Glacier National Park and the Glacier Conservancy are launching an idle free in the park campaign.

There's a program underway at Glacier National Park to help clear the air that could be applied to any park in the National Park System: Be Idle Free, Turn the Key.

Glacier National Park and the Glacier National Park Conservancy started the "Idling Awareness Campaign" to educate visitors and employees about how they can reduce vehicle emissions in order to decrease pollutants that contribute to health problems and climate change. 

Idling pollution, for example, has been linked to respiratory problems such as asthma that increase vulnerability to COVID-19. 

Transportation emissions play a significant role in fueling climate change, the effects of which are seen in the reduction of the park’s namesake glaciers. Vehicle idling occurs in Glacier in parking lots, at scenic viewpoints and trailheads, and while stopped in traffic and road construction.

Glacier has received around 3 million annual visitors in recent years, most traveling by car. Limiting idling times to no more than two minutes will save money on gas and benefit the health of both the public and the park resources. 

Glacier National Park is committed to reducing vehicle idling among employees and the public. Strategies for employees include enactment of a management directive limiting idling time for park vehicles, training visitor-facing staff on idling reduction messaging, and all-employee communications about idling. For park visitors, the campaign will focus on education and outreach. 

The Glacier National Park Conservancy funded the design and printing of stickers depicting cartoon mountain goats traveling in a red vehicle with the slogan, “Be idle free – Turn the key.” The stickers will be free to visitors and will be available from rangers outside the Apgar and Logan Pass visitor centers and in the Rising Sun area. The logo will also be used in park messaging to remind employees and visitors to shut off their vehicles while waiting. 

"This is such an easy way for each of us to do something small that can cumulatively have a big, positive impact", said Doug Mitchell, executive director of the Glacier National Park Conservancy.  "There's just no downside to this innovative program.  Not only will turning our cars off save fuel and make parking lots and pullouts quieter and more enjoyable for all of us, but one simple twist of the wrist by each of us will improve the air quality for all of us, human and animal alike."