Some fun programs, for young and old, are scheduled for the last week of the year at Rocky Mountain National Parks. Kids can gain outdoor lore from rangers, or join their families on a snowshoe hike.

The sesquicentennial of the Civil War continues in 2013, and a series of free lectures at Gettysburg National Military Park will explore some interesting topics. Among the subjects: Separating fact and legend concerning Pickett's Charge and Hollywood vs. history in the story of the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry as told in the 1989 film Glory.

A special program coming to the Discovery Channel on Sunday takes, quite literally, an inside look at Yellowstone National Park.

Congress has been asked to provide nearly $400 million to help National Park System units recover from damages inflicted by "superstorm" Sandy earlier this fall.