge National River,
West Virginia
Almost as striking as the 53-mile stretch of the New River that comprises part of New River Gorge National River's 70,000+ acres is the deep gorge surrounding the water, carved over centuries and averaging 1,000 feet in depth. The river is a top destination for white-water rafters, and the park also boasts excellent bird-watching, rock climbing, mountain biking, and wildlife viewing. What's more, this month is the perfect time to visit: NPCA is helping to organize the area's first-ever New River Festival on August 10-12, and proceeds will benefit the New River Alliance, a local coalition facilitated by NPCA that works to improve the river's water quality.
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Take Action to Protect Our Desert Skies!
Last month, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) took a big step toward living up to its name—it proposed cleaning up air pollution from three Arizona power plants. These old, highly polluting plants damage the crisp blue skies at parks like the Grand Canyon, Petrified Forest, and Capitol Reef. To finalize this significant victory for park and human health, EPA needs to hear from you. The proposal is now open for public comment—tell the agency you support cleaner air in our desert parks!
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Have You Heard the One About the Poacher and the Bootleg Lady?
National parks are full of amazing characters; when we preserve these great places, we also save their stories. In the case of one couple who lived in what would later become Glacier National Park, it's a colorful story indeed. Learn about the poacher and the bootleg lady, Dan and Josephine Doody, and how NPCA recently helped find funding to secure the homestead that had long been a missing piece in Glacier's history.
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New Beginnings for Yellowstone's Pronghorn
The first few weeks in a pronghorn antelope's life are the most vulnerable. Once the animal develops its powerful leg muscles, it can outrun any predator, but while they are very young, they must lay motionless to stay safe. Despite these challenges, NPCA's field work to improve pronghorn migration areas around Yellowstone has made a visible difference in the animal's quest for new habitat—and fawns are now taking refuge where they haven't been seen in decades.
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New Report: Crown of the Continent Good for Business
The area on the Montana-Canada border known as the Crown of the Continent attracts a thriving business community to the region. NPCA asked business owners and entrepreneurs a simple question: "Why do you choose to live and work in the Crown?" NPCA's new report, Pathways to Prosperity, explores how the region's natural beauty and quality of life give it an edge in a competitive economic environment.
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Maryland's "Ritchie Boys" Gather on Anniversary of Top-Secret School
NPCA recently helped commemorate the 70th anniversary of Camp Ritchie, a top-secret World War II military intelligence school. Dozens of veterans known as "Ritchie Boys" participated in the symposium honoring their little-known work interrogating German prisoners during the war. The events highlighted the role of NPS in preserving and interpreting America's military history.
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Six Tips to Discover New National Parks
Sure, you love the national parks--but with 397 diverse places to choose from, there's even more to love than most people realize. Get out and plan a learning adventure with our top six tips for exploring new places in the National Park System!
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NPCA PARKSCAPES
Utah Canyon Lands
Experience the beauty of Bryce Canyon and Zion National Parks in April 2013. Spring-fed creeks, deep canyons, hoodoos, spires, arches, and towers await your visit.
» Get Trip Details
Photo: Woman hiking in the Narrows of Zion National Park, Utah © Geir-Olav Lyngfjell/Dreamstime
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Make a Natural Difference
The J.M. Smucker Company and its Adams®, Laura Scudder's®, and Smucker's® Natural Peanut Butter brands have made a combined donation of $100,000 to NPCA. Help them donate another $100,000. Ends April 2013.
» Learn More
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SUBSCRIBE TODAY!
National Parks magazine is an exclusive benefit of membership in NPCA
» Subscribe Now
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QUOTE OF THE MONTH
"I visited my first national park when I was two. Our family didn't have much money, but we had a World War II Army surplus tent, an ice chest, and some flashlights. We camped every summer in the Smokies and visited national parks wherever we went with our tent. … I would not trade those memories and experiences for anything. Walking along the trails, splashing in cold creeks, riding a bike along a scenic route, watching sunsets from the top of a mountain—these are experiences that all children should be able to access."
-Marsha Clesceri, NPCA member
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