Call it our first birthday. Though National Parks Traveler has been around since 2005, today marks the web-magazine's first year as an IRS-recognized nonprofit media organization. Why a nonprofit? So Traveler's mission will endure beyond the current editorial team.
Who would have figured that first year would have seen two national monuments "deconstructed" by President Trump, or Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke propose a doubling, and then some, of entrance fees for 17 iconic units of the National Park System, or a year gone by without a director of the National Park Service?
These stories, and more, have kept the Traveler functioning more as a daily newspaper than a monthly magazine. Whether there's news about national monuments, hurricanes battering the Caribbean and south Florida units of the park system, wildlife stories involving both wolves at Isle Royale and Yellowstone as well as grizzly bears at Yellowstone and the North Cascades Ecosystem, the total solar eclipse dropping its shadow across the parks, or raking the landscape of Big Cypress National Preserve in a search for oil, it's been an extremely newsworthy year.
But there is so much more to cover in the National Park System aside from breaking news. What will you find when you go underground at Jewel Cave National Monument? What design approach will be taken for rebuilding Sperry Chalet at Glacier National Park? What are some of the best campgrounds in the park system? Will Bluff's Lodge ever reopen on the Blue Ridge Parkway? What is being unearthed at Historic Jamestowne?
How the National Park System endures, and is protected, falls on each of us. At National Parks Traveler, our mission is to keep you informed on all that transpires within the parks. Make a donation today to both celebrate our one-year anniversary and to enable us to keep you, and other park lovers, informed on the health, mysteries, and wonders of the parks.
Story Categories:
A copy of National Parks Traveler's financial statements may be obtained by sending a stamped, self-addressed envelope to: National Parks Traveler, P.O. Box 980452, Park City, Utah 84098. National Parks Traveler was formed in the state of Utah for the purpose of informing and educating about national parks and protected areas.
Residents of the following states may obtain a copy of our financial and additional information as stated below:
- Florida: A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION FOR NATIONAL PARKS TRAVELER, (REGISTRATION NO. CH 51659), MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING 800-435-7352 OR VISITING THEIR WEBSITE. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE.
- Georgia: A full and fair description of the programs and financial statement summary of National Parks Traveler is available upon request at the office and phone number indicated above.
- Maryland: Documents and information submitted under the Maryland Solicitations Act are also available, for the cost of postage and copies, from the Secretary of State, State House, Annapolis, MD 21401 (410-974-5534).
- North Carolina: Financial information about this organization and a copy of its license are available from the State Solicitation Licensing Branch at 888-830-4989 or 919-807-2214. The license is not an endorsement by the State.
- Pennsylvania: The official registration and financial information of National Parks Traveler may be obtained from the Pennsylvania Department of State by calling 800-732-0999. Registration does not imply endorsement.
- Virginia: Financial statements are available from the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, 102 Governor Street, Richmond, Virginia 23219.
- Washington: National Parks Traveler is registered with Washington State’s Charities Program as required by law and additional information is available by calling 800-332-4483 or visiting www.sos.wa.gov/charities, or on file at Charities Division, Office of the Secretary of State, State of Washington, Olympia, WA 98504.
National parks and their natural resources belong to you. The National Parks Traveler works to ensure you know how these essential places are being cared for.
Sign Up For Our Weekly Newsletter
Unsubscribe at any time.
INN Member
The easiest way to explore RV-friendly National Park campgrounds.
Here’s the definitive guide to National Park System campgrounds where RVers can park their rigs.
Our app is packed with RVing- specific details on more than 250 campgrounds in more than 70 national parks.
You’ll also find stories about RVing in the parks, tips helpful if you’ve just recently become an RVer, and useful planning suggestions.
Comments
Happy anniversary, Kurt. And thank you for all your work.
Now, the important question. How are we who read Traveler doing in providing support? Are we paying our way?
Lee, in today's world with the ever-present 24-hour news cycle, it's hard to say what's "enough."
Video reports, in-depth articles, great photography, a reliable "stable" of freelancers knowledgeable in national parks and their issues, are not inexpensive. And then there's the entire technological aspect of running a website with global reach.
Traveler is a growing and evolving news magazine, one with a broad, ambitious vision -- exploring the wonders, mysteries and, yes, conflicts, revolving around the world's national parks and protected areas -- that won't be achieved overnight. Yet those stories need to be told, deserve to be told, and greater audiences need to learn about them. That's why we haven't put a paywall in the way. The more folks who can read about national parks, the greater support the parks will have.
Our hope is that readers appreciate this vision, understand that it takes both time and resources to accomplish, and help support it.
To get closer to answering your question, if one of every two readers contributed a dollar per month -- just $12 per year -- we'd expand our content and how it's presented exponentially and virtually overnight.
Happy Birthday, Traveler! It's a wonderful site. You have my gift.
Kurt, I am also happy to have contributed to a good website, and hope your readers are giving you sufficient support. Why haven't you reported the most recent accusations against acting NPS director Dan Smith, currently under investigation by the OIG?
Anony, at the current time, we can't report on every allegation made out there. We simply don't have the resources. Perhaps if we had a Washington, D.C., correspondent focused on covering that angle on a regular basis. We've done some initial exploring of the matter, and some doubt has been raised about the allegation. If the OIG finds substance to it, that'd be another story.
Right now we're plenty busy working on stories about the maintenance backlog and all the ramifications that involves, and there are many, as well as articles for our summer guide to the parks, on top of the daily newsfeed. When you only have one full-time staffer, it adds up quickly.