In today's world, non-profit "partner" groups play an increasingly important role in providing funding for a variety of activities in many national parks. Two key players at Yosemite National Park have announced they are joining forces and merging into a single organization.

Big Bend National Park officials are drawing up a wilderness proposal that could come into play if someone in Congress proposes wilderness legislation for the park. While many have been calling for officially designated wilderness in the park, the proposal is drawing some concern for the wide buffer zones it would create for roads. Park officials, though, maintain the wide corridors are needed to address such things as archaeological and paleontological sites as well as flash-floods.

Ahhh, you know winter is almost at full force when the folks at Voyageurs National Park start issuing advisories on ice conditions in the park.

Mother Nature doesn’t give a hoot about international park exchanges. When a Mongolian delegation recently visited Colorado National Monument, they were greeted by minus-four cold and foot-deep snow. This didn’t deter them, their TNC sponsors, or the park staff.