The Power of Your Voice

My journey as a national park advocate began during a family trip to Yosemite National Park when I was 10. Growing up in Tennessee, surrounded by the rolling peaks of the Smokies, I always felt a deep connection to the mountains. They made my heart happy. But, setting my eyes on Half Dome left an indelible mark on me. The magnitude of that granite face, standing thousands of feet above Yosemite Valley, was nothing short of amazing! Gazing at this iconic rock formation’s towering grandeur, I was struck by a different kind of awe. Never had I felt so small, yet so empowered at the same time.

In that moment, I understood the power of our national parks, both in their immense size and their ability to endure. But even more so, I understood the importance of protecting this place, and places like it, so that everyone could have an opportunity to experience what I did.

Armed with passion for a new cause, I was eager to learn more. And over time, I began to realize the impact of my time, energy and voice in raising awareness for the future of our most treasured places. This journey eventually led me to a communications position with the National Parks Conservation Association, where I now have even more opportunities to apply my passion and professional skills toward making a difference.

But becoming a national park advocate didn’t happen overnight. My journey had challenges, especially when progress was slow or park causes faced opposition. Yet, victories, no matter how small, serve as reminders of why this work matters and why my voice matters.

And not everyone needs to be employed in conservation to make a difference, either. There are countless ways to support and protect our parks, and these actions add up.

Here are suggestions for how to start your own park-protector journey.

Speak up — your voice matters

When park advocates speak up for the future of their national parks and communities, change is possible. And the good news is that anyone can advocate for their parks.

Stephen Mather, the first director of the National Park Service and founder of NPCA, knew that our parks needed an independent organization of informed citizens to be their voice. “The parks do not belong to one state or to one section… The Yosemite, the Yellowstone, the Grand Canyon are national properties in which every citizen has a vested interest; they belong as much to the man of Massachusetts, of Michigan, of Florida, as they do to the people of California, of Wyoming, and of Arizona,” he said.

Because parks belong to the public, elected officials have a responsibility to know what their constituents care about and the reasons why they support or oppose important issues. Members of Congress approve funding for parks and have the power to designate parks, and they must be able to justify their decisions. In turn, voters have an opportunity to hold those elected leaders accountable at the ballot box. This represents democracy at its best, and why national park advocates can win on important issues by staying in touch with their members of Congress.

Boost your know-how with NPCA’s online ‘Crash Course’

We understand that government processes can be complicated, with many rules, steps and decision makers. The ways in which the public can engage in these decisions can feel just as confusing.

NPCA can help! Our new National Park Advocacy Crash Course is designed to educate, engage and empower people to be national park advocates. Think of this as your personal national park advocacy guide that you can refer to any time you want to learn all about what policies impact your parks and how you can engage in the process.

Ever wondered how the National Park Service was created? Or what an executive order is and how it impacts parks? This resource breaks down the processes, the agencies, the acronyms and the systems to show how and why park advocacy can be so powerful. Let’s create a national parks movement and stand together to protect what unites us!

We are stronger together

Each step forward is a step toward ensuring that our national parks and all they represent remain protected. Whether getting your hands dirty in a park, raising awareness on social media or influencing policies, every action counts. And when we combine those efforts and stand together, we can ensure that our parks continue to inspire generations to come.

Advocacy is a powerful tool for change. NPCA has been advocating for national parks for over a century, and we’ve seen our efforts pay off time and time again. Through our efforts, and the efforts of our more than 1.6 million members and supporters, NPCA has helped to stop what would have been the nation’s largest landfill on the border of Joshua Tree, save the Grand Canyon from massive commercial development, and defeat a proposal to dam the Yellowstone River, just to name a few examples.

NPCA invites everyone who shares a love for our national parks to get involved in whatever capacity they can. My childhood experience in Yosemite sparked my engagement. What will spark yours?