The National Parks service is a massive organization; from coast to coast it provides a place for all people to escape from everyday life.
The mission of the National Parks is as follows: “The National Park Service cares for special places saved by the American people so that all may experience our heritage.”
This resource is the most undervalued and underused resource in the United States.
The National Parks Service administrates some of America’s favorite landmarks: Yosemite National Park, Yellowstone National Park and even the Lincoln Memorial. It may seem like an odd place for a Park, but they can even be found in big cities.
The National Parks receive 11 million visitors per year, and encompasses 84 million acres of land. Oregon is home to many historic and beautiful National Parks including Crater Lake, the Oregon Caves National Monument, and the John Day Fossil Beds.
The National Parks system is funded by federal tax dollars, money coming directly from each tax payer in the U.S. This means that the parks belong, in at least some small way, to each one of us. It is like having an 84 million-acre back yard. There are National Parks in all of the U.S. states, and they are often open year round.
This is an underused and undervalued resource, which is always in need of volunteers and funding. Send a single dollar, volunteer your weekends, or simply visit a park. Volunteering makes a great resume booster, and often becomes a wonderful experience. Get out to the National Parks, to recreate, to volunteer, or simply to enjoy any of the fantastic natural landscapes that exist in every state.
For more information including list of parks, donation and volunteer opportunities visit the National Parks Service’s website at www.nps.gov.
Get out and play in your backyard.
