With wildfires burning in many places of the Southeast, and extremely warm and dry conditions in the forests, Great Smoky Mountains National Park has banned all campfires and use of fire grills in the park, while to the north in Shenandoah National Park fire restrictions have been put in place in the South District.

Four weeks, three venerable national parks, three entirely different experiences. And time to mull the future of the National Park System and its caretaker, the National Park Service.

Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell on Thursday announced a new study showing that spring is beginning earlier than its historical average in 75 percent of the national parks examined — providing further evidence that climate change is already impacting public lands. The announcement came during a visit to Shenandoah National Park, one of the sites identified in the study as experiencing the impacts of an early onset of spring.

Shenandoah National Park, along with the Barlow family of Stanley, Virginia, will co-host the 83th Annual Civilian Conservation Corps Alumni Reunion this coming Saturday. The public is invited to meet with families and alumni and hear first-hand about their experiences. Alumni reunion events will take place at the Big Meadows Lodge Massanutten Room (mile 51 Skyline Drive) beginning at 10 a.m. with remarks from park leadership.