OCTOBER 2008
ISSUE
NAME THIS PARK
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Buddy Bison contemplating the view
NPT News on the American Park Experience

Mission: To champion the acquisition and preservation of America's critical parklands
through education, partnerships, and community building.

Dear Friends:
Welcome to the second edition of the revised NPT News.  We hope you enjoy it, and please let us know what you think.  Email your thoughts to info@parktrust.org.  We look forward to hearing from you!

NPT Welcomes Three New Board Members!

National Park Trust (NPT) is pleased to announce that Michael DeSantis, Fran Mainella, and Lee Verstandig have been elected to join the NPT Board of Trustees. "These three new Board Members bring a wide range of experience, expertise, and a passion for park conservation that will help NPT expand its important work", says NPT ExecutMichael DeSantisive Director, Grace Lee.

Michael DeSantis brings a sharp strategic and legal mind to the NPT Board. DeSantis was a Senior Executive and Chief Legal Counsel for Choice Hotels International, one of the largest hotel companies in the world franchising more than 5,000 hotels worldwide. He also served on the Board of the Choice Hotel Foundation for 8 years, which distributes $1 million per year to provide food and shelter to those in need. His enthusiasm and focus will be vital as NPT implements its new strategic vision. "I am pleased to bring my years of experience in the business world and more recently in philanthropic endeavors to help National Park Trust achieve even higher levels of support and progress towards its strategic goals", says DeSantis.

Fran Mainella
Fran Mainella brings invaluable national and state park experience to the NPT Board. Currently Mainella is a visiting scholar at Clemson University. She recently served six years as the Director of the National Park Service, the first woman to lead that organization. Prior to her years at NPS, she directed the Florida State Park system for 12 years. Mainella serves on many boards that effect park policy and youth involvement in parks.  Her extensive network and commitment to preserve and protect our nation’s parks will be invaluable to NPT’s mission. “I have worked with the National Park Trust in managing the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve, a unit of the National Park system. Also I am pleased that NPT is a partner with the Children and Nature Network where I serve as an advisor. I am honored to now be joining such a leadership Board as the National Park Trust”, says Mainella. She is the first National Park Service Director to serve on the NPT Board. 

Lee Verstandig
 
Lee Verstandig, brings a love of historic preservation and a passion for youth education to the Board. Dr.Verstandig is a former dean and professor at Brown University. According to Verstandig, “advocating and communicating about American institutions and heritage are extremely important to me.” He also has decades of experience working in the Executive and Legislative branches including acting administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency and Assistant to the President of the United States for Intergovernmental Affairs. He has also worked with Congress where his extensive bipartisan relationships will be an important asset to NPT.
 

Fran Mainella and NPT Staff Attend Children and Nature Network Gathering

L to R: Akima Price, Mark Pertschuk, Fran Mainella, Richard Louv and Rolland SmithThe Children and Nature Network held its second annual Gathering at the Arbor Day Foundation's Lied Lodge in Nebraska this September.  Approximately 100 people from around the country attended to network and share ideas about how to grow the children and nature movement from the ground up. This year's meeting was entitled "Natural Connections: Tipping Points to Cultural Change".
Fran Mainella presented at the opening session, along with other speakers, including Richard Louv, author of "Last Child in the Woods, Saving Our Children from Nature Deficit Disorder".  His book sparked the Children and Nature movement.  At the Gathering, Fran wore many hats as a new NPT board member and as a member of the Advisory Board of the Children and Nature Network.
During the Gathering, the House of Representatives passed the No Child Left Inside legislation.  The passage was one of the highlights of the Gathering and brought cheers from attendees.
The idea for the legislation was the brainchild of Richard Louv and others just a year ago.  If it becomes law, the federal govenment will enact many grants and incentives to fund state level environmental education that reconnects children to nature. Click here to find out more about the No Child Left Inside Coalition.

NPT Reaches the Peak at Lassen Volcanic National Park!

NPT board members and staff at Lassen Peak TrailheadNPT held its fall board meeting at Lassen Volcanic National Park 's newly opened 'green' visitor center.  As part of the meeting, Park Service staff,  NPT board members, and NPT staff hiked the Lassen Volcanic Peak Trail -- the Park's flagship trail.  The hike gave board members a first-hand look at the popular trail.  45,000 people hike the trail during its short four month season, and it's showing significant wear.  The experience solidified  NPT board support for rebuilding it.

Most NPT folks live at low altitudes, so the 10,500 foot peak gave us all a 'heady' Peak experience.  Views along the trail and at the summit are spectacular.  With the help of knowledeable, patient and friendly Park Service staff, nearly all of us "Reached the Peak", which also happens to be the name for the fundraising campaign.  Click here to find out how you can donate to help us rebuild this important trail. 

We're looking forward to a fruitful partnership and thank Lassen Volcanic National Park for hosting us and our intrepid board members who donate their time and travel costs to advance our efforts to preserve our National Parks.

Where's Your Buddy Bison Been?

Executive Director, Grace Lee and staff member, Amy Hardin, with Buddy at Lassen Peak


This month Buddy Bison reached the peak at Lassen Volcanic National Park.  Take a look at the top of the newsletter to see Buddy perched on the peak contemplating the view from 10,500 feet.  

NPT Executive Director Grace Lee and Membership Coordinator Amy Hardin also celebrated their trek to the top.  They reached it with Buddy in tow. 

Grace said that she was so pleased with herself for overcoming her fear of heights to make it to the tippy top and look over the edge.   Amy said it was a piece of cake (except for the blisters).

Conservationist John Muir wrote that "In every walk with nature, one receives far more than one seeks."  The hike to the peak proved his point.  Everyone was sore the next day, but the views and the experience were unforgettable

Tell us a memorable story about where you've been - with or without Buddy Bison.  We'd love the hear it!  If you'd like your own Buddy Bison traveling companion, email us at info@parktrust.org and we'll let you know how to get one.

NPT Grants FLOC "Youth to Parks" Scholarship Funds

Courtesy FLOC websiteNPT is dedicated to implementing its vision that 'Everyone will have an American Park Experience'. To that end, NPT has set up a scholarship fund dedicated to getting Youth to Parks. We're calling it the Y to P Fund. NPT has partnered with several organizations to achieve that goal.  Recently NPT granted $2,000 to its partner organization, For Love of Children (FLOC).  

NPT Executive Director Lee presented the Y to P Fund concept to the Maryland-based Potomac United Methodist Church.  The church's women's group saw the need and benefits of sponsoring the program and immediately dedicated funds to support it. The funds will be sponsor two children from underserved areas to attend a week-long program at FLOC's Outdoor Education Center for environmental leadership training.   

The goal of the Y to P fund is to:

  • Reconnect children and nature
  • Educate and foster future conservationists
  • Provide in-depth park opportunities to children who otherwise could not afford it

 If you'd like to support our Youth to Parks Scholarship Fund, email us at info@parktrust.org, and we'll tell you how.
Two New Websites Aim to Reconnect Children and Nature

NPS PhotoBoth the National Park Service and the National Wildlife Federation have launched new websites aimed to reconnect Children and Nature.

The National Park Service created a website called "The Kid's Zone".  The site contains more than 50 interactive activities designed to connect children with the people, places and events commemorated in the country’s 391 National Park Service sites, according to a park service news release.

National Park Service director Mary A. Bomar says the goal is to "enable young people to actively explore parks without leaving home but, hopefully, will also inspire them to visit these special places in person."

The National Wildlife Federation hopes families will trade some screen time for green time this Columbus Day weekend -- by walking, biking, hiking, or strolling on the trails and paths right outside their front door. NWF has created a program that encourages families to discover and reconnect with nature with the first annual Make Tracks! Family Trail Weekend, October 11-13, Columbus Day Weekend.

The NWF website, called maketracks.org, has taken the leg-work out of preparing for this fun family outing. The site provides a list of supplies, tips for family-friendly activities, and a link to NatureFind, a database to locate the best nearby trails, walking paths and parks, just by entering your zip code.
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