NATIONAL PARKS BLOG

With winter vacation officially over and Spring Break already on the minds of so many, it’s the perfect time to start planning an exciting trip to one of America’s nearly 400 national parks. And lucky for you, we’ve pulled together some of the not-to-be-missed national park adventures to check out this season!

Here you go:

1. Glide along the shoreline at Biscayne National Park (Florida).

Explore tidal creeks and canals, and skim over vast seagrass meadows while watching for manatees, birds, fish and other critters. Weather permitting, this FREE 2-3 hour paddle begins at the Dante Fascell Visitor Center at 9am every Monday, Wednesday and Friday until April. More information at http://www.nps.gov/findapark/event-listing.htm?eventID=9627.

Photo credit: Biscayne National Park

2. Enjoy the snow before it’s gone with a snowshoe hike in Crater Lake National Park (Oregon).

Explore one of the snowiest inhabited places in America, receiving an average of 44 feet of snow per year. Snowshoes are provided for free. Be sure to make reservations in advance as the ranger-guided snowshoe walks fill up fast! More information at http://www.nps.gov/findapark/event-listing.htm?eventID=9559.

 3. Capture beautiful moments with Cumberland Gap National Historical Park (Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia).

Do you love taking photos? Join fellow photo enthusiasts for an evening of photography demonstrations including helpful techniques and tips designed to get that perfect shot! Photographers of all levels are invited and encouraged to attend. More information at http://www.nps.gov/findapark/event-listing.htm?eventID=10628.

 4. Compete in a scavenger hunt in Great Smoky Mountains National Park (Tennessee, North Carolina).

Round up your friends and family for the 4th Annual Great Smoky Mountains Scavenger Hunt on March 3, 2012! The hunt uses roads and official trails all across the park. More information at http://www.nps.gov/findapark/event-listing.htm?eventID=766.

 5. Learn how your life compares to life in the Arctic at Kobuk Valley National Park (Alaska).

Ever wanted to learn about life in the Arctic? Here’s your chance! Come check out the Arctic Circle Film Series every Tuesday evening from 7-9pm! More information at http://www.nps.gov/findapark/event-listing.htm?eventID=2.

 6. Celebrate Women’s History Month at Lowell National Historical Park (Massachusetts).

March is Women’s History Month! Since 1996, Lowell National Historical Park has been celebrating Lowell Women’s Week. Join in on the fun and celebrate the important role women have played in history and present-day with Lowell Women’s Week, March 4 – March 12, 2012. More information at http://www.nps.gov/findapark/event-listing.htm?eventID=10730.

 7. Make a lei necklace at Puukohola Heiau National Historic Site (Hawaii).

Join “Aunty Martha” from the Hawaii Pacific Parks Association for lei making demonstrations! More information at http://www.nps.gov/findapark/event-listing.htm?eventID=10824.

 8. Enjoy a river walk at Tumacácori National Historical Park (Arizona).

Hike to the Santa Cruz River and explore the natural and cultural history found in this national park, one of the National Park Foundation’s American Latino Heritage Fund sites. More information at http://www.nps.gov/findapark/event-listing.htm?eventID=9677.

 9. Indulge your artistic side at Weir Farm National Historic Site (Connecticut).

Be creative, be inspired and Take Part in Art at Weir Farm National Historic Site, home to three generations of American artists! The park will provide graphite pencils, colored pencils and chalk pastels for all ages and experience levels.  More information at http://www.nps.gov/findapark/event-listing.htm?eventID=7921.

 10. Sit back, relax and chat on the patio at White Sands National Monument (New Mexico).

Enjoy a weekend afternoon chat on the patio with the rangers! The rangers will lead discussions on a variety of topics. More information at http://www.nps.gov/findapark/event-listing.htm?eventID=8171.

So what do you think of our list? Think you’ll venture out and take part in any of these fun activities? I wish I could hit up all of these parks and more this season! We’d love to hear your plans for the Spring - share them in the comments below!

On New Year’s Day, the national parks community suffered a great loss as Ranger Margaret Anderson at Mount Rainier National Park was tragically shot and killed. Like you, I was shocked and saddened that the places we cherish, and the brave people who safeguard them, could be victim to such a tragedy. 

Ranger Margaret Anderson

Margaret was an 11-year veteran of the National Park Service, working at Bryce Canyon National Park and C&O Canal National Historical Park before her time at Mount Rainier. Her husband Eric is also a National Park Ranger, having served in Shenandoah, Rocky Mountain, Bryce Canyon, Yellowstone and Mount Rainier national parks throughout his career.

Margaret and Eric’s service and sacrifice reminds us of the importance and commitment of our Rangers. These individuals, from all walks of life, serve our country as proud stewards of our nation’s most valuable treasures. They teach us. They inspire us. They protect us. They serve as the trusted guardians not only of these sacred places, but of the countless people that visit them.

As many of you have noticed, the National Park Foundation emblem features the iconic National Park Ranger hat — a symbol of pride, guardianship and protection. As the official non-profit partner to National Park Service, we are proud to support and honor the bravery, tradition and excellence of the men and women we call Rangers.   

The National Park Foundation has established a memorial fund to benefit the children of Margaret and Eric Anderson. I hope you will join us in honoring Margaret’s memory.

Can you believe it’s already New Year’s Eve? Boy did this year fly by fast! Just yesterday, I found myself reflecting on how meaningful this holiday season has been for me. And it occurred to me that it’s the first time I’ve celebrated the holidays in our national parks. I attended both the National Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony and the National Menorah Lighting in President’s Park and both were such festive and fun experiences! We’re so fortunate that our national parks offer so many unique ways to enjoy and celebrate the holidays!

Rabbis lighting the National Menorah in President's Park in celebration of Chanukah

And I’m not the only one who feels this way! Michael Faison of the Idaho Commission on the Arts (the official state agency for the support and development of the Arts in Idaho), which selected the local artist and arts youth group that designed and created the 2011 ornaments for Idaho’s state tree, wrote about his experience at the National Christmas Tree display and you can read it below.

(In case you want a little background on the state and territory trees, here’s the deal: A local artist and local youth were selected from each U.S. state, territory and the District of Columbia to design and create 24 ornaments. Twenty-three of the ornaments are hanging from the state and territory trees surrounding the National Christmas Tree in President’s Park. One ornament from all 56 states, territories and the District of Columbia are showcased on the White House Visitor Center Christmas tree.  You can get the inside scoop on all of the 2011 state/territory ornaments here!)

Guest blog post by Michael Faison, Executive Director of Idaho Commission on the Arts

It happens that I was able to be in Washington, DC last week and took the occasion to go see the National Christmas Tree display in President’s Park. It is spectacular and does credit to Idaho and all the other states and territories.

There, behind the White House, the National Christmas Tree sits, surrounded by smaller trees representing all the states and territorial jurisdictions. Notable also is the stage where, when I came by in the evening, children’s groups were doing seasonal song and dance performances – they were pretty amazing performances too. There were loads of visitors- a veritable sea of people moving through the displays.

The 2011 Idaho Christmas Tree in President's Park

It was fun walking from tree to tree, seeing what each state had sent for their display, in a few cases even recognizing the schools or organizations that had sent the ornaments for their state trees. I came across Guam and Pennsylvania and remembered good friends and colleagues I have there, who would have directed their states’ efforts. They and others gave me the warm thought of all those kids from all these places who had sat in classrooms and created these lovely ornaments for their trees, sealed them into globes, and shipped them off to Washington, DC, so that they now glisten on Christmas trees at the White House.

It’s all rather cool if I say so myself.

So, many congratulations to the kids of the Kroc Center and many thanks to the crew at the National Park Foundation for managing what must be overwhelming logistics to make it all happen so splendidly. It’s worth all the effort.

There are so many great ways to visit, share and support America’s iconic, national treasures during the holiday season. Here are a handful of our suggestions:

• Give The Gift Of The Parks - Thanks to the generosity of the National Park Foundation board, all year-end gifts (between now and December 31) will be matched up to $75,000! That means your gift will be matched dollar-for-dollar. Pretty incredible, right?! And when you make a donation to NPF, we’ll send you a special printable certificate to include in a stocking or under your Christmas Tree.  I also recommend you check out our gift guide to shop for more gifts that give back to our national parks.

• Holidays In The Parks – From Alaska to Georgia, we pulled together an impressive list of not-to-be-missed holiday celebrations for you to enjoy!  Definitely check them out!

• Hooray For The Holidays! – Now listen up, this is the part where we thank YOU and give back to YOU! From December 19 through December 23, you could win the ultimate national park prize pack including a free annual pass to America’s nearly 400 national parks and roundtrip airfare to any national park destination Southwest Airlines can take you to, outstanding outdoor gear, NPF apparel, and more! Join us at today at www.facebook.com/nationalpark and learn more about Hooray for the Holidays!

• Watch The 2011 National Christmas Tree Lighting From President’s Park On-Demand! Let us bring the spirit of the season to you with the Lighting of the National Christmas Tree at www.thenationaltree.org or by checking local PBS listings for airdates and times. Promise you won’t be disappointed as you watch President Barack Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama and their family, along with a star-studded list of performers including Big Time Rush and Ellie Goulding, OneRepublic, Rodney Atkins, Marsha Ambrosius, Kermit the Frog and host Carson Daly having a wonderful time together at the 89^th National Christmas Tree Lighting!

The 89^th National Christmas Tree Lighting is almost here! Yes, I’m talking about the incredible, one-of-a-kind, can’t-miss, national event in President’s Park in our nation’s capital.

In case you missed the big news, we announced the complete talent line up this week! We’ve got Carson Daly, Rodney Atkins,  Big Time Rush, OneRepublic, Ellie Goulding,  Marsha Ambrosius, Kermit the Frog and more! And to top it off, President Barack Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama and their family are going to officially light the National Christmas Tree. That’s right, it’s going to be a fantastic show!

In fact, here’s a little teaser to help get you even more pumped up:

If you can’t make it out to D.C. this year, don’t fret too much as you can always watch the LIVE webstream of the ceremony online at www.thenationaltree.org or on your local PBS station. Be sure to check your local listings for broadcast times.

We hope you’ll join us for the National Christmas Tree Lighting whether it’s in person, online or on T.V.!