National Parks Traveler Episode 59: COVID-19, "Our Wild Calling," And Mission San Juan

This week we talk with National Parks Conservation Association President and CEO Theresa Pierno about the impact coronavirus is having on the National Park System, and check in with author Richard Louv on his latest book, Our Wild Calling: How Connecting with Animals Can Transform our Lives, and Save Theirs. If you visit national parks to view the wildlife, you’ll want to listen to this conversation.

And Lynn Riddick concludes her four-part series on San Antonio Missions National Historical Park with a visit to Mission San Juan.

Mission San Juan at San Antonio Missions National Historical Park

Written and reported by Lynn Riddick

Produced by Jesse Repanshek

:02 National Parks Traveler introduction
:12 Episode introduction with Kurt Repanshek
1:37 Conversation with Theresa Pierno, president and CEO of the National Parks Conservation Association, on the coronavirus pandemic and its impact on the parks.
12:19 National Parks Traveler coronavirus edition promotion
12:41 Friends of Acadia promotion
13:10 RVShare.com promotion
13:48 Conversation with author Richard Louv on his new book, Our Wild Calling: How Connecting with Animals Can Transform our Lives, and Save Theirs
27:33 Yankee Freedom promotion
28:09 North Cascades Institute promotion
28:28 Washington’s National Park Fund promotion
29:05 Conversation with Richard Louv continues
47:28 Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation promotion
47:54 Grand Teton National Park Foundation promotion
48:30 Lynn Riddick concludes her tour of San Antonio Missions National Historical Park with a stop at Mission San Juan
1:10:12 Episode Closing
1:10:31 Orange Tree Productions promotion

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National Parks Traveler Podcast Episode 376 | ESA's Future

Since this past December here at the Traveler we’ve been bringing you a series of stories on the Endangered Species Act and the threatened and endangered species it’s intended to keep from going extinct.

For me, it’s been an eye-opening series because of what our editors and writers have learned about threatened and endangered species — from birds to trees and even to grasses — and the work being done to help them recover. It’s certainly not an easy task, and one that often takes decades before you can see progress.

May 31st, 2026 Read More

National Parks Traveler Podcast Episode 375 | Rethinking Public Lands Stewardship

Public lands stewardship has most definitely changed under the second presidential administration of Donald Trump. Land-management agencies such as the National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service, and Bureau of Land Management have lost thousands of employees, and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum is on a mission to turn the country’s public lands into a cash cow of sorts.

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National Parks Traveler Podcast Episode 374 | Cook Inlet's Beluga Whales

A fast-track proposal to develop a gold mine near Alaska’s Cook Inlet and Lake Clark National Park and Preserve is alarming scientists, environmental groups and local communities because of the devastating effects it is expected to have on the region’s critically endangered beluga whales.

May 17th, 2026 Read More

National Parks Traveler Podcast Episode 373 | Southern Campaign of the American Revolution

America’s 250th birthday is coming up this summer, festivities will be held all over the country, and history buffs will be delving into the various nooks and crannies of the National Park System to see where they can visit sites of Revolutionary War battles.

Don't overlook South Carolina and its three park sites that preserve Revolutionary War battlefields – Kings Mountain National Military Park, Cowpens National Battlefield, and Ninety-Six National Historic Site. 

May 10th, 2026 Read More

National Parks Traveler Podcast Episode 372 | Print Ain’t Dead

We’re living in somewhat tumultuous times in the print media industry. Well-familiar titles are either disappearing, shrinking drastically, or shifting over to the internet. On top of that, the advent of Artificial Intelligence has some readers wondering how much human effort and talent went into the piece they're reading.

May 3rd, 2026 Read More

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The easiest way to explore RV-friendly National Park campgrounds.

The Essential RVing Guide to the National Parks 

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.

The Essential RVing Guide to the National Parks 

FREE for iPhones and Android phones.