Everyone's Nature Valley: The National Parks
Since the dedication of Yellowstone as the world’s first national park in 1872, America’s parks have been visited by hundreds of millions of people who marveled at their beauty, found peace in their wildness and shared their experience with others.
They preserved places unlike any other, ensuring we all have a chance to rediscover sights that greeted our grandparents, and that will be rediscovered over and over again by future generations.
They are located all over the country, from Maine to Southern California, from Florida to Alaska. In addition to the 58 national parks, there are hundreds of other designated national monuments, historic sites, recreation areas and more; most people live within a day’s drive of a park or other National Park Service site.
They are owned collectively by all citizens, kept open and protected and accessible to people of all walks of life, giving us a glimpse of the land as it was before the age of cities and cars.
This is what makes the national parks special, and why they are worth our care and attention. Their creation was a radical idea when first introduced, and it will take vigilance and care to make sure they remain available.
The efforts funded by Nature Valley in the National Parks Project are just one facet of an overall conservation system that helps preserve natural beauty and diverse wildlife while making it accessible and enjoyable to the largest possible number of people.
You don’t have to be a park ranger to play a part, either. As part of the National Parks Project, Nature Valley has created a number of programs that allow people like you to add to our contribution by doing things you do already. Learn more about these programs here.
You also will find that many parks have volunteer opportunities available that enable you to contribute to something of lasting value even as you enjoy their beauty.
But most importantly, they are here to be enjoyed and experienced. The easiest thing you can do to support the national parks is experience them for yourself, and share them with your family – remembering, as always, to “take only pictures and leave only footprints.”. So grab your backpack, your boots and some granola bars and go get some nature in our national parks.
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