Here’s how you can cut through the noise and make a difference for national parks.
Advocacy is a powerful tool for change. NPCA and our community of park advocates have been speaking out for national parks for over a century… and we’ve seen our work pay off time and time again.
Together we helped stop what would have been the nation’s largest landfill on the border of Joshua Tree, save the Grand Canyon from massive commercial development, defeat a proposal to dam the Yellowstone River and so much more.
But in an age of information overload, with everyday people getting flooded with noise and news, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. If you have trouble seeing the path forward, if you don’t understand how to influence decision makers or if you wonder whether your voice even matters, this crash course is for you!
We’re breaking down the processes, the agencies, the acronyms and the systems. We’re connecting people to parks and policy and helping each and every park advocate see why park advocacy can be so powerful.
Check out our explainers below, learn how park lovers like you can make a difference, then join us in protecting America’s national parks!
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Antiquites Act
Law that lets the president designate places as national monuments.
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Appropriations
Process used by Congress to decide how much money goes to each federal agency and program.
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Bureau of Land Management
Federal agency that manages many of America’s public lands for recreation, grazing, development and conservation.
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Department of the Interior
Federal agency that includes the National Park Service and Bureau of Land Management.
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Executive Orders
A presidential directive that guides federal government operations, carrying the force of law.
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National Park Service
Federal agency responsible for protecting sites within the National Park System.
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Oil and Gas Leasing
Companies are allowed to lease some public lands to drill for oil and gas, even if the lands are near parks.
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Organic Act
Law that created the National Park Service to manage and protect the National Park System.
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Secretary of the Interior
Leader of the Department of the Interior, nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate.
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