I can never go home again. The land that I grew up on, an estate not far from NYC that my parents cared for, but that belonged to someone else, is now in the hands of a new owner and a new family entrusted with its care. That land, to some degree, told me who I am. The trees, the ground beneath my feet and the wildlife provided the details to a family story that grew and changed over time, as family stories do. It held the particulars of my parent’s journey from a small, southern town to New York in the 1950’s, as a poor black couple with big dreams for themselves and their children. Without access to that story, it would be easy to feel unmoored, rootless, and insecure about my place, my past and my future. Who am I? Where did I come from? What does the future hold?

Jonathan Jarvis, the 18th director of the National Park Service, retired today. Who will be his successor? Harry Butowsky, a retired National Park Service historian, outlines some qualities needed in the agency's 19th director.

Stephany Cortez participated in the YouthWorks in the Parks trip to Canyonlands National Park and the Moab area last September that was sponsored by the National Parks Conservation Association, Friends of Arches and Canyonlands Parks, and YouthWorks Salt Lake. She wrote the following essay upon returning home.

With Hispanic Heritage Month now behind us and as the National Park Service Centennial year comes to a close, the time for action is now. From the earliest Spanish explorers to contemporary leaders in civics, the arts and industry, our heritage is an essential part of the American story. Yet, only a few sites in the National Park System currently preserve and interpret such history and culture. Fortunately, there has been some progress in recognizing and protecting these important sites.