National Park Service

The sunset is life’s way of saying, “Good job. You survived today. Here’s something pretty.”

That’s it. Enjoy.

Image: A sunset at Schwabacher Landing with the mountains reflecting on the water at Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming . NPS/J. Koeppel

Pspspspsps responsibly.

Making the pspspspsps noise around wild animals is not recommended. You may think you’re an animal whisperer, but you just insulted their mother and are now surrounded by a horde of angry squirrels.

In conclusion, pspspspsps pspspsps pspspsps pspspspsps! Translation: “Your mother was a hamster and your father smelt of elderberries.” Sorry, we heard that wrong. It’s “Remember to treat wildlife with proper caution and respect.” Our apologies to the hamster.

Find more ways to watch wildlife safely and avoid awkward moments at: https://lnkd.in/g8bgE3C

Graphic of NPS post with text, “Pspspspsps responsibly.“

#wildlife #safety #nationalparks #themoreyouknow

“Crying: Acceptable at funerals and the Grand Canyon.” – Ron Swanson⁣\n⁣\nBut where are the faces? A visit to one of our national parks can awaken a deep appreciation (and maybe some joyous tears, sorry, that’s just something in our eye) for the world around us and inspire a profound sense of awe. \n\nGrand Canyon National Park, unique combinations of geologic color and erosional forms decorate a canyon that is 277 river miles long, up to 18 miles wide, and a mile deep. The Grand Canyon overwhelms our senses through its immense size. Has a visit to the Grand Canyon inspired you? What other parks have left you in a state of awe?⁣\n⁣\nImage: A bench for viewing the canyon from Shoshone Point. NPS/ Michael Quinn

Remember to bring proper shoes for more strenuous walking and hiking. Heels, open toed shoes, and flip flops are usually not ideal. Opt for sturdy, rubber-soled hiking boots with ankle support for dirt and gravel trails or a trusty pair of sneakers for paved, urban pathways.

What else should you bring on your trip? Check out tips to hike smart at: https://lnkd.in/eWw9ukrv

Image: National Park Service post with text, Flippy floppies may lead to sloppy slippies.

“I’m going on an adventure!” - Bilbo Baggins

Whether you’re headed to Mordor to destroy the One Ring, or looking to spend a few days close to the Shire, it’s never too early to plan your next park adventure. The best way to begin a park visit is with a trip to NPS.gov. You don’t even need to leave the hobbit hole. Head online and check out park websites for ideas about where to go, what to see, what to bring, what to do, and most important, what shoes to wear. Well, if shoes are your thing. Nice feet. Kinda hairy.

So, whether embarking on a solo trip or organizing a fellowship (group trips can be fun), flexibility and a backup plan are key. Plan ahead for seasonal changes, road closures, orc encounters, dragons, first and second breakfast options, giant spiders, trolls, and where to park.

Learn more at: https://lnkd.in/etX5_bR

Image: A park ranger looking up at a snow-covered mountain at Mount Rainier National Park. No dragons or talking trees visible. NPS/D. Robinson

The cold never bothered you anyway? Let it go, Elsa. For anyone else, don’t let winter take you by surprise. Colder temperatures, changing weather conditions, snowmen that come to life, and changes in wildlife behavior present challenges to be aware of when visiting national parks. Maybe not the snowman part, unless you’re really cold and also having visions of ice castles, but it’s important to be prepared for your trip and stay alert to have a fun, safe winter adventure. Without mosquitoes. Bonus! Unless you’re in a warm weather park year-round. It’s a trade off.

Learn more at: https://lnkd.in/ezmHg_tK

Image: Screenshot of post with text, “on a positive note…haven’t seen any mosquitoes in weeks.”

It’s not the heat that gets you, it’s the dinosaurs.

Well, also the heat.

Summer inspires us all (let’s be honest, not all of us) to go outside and explore the great outdoors, but your friends may have been so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn’t stop to think if they should. Been there.

If you do head out, hold onto your brochures, and remember that high temperatures and the risk of being stalked by a T-Rex, apologies, or heat illness can happen at any national park. That’s how it always starts, and then later, there’s running and screaming. Sorry about that. Where were we?

🦖 Stay hydrated! It’s important to drink plenty of water. Keep a cup on the dashboard to help quench your thirst while tracking the movement of large reptiles. A refillable water bottle also comes in handy.

🦖 Check the weather forecast before you hit the trail. Make sure and pay attention during your hike and be flexible with your plans in case you need to cut it short because of extreme heat or storms to catch the last shuttle to the dock or visitor center.

🦖 Don’t forget the sunscreen! Avoid becoming a “roast-a-saurus” and reapply sunscreen to protect as much skin as possible when out in the sun.

Finally, remember to thank a ranger for a lovely visit. Stay cool, folks!

Image: Inflatable T-Rex costumed ranger stands on a low Badlands formation Badlands National Park. NPS/Wheeler

Save the date as we turn 108!

Come join the birthday celebration on August 25! The National Park Service was created on August 25, 1916 to “preserve unimpaired the natural and cultural resources and values of the National Park System for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations.“ Over the hundred plus years, we've grown into more than 430 national parks and many programs that reach communities around the country—and even the world!

Learn ways to connect at: https://lnkd.in/dmg8fsR

Thermal features are so hot right now.

Well, most of the time. Yellowstone National Park preserves the most extraordinary collection of hot springs, geysers, mudpots, and fumaroles on Earth. More than 10,000 hydrothermal features are found here, of which more than 500 are geysers.

You can't touch this! Break it down! Boardwalks and trails protect you and delicate thermal formations. Do not touch thermal features or runoff. Water in hot springs can cause severe or fatal burns, and scalding water underlies most of the thin, breakable crust around hot springs.

Image: My, my, my, my! Steam rising from the deep blue water of Sapphire Pool at Yellowstone. NPS/ Jacob Frank

#hotsprings #yellowstone #thermal #nationalpark #safety

I want you to draw me like one of your French sea stars...⁣
⁣
Are you done? It’s been like 84 years.

Also known as the Blue Linckia or Blue Linckia Star, the blue sea star can be found lounging alone on a floating door clearly not big enough for two sea stars (obviously thinking about the inner machinations of its mind, which are an enigma) or in groups over shallow waters exposed to sunlight. They possess a cleverly evolved arsenal of hydraulic tube feet connected to an elaborate water-vascular system that encircles the animal's mouth and extends via five radial canals down the center of each arm. I can't see my forehead! We assume they would be thinking that.

Their mouth is located underneath, but their prey is absorbed outside their mouths by forcing out their digestive organs from their stomach. What? Yep, their mouth is underneath, but their prey is absorbed outside their mouths by forcing out their digestive organs from their stomach. Just wanted to make sure.

How’s the drawing look?
⁣

Image: A vibrant blue Sea star in repose at National Park of American Samoa. Where’s the mouth again? ⁣

You made it awkward again.

When you follow safe wildlife-watching practices, you protect the health of the wildlife—and yourself! It’s a win-win-win, we all win kind of situation.

⁣We get it. Sometimes, you may be extremely careful, meticulously follow all regulations, like staying at least 25 yards away, yet still have a bison encounter worth remembering…not remembering? If a bison does start to meander your way, be the bigger mammal and back away slowly, and don’t run or make sudden movements. ⁣Also, if they’re not moving, take the hint that it’s YOU who should be backing away. Think of it as if you just honked at a bison sitting in their car in the grocery store parking lot waiting for their spot. That bison will now stay in that spot until one of you moves on from this Earth. Also, how’d the bison get a driver’s license? 
⁣
Moving on. Sometimes a bison might just be in a mood. Relatable. There are some clear signs to look out for. An ‘agitated bison’ (good name for a band) is not something you want to mess with. Signs of agitation include: snorting, shaking or tossing of its head, pawing at the ground, raising its tail, and bluff charges, you know, lurching toward you, not pretending to pay for their groceries with an expired Blockbuster card. 
⁣
In conclusion, let’s make good choices and have safe park experiences. ⁣

Image: Graphic with text, “Bison may look friend-shaped, but they already have all the friends they want. Keep your distance and don’t make it awkward.”

#TisTheSeason

Have a Brazzle dazzle day!

It’s #NationalLighthouseDay! There are few landscapes as picturesque as a lighthouse along a coast. But the quiet postcard image belies a dramatic history, one filled with heroism and adversity. National parks along both coasts and the shores of our Great Lakes tell illuminating stories with lighthouses, lifesaving stations, artifacts, and exhibits. They remind us of our nation’s maritime history and of the families and individuals who braved the elements to offer safe passage and save lives.

Read more at https://lnkd.in/eiJ4TMgp

What lighthouses have you visited?

Image: Like a candle on the water, the Bodie Island Lighthouse at Cape Hatteras National Seashore in North Carolina. NPS/Kurt Moses

How we feel when we talk about the 1990s to anyone under 30…

Hey Macarena! Speaking of the past, national parks have countless stories to tell and lessons to share. From monuments to mountains, parks contain some of the country’s greatest natural and cultural treasures. They are also living museums that help us understand who we were and who we are. For every generation and generations to come, we invite you to visit a national park!

Find a park MMMBop on over at: https://lnkd.in/eF5SvkVr

Image: Group of living history staff wearing 19th century clothing at Lincoln Home National Historic Site, Illinois.

Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, Sequoia National Park, CA United States. Museum Curator opportunity.
Full requirements and to apply: https://lnkd.in/gXbY7AGu

Provides direction over extensive museum collections and ensures that the museum management program is in compliance with all applicable laws, regulations, policy, and ethics.
Develops museum-related planning documents, project scopes, and funding requests.
Ensures accountability of museum collections through registration and annual reporting.
Maintains the appropriate environment for museum collections, including housing, climate, fire protection, and security.
Conducts research to catalog museum items and interpret them to the public through exhibits, articles, and other educational and outreach efforts.