FEATURED PARK: Padre Island National Seashore, Texas
Dunes, lagoons, tidal flats, and coastal prairie… Padre Island’s 70 miles of protected shoreline offer a surprising diversity of terrain. For bird lovers, early spring is one of the best times to plan a trip: The park’s location on the Central Flyway makes it an ideal stop for watching the winged migration overhead.
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Stop the Cuts: Keep Parks Open
Sick of hearing about the sequester? Mad that our elected officials allowed these hefty federal budget cuts to happen? So are we. NPCA has continued to fight these draconian austerity measures because the effects could be serious—to parks, jobs, and countless services that Americans rely on every day. The impact on parks could mean staff shortages, shorter hours, fewer recreational programs, and even closures of parts of some parks. It’s not too late for lawmakers to put a plan in place that will safeguard national parks from the worst cuts.
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Victory: Saving Beauty, One Ranch at a Time
A little more of the Arizona landscape will be saved for future generations thanks to a successful effort to purchase a 4,265-acre inholding at Petrified Forest National Park. Inholdings are privately owned lands entirely within national park boundaries that often become sites for trophy homes and other incompatible development. Now, the public will get to enjoy this valuable ranchland and its stunning views of the Painted Desert.
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One Enthusiast’s "Love Letter to the Parks"
In 1995, Audrey Peterman and her husband Frank packed up their car and went on a life-changing trip to national parks around the country where they were often the only African Americans among crowds of people. The couple became passionate environmentalists committed to connecting people of color—and all people—to the joy they felt in these parks. Audrey recently shared her thoughts on diversity in the park system and the inspiration behind her latest book, which she describes as a "love letter to the parks."
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Ten Great Movies for Armchair Tourists
Miss the warm weather? Itching to go exploring? National parks are stunning backdrops for a host of classic films. As we brave the last few weeks of winter, one movie lover shares his picks for the ten best park-related feature films. Not only are they fun and informative, they can help inspire future trips. Vote for your favorite and share your own top picks on our blog!
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Death Valley Recognized for Its Dark Skies
Not only is Death Valley National Park the hottest place on Earth, it was also just recognized as one of the darkest. Last month, the International Dark-Sky Association officially named Death Valley a Dark Sky Park, a designation that demonstrates how the Park Service preserves not only our nation's landscapes, but also its dramatic starscapes through ongoing efforts to reduce light and air pollution. The distinction is well-deserved; just look at those stars!
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Can Crowdfunding Help Revitalize Urban Parks?
NPCA recently partnered with a Brooklyn-based nonprofit to help leverage community support for urban national parks in Los Angeles, Baltimore, and Miami by crowdfunding neighborhood-based projects online. Though it sounds cutting-edge, crowdfunding—collecting donations through a mass-media appeal—is a tradition that dates back to the 1800s and the effort thousands of New Yorkers made to have the Statue of Liberty in their back yards by funding it, one dollar at a time.
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PARKSCAPES TRAVEL
Tallgrass Prairie & Flint Hills
Meander through eight-foot-tall grasses and late-season wildflowers in Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve this coming September.
» Get Trip Details
Photo Caption: Honoring cowboy traditions at the Flying W Ranch in the Flint Hills, Kansas. © Flying W Ranch.
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SUBSCRIBE TODAY!
The winter issue of National Parks magazine is out with features on sustainable food options for park visitors, a riveting tour of three Civil War sites, and innovative new road crossings that help protect wildlife from vehicle traffic in and around Glacier National Park. Subscribe to get your copy!
» Subscribe Now
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YOU’RE INVITED
Washington, DC
Join NPCA and members of the national parks community at NPCA’s Salute to the Parks and Park Partners Gala on April 16th! This annual event celebrates America's national parks, calls attention to their needs, and recognizes individuals and organizations whose dedication to the national parks and impact on the park system deserve attention. Acclaimed author Terry Tempest Williams will be the featured speaker.
» Learn More
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IRA Rollover Extended Through 2013!
If you are age 70 1/2 or older, you have an easy way to support NPCA and help protect the national parks. Congress has re-authorized a provision that allows you to make a tax-free gift from your IRA to NPCA. Simply contact your IRA account manager and ask how you can make a tax-free charitable distribution to NPCA. For more detailed information, visit our website or call Morgan Dodd, Director of Gift Planning, toll-free at 1-877-468-5775.
» Learn More
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QUOTE OF THE MONTH
"“[P]ublic lands belong now, as they always have, to the future. There are dozens of wrong ways to use them. But there is no such thing as a wrong way to protect them.”
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