September 26th is National Public Lands Day. A fee-free entrance day for over 400 national parks. We thought it only appropriate to highlight the National Park Foundation.
The National Park Foundation, through private support is safeguarding our heritage and inspiring generations of national park advocates. Sparked by a congress charter in 1967, the foundation enables private donors to be involved in the preservation of our national parks.
Their actions have three areas of focus, PROTECTING America’s national parks through critical conservation & preservation efforts; CONNECTING all Americans with their incomparable natural landscapes, vibrant culture, rich history, and the transformative community work of the National Park Service, and INSPIRING lifelong engagement with the next generation of park stewards.
Our favorite grant, now in its seventh year, is the Active Trails program. The program supports healthy living by getting people out and active in national parks through projects that help restore, protect, and/or create land and water trails across the country. These projects include improving trails frequented by disabled and wounded veterans, expanding sensory trails for the blind, introducing local Latino communities to hiking, hosting fitness activities like Zumba and yoga, and providing service-learning experiences for underserved students.
Please join us in supporting the National Park Foundation and donate some of your charity miles to them. Remember, Every Mile MATTERS!