Every day, news releases pour into our inboxes, and Google alerts bring word of other potential stories in the National Park System for our coverage. But with 418 units out there, we can't be everywhere. With that understood, we could use your help in pointing out stories in the parks that deserve coverage.
Wildlife issues? Management issues? Great destinations or trails? Lodging concerns? Unique interpretation programs? Park staff who go above and beyond what is required and deserve to be profiled?
While we can't promise we can tackle all your suggestions, we would like to hear from you about news or feature ideas that merit coverage so others across the country can learn about them.
You can reach us with a comment below, or use the contact button on the menu bar above. We look forward to your ideas!
Comments
Would there be a "market" for some of the old-timers of the NPS to share some reminiscences or some of the really funny tales from the past? There's a long and rich history of our parks and more than just a few great people who helped build it. Perhaps their stories or stories about them would be entertaining and enlightening.
Something like the stories in the Hey Ranger books?
Yup.
I may be biased, but I'd love to read Lee Dalton's old-timer's perspectives and tall tales (I mean reminiscences). And I'd love to read more from Harry about the institutional history of NPS: brilliance, luck, mistakes, compromises, failures, warts & all.
If folks really want stories about "studies" I can probably point Kurt to some from NPS folks as well as USGS and academics. NPS is starting to emphasize "science communication", so it shouldn't be hard to get some of those folks to push content toward Kurt for him to run or skip.
Kurt, I love that your always looking to make your website better. Continuing Improvement. I love your variety of stories and coverage. I have said this once before, but I would love to see maps of where you are talking about. Or at least a link to a map. Could be google maps or NPS Park map.
I think tales of old would be great. The "good old days" vs today. How have the responsibilities of the Rangers changed and the work itself. Same for the Parks, the facilities (or lack there of) and the visitors themselves. What did it cost a family to visit vs today? How does compensation, (pay and benefits compare)? Stories of feeding the bears, types of programs offered then vs now etc....
I agree with the above sentiments about more historical articles about how park management and interpretations have changed. It would also be great to see some pieces about some of the older NPS units now not in the park system(like Mackinac Island, the second NP designated following Yellowstone and Fossil Cyad, a NM that actually "disappeared"). Also, some about potential future candidates for inclusion in the park system.
How about shining some light on organizations like the ATC who claim to support the paks but do very little for them. The ATC has a budget of about $10,000,000 but only spends about $200,000 on the actual trail. God bless the volenteers who do all the work.