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Op-Ed Columns

Op-Ed | The Trust For Public Land: Crisis In Our National Parks

On average in January, nearly half a million people visit our national parks every day. This year, as a result of the federal government shutdown, now the longest in our nation’s history, park-goers have been greeted not just by nature’s majesty, but by mounting piles of garbage and human excrement—fruited plains indeed. During previous government shutdowns, national parks have been closed to visitors, reducing the risk of temporary and permanent damage incurred without full staffing and services. This time, however, the parks remained open—and American citizens and policymakers alike must now take swift and decisive action to combat the potentially disastrous results.

Op-Ed | Coalition To Protect America’s National Parks Urges Improved Training On Ethics Standards

The Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks, the nonprofit organization that consists of over 1,600 members drawn from the ranks of former and current National Park Service employees, has weighed in on the ethics issues that are currently front and center for that agency. Specifically, the Coalition has called for the NPS to undertake far-reaching and detailed reforms to the system it uses to educate its own employees on how to work with donor and partner organizations to raise badly needed support for the nation’s national parks.

Op-Ed | Congressional Democrats Cite Trump Administration Efforts To Muzzle Congress On Monuments

Almost from the day he took office, President Donald Trump’s environmental agenda has put the profits of big corporations ahead of the public interest. While Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke pays lip service to balanced uses of public resources, Trump and his administration have overwhelmingly sided with polluting industries who prefer unchecked resource extraction with minimal public oversight.

Virgin Islands Daily News: Plaskett’s Bill Delays Reopening Of Caneel Bay Resort

The disclosure by Caneel Bay Resort’s Director of Communications Patrick Kidd that the resort would no longer accept guests in order to focus its attention on securing a 60-year, no-bid extension of its lease (a “retained use estate”) is troubling but not surprising.

Essay | 50-Year-Old Lessons From North Cascades National Park Still Relevant, Timely

Fifty years ago, on October 2, 1968, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed North Cascades National Park into law. In certain ways, today looks a lot like 1968. American society is struggling with cultural, racial, gender, and class divides. An unpopular president sits in the White House. And public support for the environment is strong.

Essay | Plan, Think, And Don’t Be Stupid In A National Park

Photographer Rebecca Latson recently completed a 3-week road trip and move from southeast Texas up to central Washington State. During that time, she visited five national parks. In those parks, she saw some pretty stupid stuff such as litter, people driving faster than the posted speed limit, and poor choices in hiking footwear, to name a few things. Rebecca wrote an article of her observations, which are a good reminder for us all to do some planning and be a little more thoughtful of how we treat our national parks as guests.

Op-Ed | We Can’t Afford To Forget Importance Of National Parks And Monuments

There are simple ways to fight incoming threats to the land. For example, utilize the parks and monuments to prove their value, treat them with care to extend their life, and refuse to support parties that ignore issues such as environmental degradation. It is critical that we our protect national parks and monuments against threats of political interference, big-oil targeting, and global climate change so that we can continue to enjoy them and the services they provide.

The Essential RVing Guide

The Essential RVing Guide to the National Parks

The National Parks RVing Guide, aka the Essential RVing Guide To The National Parks, is the definitive guide for RVers seeking information on campgrounds in the National Park System where they can park their rigs. It's available for free for both iPhones and Android models.

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

You'll also find stories about RVing in the parks, some tips if you've just recently turned into an RVer, and some planning suggestions. A bonus that wasn't in the previous eBook or PDF versions of this guide are feeds of Traveler content: you'll find our latest stories as well as our most recent podcasts just a click away.

So whether you have an iPhone or an Android, download this app and start exploring the campgrounds in the National Park System where you can park your rig.