National Park Foundation

On August 14-16, 1908, Black residents of Springfield, Illinois were targeted and victimized by mass racial violence from white residents. The race riot had reverberations nationwide — highlighting that such violence wasn’t exclusive to the deep south.

Today, the site was officially designated as a national monument through the Antiquities Act. NPF helped facilitate the acquisition and transfer of the land. Establishing the Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument helps ensure that the National Park Service can tell a more complete and inclusive story of the history and ongoing civil rights movement in America.

Statement on the Establishment of the Springfield 1908 Race Riot… The National Park Foundation is honored to support the establishment of the Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument made through the Antiquities Act.

Even if you plan to live to be 150, like a joshua tree, you still need a plan!

NPF has free resources to help you create an estate plan that ensures you and your loved ones are taken care of, no matter what the future may hold! During National Make A Will Month, download NPF's FREE will planning guide to get started.

Why do you need a legacy plan?
🏛️ If you don’t define it, the state will….make sure YOUR wishes are honored
🏞️ You can support the people and causes you love…including national parks
👨‍👩‍👦 It gives you, and your loved ones, peace of mind
💰 Proper planning can minimize taxes owed by your heirs or estate

Get started today by downloading our free will planning guide!
🔗: https://nationalparks.mylegacygift.org/planning-toolkit

📸: Schroptschop

Service corps crews do so much in national parks and being a part of one can not only be a rewarding experience, but the beginning of a conservation career!

Since 2018, NPF has invested more than $20 million to support over 230 service corps crews, helping bring together people of different ages, backgrounds, and abilities to accomplish critical projects in parks.

Check out this project supported by NPF through service corps!

Did you see the Perseids meteor shower?

⭐️ First, what are the Perseids and why does it happen?
This event happens every year between mid-July and late-August. The Perseids occur because Earth passes through the debris field left by the Swift-Tuttle comet. The meteor showers caused by this debris are called the Perseids because their Radiant, the point from which they originate in the night sky, is the constellation Perseus (located to the northwest if you’re viewing the sky from here!).

☄️ Last night was the peak of the shower, though you may not have been able to see much through the cloud cover.

🌙 Even though the shower peaked last night, you’ll still be able to view the Perseids for a little longer.
The moon will likely be the largest source of light which may interfere with viewing the night sky. The best viewing hours will be after Moon set, at 1:25am, and before Sunrise, at 6:48am.

For more information on Night Skys and Stargazing in Zion visit: www.nps.gov/zion/learn/nature/nightskies.htm

Image courtesy of NASA

Chickamauga & Chattanooga National Military Park was created in 1890 to preserve and commemorate where Union and Confederate forces in the Civil War fought for control of Chattanooga.

With support from the National Park Foundation’s Open OutDoors for Kids program and donors like Columbia Sportswear, Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park engaged nearly 8,000 elementary school students last year in their field trip program, “Exploring Chattanooga's History Through the Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park.”

National parks are America’s largest living classrooms. Since 2011, NPF’s Open OutDoors for Kids program has connected more than 2 million kids to hands-on learning opportunities in national parks!

Exploring Hometown History at Chickamauga and Chattanooga National… National parks are America’s largest living classrooms. At Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park (CHCHNMP), teachers, students and their…

Admission to all national parks is FREE today in celebration of the four-year anniversary of the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA).

Since 2020, GAOA has supported over 72,000 jobs and improved experiences for 312 million visitors.

From a new maintenance facility in Acadia to campground renovations at Yosemite, GAOA has been pivotal in preserving and restoring our national parks across the country, ensuring that our national parks remain accessible and enjoyable for everyone.

📸: Mayskyphoto

Service corps crews help address recreation, conservation, disaster response, and community needs in and around national parks, and they help people turn their passion for the outdoors into careers!

This year, NPF has awarded $5.4 million in grants to support 45 projects across 58 parks – from iconic landscapes like the Grand Canyon National Park and Acadia National Park, to urban green spaces like Rock Creek Park and historically significant parks like Minidoka National Historic Site.

NPF Invests $5.8 Million in Service Corps Program The National Park Foundation (NPF) is the official nonprofit partner of the National Park Service.

This summer, a new cohort of NPF’s Science Fellows begins six research projects at national park sites across the country. Their mission: conduct innovative research to help the National Park Service better manage parklands and ocean resources, promote biodiversity, and tackle climate change challenges.

🧊 Alaska’s Arctic National Parks: Research on toxic metals from permafrost watersheds affecting streams and organisms.

🌲 Forests in the Northwest: Developing tools to protect forests from emerging threats.

🐟 Fisheries in the Midwest: Studying the impact of climate change on fish communities.

🌵 Desert Species at Saguaro National Park: Creating a climate action plan to protect cacti like the Saguaro.

🌿 Sagebrush in Western Parks: Assessing the value of ecosystem services provided by sagebrush landscapes.

🌱 Mangroves in Biscayne National Park: Investigating the link between mangrove distribution and peat development.

Explore the projects:

NPF Supports Six Postdoctoral Fellows to Advance Science Research in… This summer, six fellows will embark on a three-year research project in various national parks across the country. Their research will focus on key areas…

There are endless adventures to discover in America’s national parks, and together with Colossal, NPF is searching for the ultimate explorer!

If that sounds like you, enter the Ultimate Explorer competition for a chance to win an unforgettable national park adventure and so much more. Register for the competition by August 4! https://ultexplorer.org/

Happy Leo season from the mountain lions at Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area!

Just like their zodiac counter parts these felines exude strength, boldness, and confidence wherever they go. Residing within Los Angeles city limits, they are one of the only two populations of big cats currently living in a megacity.

NPF wishes you a month full of adventure, excitement, and roaring success!

📸 NPS/Jeff Sikich

One year ago, the Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley National Monument was established to preserve the legacy of the Till family and an important chapter of civil rights history for present and future generations.

The National Park Foundation played an integral role in the park's establishment then and continues to invest in support for the park. With an NPF ParkVentures grant, the Emmett Till Interpretive Center hosted a two-week-long student film academy to educate and inspire students to carry on Emmett Till’s legacy through mentorship and individual film projects.

The students learned about filmmaking in the context of Mississippi’s civil rights history and, through mentorship and guidance from professional filmmakers, gained the skills and confidence to tell their own stories.

Finding Her Voice How one student filmmaker found inspiration at Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley National Monument

4 years ago this week, the Great American Outdoors act passed the Senate in an overwhelming majority following its passage in the House of Representatives.

Since then, the Great American Outdoors Act has provided the National Park Service with up to $1.3 billion annually through FY 2025 to repair critical infrastructure and preserve the parks’ natural beauty. A seismic structuring project at the historic Ahwahnee hotel in Yosemite National Park received $35 million through GAOA, contributing to the program’s 100 large-scale and 300 historic preservation projects nationwide.

The Ahwahnee: A Century of Grandeur, Renewed for the Future (U.S. National Park Service) As the 100th anniversary of the stately Ahwahnee hotel in Yosemite National Park approaches, an approximately $35 million seismic strengthening project funded by the Great American Outdoors Act is well underway, with a completion date set for winter 2024.

Remember the joy that came with playing games like Trivial Pursuit with your family? It was a perfect summer pastime — just like visiting national parks!

Do you know what year the first national park was established? Put your national park knowledge to the test by texting “quiz” to 33077.

The National Park Foundation is proud to have supported the National Park Service in the establishment of the newest park: Blackwell School National Historic Site. Now, the story of unjust segregated education at the Blackwell School will be preserved and interpreted by the National Park Service for visitors to learn about today, and in the future.

Learn more about the new site here:

Biden-Harris Administration Establishes Blackwell School National Historic Site as America’s Newest National Park - Office of Communications (U.S. National Park Service) WASHINGTON – Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland today formally established Blackwell School National Historic Site in Texas as the nation’s newest national park. The park is the seventh national park unit designated under President Biden. Recent additions include the designation of Amache Nat...

The Campaign for National Parks brings more people together to directly support national parks and ensure that everyone can experience parks now and in the future.

🐻 Together we will help protect park landscapes and wildlife

📜 Together we will preserve and share a fuller story of America

🎓 Together we will connect more kids to learning experiences in national parks

It is only with the generosity and the unwavering commitment of people across America that we can protect national parks for generations to come. We’ve only just begun!

Forward together: https://www.nationalparks.org/news-and-updates/updates/forward-together

📸: Stocksy/Michela Ravasio

From Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Park Hawaii to the National Park of American Samoa, Sharks can be found in many coastal parks. Meet the sharks who call our national parks home (from a distance of course)!

🦈 Horn Shark at Channel Islands National Park
🦈Nurse Shark at Virgin Islands National Park
🦈Leopard Shark in the San Francisco Bay Area Inventory & Monitoring Network
🦈Zebra Shark at National Park of American Samoa
🦈Tiger Shark at Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Park HawaiiRead about how NPF is helping protect sharks: https://www.nationalparks.org/stories/seaweed-some-fin-else

📸 National Park Service

Fort McHenry National Monument & Historic Shrine is a premier national park in a unique urban setting.

At the park, visitors learn about the many people who shaped American history across two centuries. They also see firsthand how this coastal habitat has changed over the years, and what is being done to protect it for the future.

National park philanthropy is an essential part of the story. https://www.nationalparks.org/news-and-updates/updates/sharing-fuller-story-of-america

📸: National Park Service

Have you ever traveled on Skyline Drive along the Blue Ridge Mountains through Shenandoah National Park? With funding from the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA), this scenic road now has 56 miles and 19 overlooks of repaired and restored pavement.

GAOA addresses deferred maintenance needs across national parks with $1.3 billion annually through fiscal year 2025. The National Park Service ‘s deferred maintenance backlog includes upgrades and repairs to 75,000 historic buildings, visitor centers, utility systems, roads and trails!

In numbers, GAOA has provided $4 billion to restore historic properties, supported 72,560 jobs, and created $5 billion in the labor market. That’s a contribution of $8 billion to our nation’s GDP!

To learn more about the Great American Outdoors Act, head to https://www.nps.gov/subjects/infrastructure/gaoa.htm

📸: National Park Service

Happy July 4th!

📸: Johannes Joubert, Share the Experience

Meet the Piping plover, one of New York City’s beloved coastal residents! Piping plovers are an endangered species with a global population as low as 6,000 to 8,000.

Each summer, these birds migrate from the Gulf of Mexico to the New York Harbor, with approximately 100 plovers nesting on Rockaway beaches. Organizations like the NYC Plover Project are crucial to protecting the fluffiest New Yorkers while educating the public about conservation and the effects of habitat disruption.

NPF is a proud supporter of the NYC Plover Project’s Rockaways Education Initiative. In partnership with Gateway National Recreation Area, local schools, and community organizers, the program will engage high school students in field science studies that empower them to develop science-based solutions to ecological problems, advocate for endangered species, and gain exposure to career paths in STEM.

📸: National Park Service

In 1969, the Stonewall Inn was a popular gathering place for New York City’s gay community. In the early hours of June 28, police raided the bar and began arresting people. Raids like this were not new, but this time, patrons pushed back and stood up for themselves.

The uprising became a protest. The protest became a movement.

Stonewall National Monument and the surrounding neighborhood reveal the story of this watershed moment for LGBTQI+ rights and a transformative event in the nation’s civil rights movement.

On the 55th anniversary of the rebellion, the Stonewall National Monument Visitor Center will open its doors to further tell the story of Stonewall and its impact on the LGBTQI+ civil rights movement.

Photos by J. Burna / NPS

Through Junior Ranger Angler, fishing is the catalyst for people and communities to be inspired, experience joy, and build lasting relationships while connecting with nature and the bodies of water in and around national parks.

Learn more: https://www.nationalparks.org/explore/programs/junior-ranger-angler

The new Stonewall National Monument Visitor Center is the first park visitor center celebrating LGBTQ+ history — creating a cross-generational space to celebrate LGBTQ+ stories.

The visitor center will help to preserve and celebrate the legacy of Stonewall National Monument, connect park visitors with educational resources, and inspire the next generation to continue the efforts towards equality and civil rights for all.

The First Park Visitor Center Celebrating LGBTQ+ History The new Stonewall National Monument Visitor Center makes national park history, creating a cross-generational space to celebrate LGBTQ+ stories.

Join us outside to commemorate Juneteenth 2024 (June 19) with Outdoor Afro as we reflect on the 2.5 years freedom delayed for enslaved Black people in Galveston, Texas, after the Emancipation Proclamation.

We're helping Outdoor Afro inspire people to go outdoors and reconnect with local waterways as the national not-for-profit also launches its annual Making Waves swim program this summer. Visit the link (bit.ly/OutdoorAfroJuneteenth2024) to learn more.

Looking for adventure? Enter the Ultimate Explorer competition, presented by Winnebago, The Coca-Cola Company, and Nature Valley!

Through the competition, one adventure seeker will win $10,000, explore national parks in an expedition-ready Winnebago RV, and appear in Outside Magazine.

Learn more about the competition, rules, and register here: https://ultexplorer.org/

📸: National Park Service / N. Lewis

Hosted by National Park Foundation in partnership with Recreation.gov, Share the Experience is an annual photography competition encouraging all amateur photographers to submit their favorite views, moments, and adventures from America’s public lands and waters.

Congratulations to the 2023 Share the Experience Photo Contest winners!

📸 Grand Prize Winner | Micheal Zheng, Everglades National Park

📸 Second Place | Jack Denger, Badlands National Park

📸 Third Place | Isaac Rosenberg, Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens

With the close of the 2023 contest, get excited for the 2024 competition, open now through December 31, 2024! Get your cameras ready, snap some fantastic photos, and 'Share the Experience' for your chance to win great prizes!

You can learn more and submit your photos at ShareTheExperience.org.

Release: https://www.nationalparks.org/news-and-updates/press-releases/2023-share-the-experience-winners

Junior Ranger Angler expands upon the National Park Service’s Junior Ranger program, which encourages children to learn about and protect parks. With NPF’s support, the Junior Ranger Angler program has been able to reach across the country.

Here are a few of this year’s projects:

🎣 Acadia National Park will further develop their gear libraries, host workshops to teach educators how to fish with their students, and develop activities and lessons that meet Next Generation Science Standards and Common Core Standards in relation to park and school fishing activities.

🎣Everglades National Park will help students learn about the importance of this region through recreation as they interact with rangers and experts to learn how to properly prepare rods and reels, tie knots, and cast.

🎣 Cuyahoga Valley National Park will engage children and their families with a 14-week summer program series around fishing as part of an overall community engagement strategy that introduces the park to local audiences through relevant outdoor recreation opportunities.

Explore all of them here: https://www.nationalparks.org/news-and-updates/updates/npf-support-youth-community-fishing-experiences-parks-across-country

📸: National Park Service

NPF helps elevate and preserve LGBTQ+ stories and experiences through our history and culture programs and projects in parks across the country.

Explore some of the projects supported by NPF that help preserve and share LGBTQ+ history and culture.

LGBTQ+ History in National Parks Chronicling the rich histories of le***an, gay, bisexual, transgender, and q***r (LGBTQ+) Americans is essential to tell a more complete history of the…