The Mountaineers
Today our National Parks celebrate their 100th birthday! We're lucky to have three parks to explore in our own backyard. Whether climbing to Camp Muir on Rainer, paddling across Ross Lake in the North Cascades, or hiking the Hoh Rainforest in the Olympics, these breathtaking places are a gift to all of us every day.
Our National Parks are the legacy of our forefathers. They're your heritage and need your protection. In celebration of the National Park Centennial, we invite you to give a gift to honor these wild places and help ensure future generations of Mountaineers will be leading the way as protectors of our National Parks.
"These wild places are an immeasurably generous gift from previous generations. They provide all of us, regardless of what we have and where we come from, the opportunity for personal challenge and spiritual renewal. They give us the opportunity to forge, in a uniquely American way, who we are and what we will become." - Alex Honnold, climber & Mountaineers supporter
Our goal is to raise $20,000 to get kids outside, especially kids who don't have a way to experience outdoor adventures without your help. You can help turn kids into future protectors with a tax-deductible donation to The Mountaineers Our Parks | Your Adventure challenge. Share your love for the outdoors with youth today.
Celebrate!
To celebrate your National Parks, check out some of our favorite resources to learn about their history, how you can get outside today, and where the Parks are going in the future:
History
- 100 milestones that got the National Parks Service to 100-years.
- Did you know early Mountaineers members helped to establish Olympic National Park? We helped with Rainier and the North Cascades too, and when Japan wanted to establish Mt. Fuji National Park, they called us!
- Recently, history was made with the completion of the first Rainier Infinity Loop, a 99-hour, 120-mile, 40,000ft suffer-fest/fundraising climb to inspire others to give to get more kids into our national parks.
- President Obama creates a new National Monument in Maine.
Get Outside
- Entrance fees are waived August 25-28. Which park will you visit?
- 100 ways to celebrate the centennial in Washington. We especially like # 73 and #84.
- Join the national party - hundreds of events are planned happening across the country: www.FindYourPark.com
The Future
- More from Alex Honnold: "There’s a business argument to defending our parks and public lands: they make possible America’s outdoor recreation economy, which generates $646bn in consumer spending and 6.1m direct jobs. But something more fundamental is at stake."
- A look at the future of our national parks from the Centennial Business Retreat.
- Our National Parks are great, but still have some work to do when it comes to diversity.
- Why it matters who you see in outdoor media.
Just for fun
- Did you know we published a book about our National Parks? We may be biased, but we think it's pretty good.
- A throwback Yogi Bear cartoon where he just can't escape the park!
