Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials once again are looking for volunteers to help them manage both people and elk in the Cataloochee Valley on the North Carolina side of the park.

Late-winter surveys of elk and bison herds in Yellowstone National Park show the animals are maintaining relatively stable populations compared to recent years, according to park biologists.

As this is written, we are at the start of our third day at Cavallo Point, located in California’s Golden Gate National Recreation Area. This is our country’s newest national park lodging facility, although a qualifier is required because the lodge is in a century-old U.S. Army post located just north of the famed Golden Gate Bridget.

A bipartisan group of senators and representatives is being honored for the work on behalf of the nation's parks by the National Recreation and Park Association.