Category Archives: National Parks

Welcome to National Public Lands Day!

Today is National Public Lands Day! Entry fees are waived in most of the national parks and national forests, so you won’t have to pay for day use areas – visitor centers, picnic areas, trailheads, etc.

You’ll still get o pay for concessions, camping, rentals, and other services. Check with your local national forest or park for specific information on the park you plan on visiting.

You can find out more about national parks, forests, wildernesses and other areas managed but the National Parks Service HERE.

Get outdoors and enjoy the day!

Every Kid in a Park Program Launches

The National Parks Service has launched the “Every Kid in a Park” program, which offers a free annual pass to all fourth grade students and their families to visit more than 2,000 federal recreation areas, including America’s national parks.

Beginning today, any currently enrolled fourth grade student can visit www.everykidinapark.gov, finish an activity on the website and get a voucher. Parents and the student can redeem the voucher at any national park for an Every Kid in A Park pass. The pass is valid from September 1, 2015 through August 31, 2016.

“A primary focus of the National Park Service’s Centennial celebration is to connect young people with national parks and engage the next generation of stewards for America’s treasured places,” stated Yosemite National Park Superintendent Don Neubacher. “We are excited about this opportunity for students and their families to come to Yosemite and experience their national park.”

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Happy Birthday National Park Service!

“…Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That there is hereby created in the Department of the Interior a service to be called the National Park Service, which shall be under the charge of a director, who shall be appointed by the Secretary and who shall receive a salary of $4,500 per annum. There shall also be appointed by the Secretary the following assistants and other employees at the salaries designated: One assistant director, at $2,500 per annum; one chief clerk, at $2,000 per annum; one draftsman, at $1,800 per annum; one messenger, at $600 per annum; and, in addition thereto, such other employees as the Secretary of the Interior shall deem necessary: Provided, That not more than $8,100 annually shall be expended for salaries of experts, assistants, and employees within the District of Columbia not herein specifically enumerated unless previously authorized by law. The service thus established shall promote and regulate the use of the Federal areas known as national parks, monuments, and reservations hereinafter specified by such means and measures as conform to the fundamental purpose of the said parks and reservations, which purpose is to conserve the scenery and the natural and historic objects and the wild life therein and to provide for the enjoyment of the same in such manner and by such means as will leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations…”

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FREE National Park Admission August 25!

Celebrate The 99th Birthday Of The National Park Service with a FREE visit to your national park on August 25th.

Yeah, it’s a tuesday. That means you’ll probably have a lot more room to stretch out your arms and see nature without having to sit in as much traffic as you would if you went to a national park on a weekend!

From the National Park Foundation:

On August 25, 1916, President Woodrow Wilson signed legislation to create the National Park Service, which preserves and protects 408 sites throughout the country. Each one, whether it’s a national park, a historic site or a national seashore, was established by a president or Congress to protect, preserve and share its national significance for future generations. Some parks commemorate notable people and achievements; others conserve magnificent landscapes and natural wonders; and all provide a place to have fun and learn.

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Google’s Vertical Street View of El Capitan

Google, not satisfied with street views that occasionally show very interesting images, has now set their sights on the skies above places like Yosemite National Park. Specifically, El Capitan.

From Google’s Official Blog:

Today we’re launching our first-ever vertical Street View collection, giving you the opportunity to climb 3,000 feet up the world’s most famous rock wall: Yosemite’s El Capitan. To bring you this new imagery, we partnered with legendary climbers Lynn Hill, Alex Honnold and Tommy Caldwell. Read more about the project from Tommy Caldwell, who completed the world’s hardest climb in Yosemite in January of 2015.

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