As you may have heard, the new administration in the United States have been making a lot of changes recently. Our national parks are about to take a hit. But what exactly can you do to support and protect our natural wonders?
What exactly is happening to the National Parks?
Under the Trump administration, national parks are facing serious budget cuts. National parks are not the only departments under fire, as we see the administration makes staffing cuts to the Department of Agriculture, which helps stop wildfires.
In the past week, the national parks across the country have lost over 1000 park rangers and other essential staff. Many people are worried about how the national parks will continue to get by. Lots of parks were already understaffed, and already facing some ominous futures.
Tours are getting canceled due to lack of staff. Parks are facing closures. And this is only the beginning.
What Can You Do?
This all seems pretty ominous, but there is hope! Here are a few things that you can do to keep the parks running as best as possible.
Donate to the National Parks Foundation
If you want to help the national parks with their lack of funding, providing financial support never hurts!
The National Park Foundation is the official charity of the national parks, and is responsible for most of their charitable donations. These donations fund salaries of park staff, preserve natural wonders, and keep these parks beautiful for the public!
I know that money can be tight, and that’s not something I have a lot of at the moment, so I understand if this isn’t a viable option for you. Here are some other, less money related ways you can help!
Support Your Local Friends of the Park Group
Friends of the Park has chapters all across the country. These chapters help gather volunteers and garner fundraising efforts for the parks. Friends of the Park works with their local parks to help them find solutions to their individual needs.
Volunteer Your Time
Check in with your local parks and see if they are accepting new volunteers. volunteering at a national park can look like trail maintenance, visitor education experiences, and so much more!
This can be a really great and meaningful way to spend your time.
Call Your Representatives
If you feel this issue is important to you, call your representative! This is a great way to tell legislators what you want them to focus on. Giving them a phone call is an easy and efficient way to get their attention.
If you don’t want to talk to a real human, call them after hours and leave a message. You can also send an email or even a letter if you want to get a little personal. Remember to always be kind in these messages. We want to get their attention in a positive way, and making progress with someone who is mad at you is never easy.
Visit and Spend Money with the National Parks
Sponsoring organizations you care about is a great way to keep them in business. This year, your business is all the more important to the parks! Make sure you’re putting your money where your passions are, and spend some extra time at the parks. On the bright side, spending time at the parks can get you much needed time in the outdoors.
Keeping your mental health up and your body healthy is a great way to keep light in your life during these challenging times. Staying positive is incredibly important while we face the times ahead. And what better way to do that than spending a bit more time in nature?
Check out the National Park Service Website for more information!
Stay in Touch
Keeping up with the news isn’t my favorite pass time, but it’s important right now! Make sure that you stay up to date with causes and organizations you care about. While the new administration settles in, staying aware is the first step to taking action.
I know that the news can feel like a lot, so make sure to take time for yourself as well.
You can also help by supporting others who sympathize with the cause! This may be blogs like Trailblazing Unleashed, influencers, news networks, politicians, activists and many others! You can also be an advocate yourself! Speak up and speak now!
We have a long road ahead of us, and this is a definitely going to be a marathon rather than a sprint.
Advocate and stay active however you can!
As always, trailblaze on. Now more than ever.
—Kaya, Skully, and Trace
Some images on this post are personal, but the rest are from the National Park Service Website!
Trailblazing Unleashed 
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