Other media watch us...and occasionally follow our lead. In mid-February we published a story about a lawsuit filed against Booz Allen Hamilton, which manages recreation.gov for the federal government. The story revolved around the many fees you encounter when you try to reserve a campsite or climb Mount Whitney or run a river in the parks. Three weeks ago, the Wall Street Journal ran the same story. On April 19, we reported on the National Park Service's continued low ranking in the Best Places To Work In Federal Government survey. Last week Backpacker mirrored the story and even linked to the Traveler concerning Capitol Reef National Park's loss of 15 percent of its workforce between 2000 and 2019 while visitation was doubling.

We also work to let you know when road construction in the parks might interfere with your travel plans, when the National Park Service is seeking public comment on management proposals, and even how to get some great photos on your park adventures.

Beyond the hard news that flows out of the park system, we bring you travel-related stories. Last week Kim Kobersmith wrote an interesting piece on Hopewell Culture National Historical Park, the latest article tied to our pledge to point to overlooked gems across the park system. 

We also have a story on the ancient "salt trails" that wind through parts of Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument coming your way, another in the works on the historic "acequia"at San Antonio Missions National Historical Park, and one on the Saugenay-St. Lawrence Marine Park's mission to protect the endangered St. Lawrence beluga.

And we're working to bring you more science-related coverage from the National Park System, in part because the parks should be considered the canaries in the coal mine in terms of healthy ecosystems and simply because there are so many fascinating stories from the parks to tell.

And, if you weren't aware, we tell some of these stories and bring you interviews with newsmakers in our weekly podcasts. This past Sunday we sat down with Yellowstone National Park Superintendent Cam Sholly to discuss his park's "State of the Park" report that examines a wide range of issues, from natural resource health to the mental health of Yellowstone employees.

All this coverage is free for readers and listeners, because the parks belong to you and you should know how they're being managed and how you can get the most out of your national park vacation. But make no mistake, we rely on your donations to make this coverage possible. Your support can help us elevate all areas of our coverage. While we have typically relied greatly on our year-end fundraising campaign to cover the costs of the National Parks Traveler, growing our coverage comes with additional costs throughout the year.

If you agree with our slogan, that Traveler's coverage is essential, please consider a donation today. You might also ask your employer if they'll match your donation, or if they'll donate to the Traveler through Benevity, which offers a portal for donations to scores of nonprofit organizations. 

As news organizations continue to shrink or go out of business, it's key that there's a sustainable outlet for keeping you informed about all things national parks. Find out how you can help ensure that our Essential Coverage for Essential Places endures at this page.

Also, we're looking to add one or two members to our board of directors who can help burnish our reputation as the world’s top-rated editorial organization when it comes to national parks coverage. If you or someone you know can bring diverse skills, ideas, and perspectives to our team to help build on the Traveler's strategic plan and expand its editorial offerings and technologies, please contact me. — Kurt Repanshek, founder, editor-in-chief