New Leadership, New Resolve: NPCA’s Moment to Defend America’s Parks Without Compromise

Values Worth Fighting For

The National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) is America’s oldest and largest non-profit dedicated to protecting our national parks. The organization recently announced that Theresa Pierno, its longtime President and Chief Executive Officer, is stepping down. In the press release, Pierno described the decision as “deeply difficult."

In a former chapter of my career, I had the privilege of working for NPCA and under Theresa’s leadership. While I’m no longer directly involved and don’t have insider information, I can say this. If Theresa is anything like I remember, she likely struggled with this decision because of how deeply she believes in the mission. She knows, firsthand, the powerful, often life-changing opportunity NPCA offers its staff and supporters to take meaningful, effective action on behalf of some of America’s most cherished places and ideals.

NPCA has long prided itself on being a nonpartisan organization, describing itself as “the only independent, nonpartisan organization dedicated to advocacy on behalf of the National Park System.” For decades, this approach worked well. By appealing to a broad cross-section of the political spectrum, NPCA helped achieve landmark conservation victories, from wilderness designations to air and water protections. The idea was simple but profound: everyone, regardless of party, should support preserving our shared national treasures.

But today’s political landscape is no longer defined by good-faith debates over the priorities or management of public lands. We now confront a much more existential threat, one in which some factions question whether the federal government should even own or manage public lands at all. This is a fundamentally different fight!

Under the Trump administration, for example, we witnessed a series of unprecedented rollbacks and attacks on public lands and the National Park Service itself. These include proposals to dramatically reduce the number of national parks and monuments, renewed pushes for resource extraction on public lands, censorship of scientific research, the erasure of Black, Indigenous, and other marginalized histories from park interpretive materials, the shuttering of the agency’s premier training facilities, erecting statues to traitors, and the firing or termination of hundreds of career park rangers. These actions aren’t policy tweaks; they are calculated steps to weaken the very foundations of America’s national park legacy.

In that context, Theresa's decision to step aside may reflect a recognition that a new era requires a new kind of leadership.

If NPCA is to remain the nation’s most influential and effective defender of the National Park System, it must reassess its stance on nonpartisanship, at least for now. Being nonpartisan should never mean being neutral in the face of harm. When one side of the political spectrum is actively undermining the park system’s integrity, science, history, and future, staying silent or striving for neutrality can become a form of complicity.

Instead, NPCA must recommit to its core mission and values, and, when necessary, take unapologetically strong positions in defense of the parks. That includes publicly opposing any political administration, regardless of party, whose policies threaten park resources, access, staffing, or public trust. It means mobilizing its members, supporting litigation and legislation, leading protests, and flooding congressional offices with constituent voices demanding better.

Now more than ever, NPCA needs a leader who will not flinch, someone with a bold, visionary, and uncompromising commitment to protecting America’s natural and cultural heritage. A leader who understands that our national parks are not just pretty landscapes or economic engines, but are essential to our national identity, our environmental resilience, and our shared story.

The national park system we know today didn’t emerge by accident. At the time of Yellowstone’s founding, powerful interests sought to privatize, exploit, and develop nearly every acre of the American West. But a few determined individuals like Henry Washburn, Nathaniel Langford, and Ferdinand Hayden pushed back. They believed places like Yellowstone and future parks like Glacier, Gettysburg, and beyond should belong to all Americans, not just the privileged few.

Their vision gave us one of the most admired and imitated public land systems in the world. But that vision is under threat.

If we are to honor their legacy and safeguard these lands for future generations, we must be willing to fight for it. That fight begins now.

If you are a member of NPCA, I encourage you to contact the organization and advocate for a leader who will rise to this moment, someone who understands the gravity of what’s at stake and is ready to act with urgency, resolve, and principles. Our parks deserve nothing less.

The next generation is counting on us.

###

Meet Sean Smith, a master of conservation, adventure, and storytelling! This award-winning
A conservationist and former National Park and Forest Ranger has trekked through the wilderness of Yellowstone, Glacier, Mount St. Helens, and the North Cascades, keeping nature safe with his trusty ranger hat and boots. But Sean's talents don't stop there. He's a TEDx speaker and even a private pilot.

But amidst all these adventures, Sean's heart beats for storytelling. He's been spinning tales since childhood, and now he writes thrilling national park novels that'll have you hooked from the first page. Imagine the drama and mystery of the mountains combined with the adrenaline of a rollercoaster ride. That's what you'll find in Sean's books, set against the majestic backdrop of Yellowstone, Gettysburg, and Mount Rainier. His most recent thriller is set in Glacier and will drop later this year.

So, if you're craving an escape into the wild, look no further. Grab a copy of Sean's novels and prepare for an unforgettable adventure. These stories will transport you to the heart of the national parks, where danger lurks and heroes rise. Don't miss out! Find all his captivating novels right here and in the QR code included. 

National Monuments Under Attack: DOJ’s Ruling Opens Door to the erasure of dozens of National Park Sites

In a quiet yet seismic legal shift, the U.S. Department of Justice under Donald Trump has declared that presidents have the authority not only to create national monuments but also to revoke or eliminate them if those sites were not explicitly authorized by Congress. This reversal of longstanding legal interpretation sets a dangerous precedent and places dozens of America’s most treasured public lands, historic landmarks, and cultural sites at risk.

For more than a century, the Antiquities Act of 1906 has been used by presidents of both parties to safeguard America’s natural and cultural heritage—from the cliffs of Devils Tower to the sacred ground of Bears Ears. Until now, it was widely understood that while the Act granted the president the power to designate monuments, only Congress had the authority to abolish them. That understanding was upheld in law, policy, and practice for generations. But with the Justice Department’s new opinion, the door is now wide open for a future administration, particularly one hostile to conservation, to unilaterally gut the agencies like the National Park Service by eliminating monuments with the stroke of a pen.

🔥 What’s at Risk?

This decision affects every national monument that has not been codified by Congress, which includes many of the nearly 90 national monuments managed by the National Park Service (NPS). These sites were created by presidential proclamation under the Antiquities Act but never received legislative backing. That makes them vulnerable.

Among the beloved national monuments that could now be at risk are:

• Devils Tower (WY) – the very first national monument, designated in 1906

• Stonewall (NY) – the first LGBTQ+ national monument

• African Burial Ground (NY) – honoring enslaved Africans in colonial America

• César E. Chávez (CA) – commemorating the farmworker movement

• Birmingham Civil Rights, Freedom Riders, and Emmett Till & Mamie Till-Mobley – vital monuments preserving our civil rights history

• Statue of Liberty, our nation's universal symbol of freedom and democracy.

• And dozens more, including sacred Indigenous lands, volcanic landscapes, ancient ruins, and fossil beds

In short, some of the most diverse and inclusive sites in our National Park System—places that tell stories long overlooked or deliberately erased—are now themselves vulnerable to erasure.

🏗️ What Happens If a Monument Is Revoked?

If a national monument designation is revoked, the consequences go far beyond symbolic loss. Management of the land would likely revert to whichever federal agency originally held jurisdiction, most often the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) or the U.S. Forest Service. These agencies do not have the same protective mandates as the National Park Service and often manage land for multiple uses, including grazing, logging, mining, and oil and gas drilling. Without monument protections, cultural sites could lose archaeological safeguards, historic structures might fall into neglect, and landscapes once protected from industrial encroachment could be auctioned off for oil and gas leasing or hardrock mining. Questions would immediately arise: Who is responsible for visitor services? What happens to tribal co-management agreements? Are ongoing educational or scientific programs canceled? The answers, unfortunately, are murky, and none bode well for the integrity of the site or its long-term stewardship.

⚖️ The Legal Shift

The Justice Department's new stance overturns prior legal interpretations that treated monument designations as permanent unless Congress decided otherwise. It aligns with actions taken during the Trump administration's first term, when it attempted to dramatically shrink Bears Ears and Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monuments—though those actions faced lawsuits and were ultimately reversed by President Biden.

But with this legal opinion now on the books, a future president could go much further, eliminating monuments entirely, especially those not politically favored. And unless Congress has passed legislation to formally authorize the monument, there appears to be little legal recourse.

🚨 Why This Matters

The National Park System is often called “America’s best idea.” But this decision threatens to reduce our best idea to a partisan plaything—subject to the whims of presidents who see conservation as a barrier to industry, extraction, or political ideology.

📣 What You Can Do

Concerned citizens must act now to protect these irreplaceable treasures:

1. Contact your members of Congress and demand that they pass legislation to codify at-risk national monuments, starting with those most threatened.

2. Support organizations fighting for public lands, such as the National Parks Conservation Association, the Wilderness Society, and Earthjustice.

3. Spread the word. Share this story, educate your community, and vote for leaders who value conservation, not exploitation.

4. Demand a legislative fix. Congress must amend the Antiquities Act or pass companion legislation ensuring that once designated, national monuments cannot be abolished by presidential fiat.

📍 Conclusion

If the Antiquities Act can be turned into a tool for destruction instead of protection, no national monument is safe. The legacy of Theodore Roosevelt, the vision of environmental stewards like Rachel Carson and David Brower, the voices of civil rights champions like Cesar Chavez and John Lewis—all could be silenced if we don’t act.

The monuments belong to all Americans, not to any one president. Let’s keep them that way.

###

Meet Sean Smith, a master of conservation, adventure, and storytelling! This award-winning
A conservationist and former National Park and Forest Ranger has trekked through the wilderness of Yellowstone, Glacier, Mount St. Helens, and the North Cascades, keeping nature safe with his trusty ranger hat and boots. But Sean's talents don't stop there. He's a TEDx speaker and even a private pilot.

But amidst all these adventures, Sean's heart beats for storytelling. He's been spinning tales since childhood, and now he writes thrilling national park novels that'll have you hooked from the first page. Imagine the drama and mystery of the mountains combined with the adrenaline of a rollercoaster ride. That's what you'll find in Sean's books, set against the majestic backdrop of Yellowstone, Gettysburg, and Mount Rainier. His most recent thriller is set in Glacier and will drop later this year.

So, if you're craving an escape into the wild, look no further. Grab a copy of Sean's novels and prepare for an unforgettable adventure. These stories will transport you to the heart of the national parks, where danger lurks and heroes rise. Don't miss out! Find all his captivating novels right here and in the QR code included. 

A Beautiful Bill? Not for Our Parks: Why H.R. 1 Threatens America’s Public Lands

On May 22, 2025, the U.S. House of Representatives narrowly passed the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" (H.R. 1) with a vote of 215–214, and one member voting present. This bloated legislation aligns with  President Donald Trump's agenda, encompassing significant tax cuts, reductions in social programs, and substantial changes to public land management policies. The bill now advances to the Senate, where it faces further deliberation. The Senate is expected to take up the bill in June.

Impacts on Public Lands and National Parks

H.R. 1 introduces several provisions that could profoundly affect the management and preservation of America's public lands:

• Rescission of Conservation Funds: The bill rescinds unobligated balances from the Inflation Reduction Act allocated to the National Park Service and Bureau of Land Management, totaling approximately $267 million. This could hinder staffing, maintenance, and conservation projects in national parks.

• Prohibition on Implementing Certain Resource Management Plans: H.R. 1 prohibits the implementation of specific resource management plans, such as those for the Grand Junction and Colorado River Valley Field Offices in Colorado. This restriction may limit the BLM's ability to manage land use effectively in these areas.

• Expansion of Fossil Fuel Development: By mandating the leasing of all lands nominated by the oil and gas industry in several states, the bill prioritizes fossil fuel development, potentially at the expense of environmental conservation and recreation.

• Reduced Environmental Oversight: The bill includes provisions that may weaken environmental regulations, such as rescinding funds for environmental reviews, potentially leading to unchecked development.

• Impact on Wildlife and Ecosystems: Increased industrial activities near protected areas could disrupt wildlife habitats, migration patterns, and overall ecosystem health, affecting biodiversity and natural processes.

• Potential Decline in Tourism and Recreation: Environmental degradation and reduced funding for park services may diminish the quality of visitor experiences, potentially leading to a decline in tourism-related revenue for local communities.

• Air and Water Quality Concerns: Expanded drilling and mining activities raise concerns about pollution, which could affect air and water quality in and around national parks, posing risks to both ecosystems and public health.

Conservation Groups' Perspectives

Several environmental and conservation organizations have voiced strong opposition to H.R. 1:

• National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA): The NPCA opposes H.R. 1, stating that it undermines the protection and enhancement of the National Park System by rescinding critical funding and promoting fossil fuel development near protected areas.

• The Wilderness Society: This organization criticizes the bill for opening vast areas to drilling, mining, and logging, arguing that it prioritizes industrial interests over environmental protection and public enjoyment of natural spaces.

• Backcountry Hunters & Anglers (BHA): While BHA applauds the removal of a provision that would have sold off public lands, it continues to oppose aspects of the bill that expedite development in intact fish and wildlife habitats.

Call to Action

The "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" poses significant threats to the preservation and responsible management of America's public lands and national parks. If you are concerned about the potential impacts of this legislation, consider taking the following actions:

Contact Your Senators: Reach out to your U.S. Senators to express your opposition to H.R. 1 and urge them to vote against the bill. Republican opposition is key to killing or amending the objectionable aspects of the bill. Below is a list of Senators who are up for re-election in 2026 and won their last election by 53% or less. Meanwhile, Senator McConnell is retiring and should be free to vote his conscience on the bill. 

• Senator Susan Collins (R-ME)

  • Phone: (202) 224-2523

  • Email: Contact Form

• Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA)

  • Phone: (202) 224-3254

  • Email: Contact Form

• Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC)

  • Phone: (202) 224-6342

  • Email: Contact Form

• Senator John Cornyn (R-TX)

  • Phone: (202) 224-2934

  • Email: Contact Form

• Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY)

  • Phone: (202) 224-2541

  • Email: Contact Form

Conclusion

The “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” is a sweeping piece of legislation with consequences that extend far beyond fiscal policy. For America’s public lands—our national parks, wildlife refuges, forests, and open spaces—it represents a profound shift away from stewardship and sustainability toward short-term exploitation and deregulation. From gutting conservation funds to mandating oil and gas leasing near protected areas, the bill jeopardizes the health of ecosystems, the viability of wildlife, the quality of outdoor recreation, and the future of our shared natural heritage.

We are at a critical juncture. The Senate now holds the power to stop this bill and safeguard the places that define our national identity. Our parks and public lands cannot speak for themselves—they need us to do it for them.

Let your voice be heard. Speak out. Stand up. And help ensure that the legacy we pass on is one of protection, not neglect.

National Park Friends? It's time to take your Public Lands relationship to the next level

America’s national parks are often called our “best idea.” But ideas live or die on their defenders' strength, not their friends' warmth. In 2025, parks face political indifference—and in some corridors, outright hostility—that “friendship” can’t fix. They need unapologetic, unwavering champions ready to fight for the principle that some places belong to all of us, forever.

A Radical Idea, Born of Conviction

When Congress created Yellowstone in 1872, it wasn’t because lawmakers felt generous; it was because a few visionaries refused to let a geologic wonder become just another railroad asset or mining claim. From Stephen Mather’s high-pressure lobbying for a dedicated National Park Service in 1916 to the New Deal expansion of park infrastructure, progress came only when citizens battled powerful commercial interests and forced Congress to act.

Watchdogs, Not Wallflowers

Recognizing that parks would always need outside muscle, advocates founded the National Parks Conservation Association in 1919. For decades NPCA—and later groups like the Wilderness Society—were relentless watchdogs: testifying on Capitol Hill, suing when needed, and calling out bad policy by name. They proved that vigilance, not politeness, is what keeps public land public.

From Advocacy to “Friendship”

Beginning in the 1980s, a new wave of “friends groups” cropped up to support individual parks. Their volunteer projects, donor drives, and youth programs are invaluable, but by design, they shy away from controversy. Cozy relationships with gate-keeper superintendents make it hard for many to challenge systemic threats like underfunding, inappropriate uses, or protection rollbacks. Over time, even some national organizations softened their bark, trusting the long-held belief that parks will be forever protected by their rock-solid, bipartisan love.

The Myth that "Bipartisan Support" will protect our parks Is Collapsing

Today, that faith looks naïve. The President, as well as a vocal bloc in Congress openly question park protections and in some cases whether the federal government should manage land at all. They float proposals to sell off parcels or dispose of park holdings, peel back monument designations, and slash Park Service budgets. Social-media soundbites about “land grabs” and “elite playgrounds” attract quick partisan clicks while park roads crumble and iconic species teeter.

Partisan primaries are pouring gasoline on this fire 

Gerrymandered districts and hyper-polarized media reward candidates who treat compromise as betrayal. Lawmakers now fear a primary from the extreme wing of their own party far more than a November loss, so reaching across the aisle—even on once-sacred ground like protecting national parks—has become politically toxic. Goodwill is melting faster than a receding Glacier in the face of climate change, at least for the foreseeable future. The notion of “automatic” bipartisan support among lawmakers for conservation is likely a relic. Until the election incentives change, defending public lands rests squarely on engaged citizens willing to make noise and apply pressure.

Why This Fight Matters for Democracy

National parks are more than postcard scenery; they are physical proof of a democratic promise—that certain treasures belong to everyone, regardless of wealth or zip code. Hand federal stewardship over to the highest bidder, and that promise evaporates. Public lands would be diced into high-priced subdivisions, fee-for-entry fiefdoms, or resource extraction zones, decided not by public interest but by who can buy a plot or lobby a legislature.

Disposing of the public domain also erodes civic faith. If our government can’t even safeguard the vistas etched onto our license plates—Yosemite’s granite face, the Everglades’ slow river of grass—why trust it to protect voting rights, drinking water, or a livable climate? Defending parks is defending the idea that, in a democratic republic, people can come together through their governmental institutions to solve big problems and make our collective lives better.

And make no mistake: this fight is not a spectator sport. Defending national parks—like defending our democracy—requires constant effort, continually applied. It means showing up, speaking out, and staying engaged even when the headlines are bleak. Thomas Jefferson is often quoted as saying, “The price of freedom is eternal vigilance.” That vigilance must now be applied with full force.

Our Gettysburg Moment

While we are not embroiled in a Civil War, we are undeniably living through a constitutional crisis that threatens our republic's foundations just as surely as any cannon fire once did. The Trump administration’s efforts to undermine national parks, weaken federal oversight, and erode democratic norms are part of a broader assault on the common good. And yet, just as President Abraham Lincoln reminded Americans at Gettysburg, even in terrible moments, there is opportunity. The Civil War, he said, offered the chance for “a new birth of freedom.”

So does this moment.

Our generation has been handed the rare, sobering task of recommitting ourselves and our country to its highest ideals: protecting its natural treasures, cultural heritage, and democratic values. If we rise to meet it—if we defend our public lands and republic through the democratic process—future generations will look back on us with pride. Just as we honor the bravery of those who preserved the Union, so too may future generations honor our current effort to protect our parks and democracy.

How to Be an Effective Park Defender

Defending national parks means more than loving them—it means showing up in the political arena where real decisions are made. That starts with writing your members of Congress, especially those who sit on key committees like the House Natural Resources Committee or the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, which oversee park policy and funding. Don’t settle for form letters—demand specific action on legislation, appropriations, and agency oversight. Support organizations with the backbone to sue when laws are violated—groups like NPCA, Earthjustice, the Mountain Pact, or the Center for Biological Diversity. Amplify your voice by submitting letters to your local paper's editor or opinion pieces to build public awareness and pressure. Attend town halls, ask pointed questions, and bring park issues into broader conversations about democracy, climate, and public access. Democracy is a contact sport, and national parks depend on people willing to step onto the field.

Time to Choose: Be a Defender

History tells us parks survive when people raise a ruckus—writing op-eds, packing hearing rooms, funding watchdog litigation, and yes, voting. Polite applause from the sidelines won’t stop appropriations riders or back-door land transfers. So volunteer with your local friends group and demand that these groups speak loudly when our parks and democracy are threatened. Call your representatives, show up at town halls, support litigation when necessary, and refuse to let “federal overreach” become a euphemism for selling off your birthright.

Our national parks and country don’t need more "friends." They need defenders. The question is whether we’re willing to become them—before the next vote, the next budget, and the next landscape slip permanently out of public hands.

###

Meet Sean Smith, a master of conservation, adventure, and storytelling! This award-winning
A conservationist and former National Park and Forest Ranger has trekked through the wilderness of Yellowstone, Glacier, Mount St. Helens, and the North Cascades, keeping nature safe with his trusty ranger hat and boots. But Sean's talents don't stop there. He's a TEDx speaker and even a private pilot.

But amidst all these adventures, Sean's heart beats for storytelling. He's been spinning tales since childhood, and now he writes thrilling national park novels that'll have you hooked from the first page. Imagine the drama and mystery of the mountains combined with the adrenaline of a rollercoaster ride. That's what you'll find in Sean's books, set against the majestic backdrop of Yellowstone, Gettysburg, and Mount Rainier. His most recent thriller is set in Glacier and will drop later this year.

So, if you're craving an escape into the wild, look no further. Grab a copy of Sean's novels and prepare for an unforgettable adventure. These stories will transport you to the heart of the national parks, where danger lurks and heroes rise. Don't miss out! Find all his captivating novels right here and in the QR code included. 

America’s Parks Are Not for Sale: Sounding the Alarm on Trump’s 2026 Budget

In 1872, Congress and President Ulysses S. Grant did something revolutionary—they created Yellowstone National Park, establishing for the first time in human history the idea that land could be preserved not for kings or corporations, but for everyone. That bold vision eventually gave rise to the National Park Service in 1916, with a simple yet profound mission: to conserve the scenery and the natural and historic objects and the wildlife therein... for the enjoyment of future generations.

For over a century, America’s national parks have represented our highest ideals—freedom, democracy, discovery, and stewardship. They are living classrooms, sacred homelands, and wild refuges. From the geysers of Yellowstone to the cliffs of Yosemite, from Civil War battlefields to Selma’s bridge, they preserve not just nature, but narrative—who we were, who we are, and who we hope to become.

Today, that legacy is under attack.

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Trump’s 2026 Budget: A Direct Assault on Public Lands

President Donald Trump’s proposed 2026 budget is nothing short of an existential threat to our national parks and public lands. It slashes $163 billion from non-defense discretionary spending—a staggering 22.6% reduction—gutting the agencies tasked with protecting America’s most cherished places. The National Park Service (NPS), already strained by understaffing and crumbling infrastructure, is among the hardest hit.

Within a few months of this budget’s rollout, the NPS laid off approximately 13% of its staff. Seasonal hiring has slowed to a crawl. Visitors this summer can expect shuttered campgrounds, closed visitor centers, reduced ranger presence, and neglected trails. Behind the scenes, wildlife monitoring, cultural preservation, and wildfire preparedness are quietly vanishing—out of sight, but not without consequence.

And it gets worse.

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Selling the American Inheritance

Beyond the budget cuts lies a more insidious agenda: the privatization and sale of public lands. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum has openly floated the idea that public lands are worth "$100 trillion" and should be monetized. The Trump administration has already begun terminating leases for 34 NPS buildings—including visitor centers and historic landmarks—as part of a broader federal divestment strategy.

Let’s be clear: this is not fiscal responsibility. It is the liquidation of the American legacy.

Our national parks were never intended to turn a profit. They were set aside precisely because they are priceless, irreplaceable treasures that belong to all Americans. But here’s the irony: the economic return on our investment in national parks is staggering. According to the National Park Service, in 2022 alone, park visitors contributed more than $50 billion to the U.S. economy and supported 378,000 jobs. Parks aren’t just sanctuaries of nature and history—they’re economic engines.

To sell or privatize them is to abandon our obligation to future generations. It is to turn sacred lands into playgrounds for the rich and pipelines for the powerful. It is to betray the very idea of a government of the people, by the people, for the people.

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What We Stand to Lose

Privatization and budget cuts threaten:

• Irreplaceable cultural heritage sites that tell the story of American history—warts and all.

• Critical wildlife habitat, including endangered species like grizzly bears, wolves, and condors.

• Indigenous ancestral lands, many of which are protected within park boundaries.

• Scientific research and education—the kind that fuels conservation breakthroughs.

• Affordable access for all Americans, regardless of income or background.

Once lost, these things do not come back. You cannot reintroduce an extinct species. You cannot rewind an oil spill. You cannot buy back a mountain sold to mining interests.

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What We Can Do

We are not powerless—but we must act.

1. Contact your members of Congress and demand full funding for the National Park Service in FY 2026. Remind them these lands belong to the American people, not billionaires or lobbyists.

2. Speak out. Write letters to the editor. Post on social media. Rally your communities. Share stories of what parks mean to you and your family.

3. Support watchdog organizations like the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) and Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER), who are fighting this agenda in the courts and the halls of Congress.

4. Vote—at every level. From city council to the presidency, elect leaders who believe in conservation, science, and public access.

5. Visit your parks this summer, and when you do, notice what’s missing. Then tell your representatives what you saw.

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The Parks Are Calling. Will We Answer?

In 1903, standing at the edge of the Grand Canyon, President Theodore Roosevelt warned: “Leave it as it is. You cannot improve on it. The ages have been at work on it, and man can only mar it.”

Today, we are marring it—not just through neglect but through deliberate policy choices. But we can change course. We must. National parks are not just scenic places. They are moral places. They remind us that some things are worth more than money, and some legacies are too sacred to sell.

Let’s rise to the challenge.

Let’s protect the parks.

Let’s preserve the promise.

###

Meet Sean Smith, a master of conservation, adventure, and storytelling! This award-winning
conservationist and former National Park Ranger has trekked through the wilderness of Yellowstone, Glacier, and the North Cascades, keeping nature safe with his trusty ranger hat and boots. But Sean's talents don't stop there. He's a TEDx speaker and even a private pilot.

But amidst all these adventures, Sean's heart beats for storytelling. He's been spinning tales since childhood, and now he writes thrilling national park novels that'll have you hooked from the first page. Imagine the drama and mystery of the mountains combined with the adrenaline of a rollercoaster ride. That's what you'll find in Sean's books, set against the majestic backdrop of Yellowstone, Gettysburg, and Mount Rainier. His most recent thriller is in Glacier and will drop later this year.

So, if you're craving an escape into the wild, look no further. Grab a copy of Sean's novels and prepare for an unforgettable adventure. These stories will transport you to the heart of the national parks, where danger lurks and heroes rise. Don't miss out! Find all his captivating novels right here and at the included QR code.