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National Parks Traveler Podcast

National Parks Traveler Episode 82: Covid-19's Impact On Outdoor Rec, & Outdoor Afro Fundraiser

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In this week’s show, we take a look at the outdoor recreation industry and how it has been impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. Overall, the industry has been hard hit, but there are some bright spots. Jessica Turner, executive director of the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable, and the organization's vice president, Lindsey Davis, discuss the state of the industry amid the coronavirus pandemic. We also take a look at the upcoming fundraiser for Outdoor Afro. Yosemite National Park Ranger Shelton Johnson will host the fundraiser for the organization that inspires and facilitates the connection of Black Americans to natural spaces everywhere.

National Parks Traveler Episode 81: Yosemite Turns Into Assateague, And Species Extinction

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In this week’s show, we question whether national parks can serve as a barrier to slow the sixth mass extinction. 

Certainly, the large landscape parks such as Yellowstone and Yosemite and Grand Canyon offer the habitat many species require. But parks are slowly being hemmed in by development, making it harder and harder for species to follow their natural paths across the landscape. 

So can they slow the sixth mass extinction? We’re going to be taking a look at that in the coming weeks and months, and today we’ll lay out that proposal in an essay.

National Parks Traveler Episode 80: Pandemics And The National Parks

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In this week’s show, we’re focusing on the current coronavirus pandemic as well as the 1918 flu pandemic and how those diseases impacted national park visitation. After discussing those two pandemics with Professor Terence Young from California Polytechnic State University, we visit with contributing writer Rita Beamish, who tried to escape the current pandemic by taking to the John Muir Trail for nine days. She found that many other hikers were being careful by keeping their distance and wearing face masks when necessary, while others were more cavalier.

National Parks Traveler Episode 78: Using Satellites To Spot Wildfires In National Parks

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An early detection of a wildland fire in Denali National Park in June brings to light how enhanced satellite technology is catching smaller fires sooner, providing better detail and more accurate fire predictions and assessments.  As a result, fire managers are better able to determine needed actions and resources to meet the unique conditions of Alaska’s landscape.

National Parks Traveler Episode 77: July's National Parks News Roundup

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In this week’s show, we look back at the top news stories from the park system in July. There was the passage of the Great American Outdoors Act by Congress, the ongoing issue of the coronavirus pandemic and how parks have been dealing with it, and news that the renowned Sea Turtle Science and Recovery Program at Padre Island National Seashore is to be greatly scaled back.

National Parks Traveler Episode 75: North Cascades Institute's Park Connections

Nature is an incredibly powerful and successful teacher. Of course, students need teachers to deliver the lessons. That’s where Residential Environmental Learning Centers come into play in national parks.

Organizations like NatureBridge, the Cuyahoga Valley Institute, the Yellowstone Institute, the Great Smoky Mountains Institute. And the North Cascades Institute. These nonprofit organizations use national parks as their classrooms.

National Parks Traveler Episode 74: National Park Acoustics, Wildfire Ecology

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Take a close listen next time you visit a national park. What do you hear? What can you hear? We’ll share some of the sounds in a minute in this week's episode with hopes they inspire you to let your ears play a greater role in your enjoyment during your national park visit.

To listen to more natural sounds from the National Park System, check out the Sound and Light Ecology Team's website at Colorado State University.

National Parks Traveler Episode 73: Teaching Children Well In National Parks

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Residential environmental learning centers provide a unique approach to teaching about the world of nature.  With magnificent settings in the national parks, these nonprofit organizations provide the expertise and take the time to guide students to a deeper understanding and appreciation conservation, ecosystems and the larger natural world beyond the borders of the national parks. 

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The easiest way to explore RV-friendly National Park campgrounds.

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Our app is packed with RVing- specific details on more than 250 campgrounds in more than 70 national parks.

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