The book, The National Parks: America’s Best Idea, is companion piece to the mini-series, but is also capable of standing on its own merits.  It is a captivating visual reminder of the very best that we have to offer.  Ken Burns is a marvelous storyteller, and he has captured the essence of who we are as a society in the series and book.  In his introduction he speaks about the park system, “for the first time in human history, land–great sections of our natural landscape–was set aside, not for kings or noblemen or the very rich, but for everyone, for all time.”

The book was written with Dayton Duncan, a longtime Burns collaborator, and the photography will delight any traveler has visited or longs to visit one of our 391 National Parks.  You can pick it up on Amazon for $29.25.

If you missed the mini-series (I recorded it!), you can pick it up in a 6-disc set.  $64.99.  The soundtrack, which features music heard in the series, is available for $14.49.

I know I said that I wasn’t going to mention it, but any of these items (or all of them in a nice package) would make a great Christmas gift for your favorite traveler.

Photo credit: Amazon

Post from: Blisstree

The National Parks: The Book, DVD & Soundtrack

Elizabeth Cady Stanton home at the Women's Rights Natinal Park, Seneca Falls, New York

You’ll get to “meet” the women via a group of bronze figures created by sculptor Lloyd Lily.  The figures include Elizabeth Cady Stanton (who was one of the authors of the Declaration of Sentiments that declared that all men and women are created equal), whose farmhouse is also on the site.  Rangers lead tours of the farmhouse, sharing information about the life and writings of this rather radical (for her times, at least) woman.

The park also includes a Visitor’s Center, the Wesleyan Chapel, where the first convention took place, and the homes of two of the other women organizers, Jane Hunt and Mary Ann M’Clintock.  You can see the park by participating in ranger-led tours, or wander about on your own.  Dial and Discover, and audio tour available using your cell phone, will guide you through five of the park locations.

It’s hard for me to imagine a world in which women couldn’t vote and didn’t have freedom.  A visit to this national park seems a must for anyone who wants to understand the struggle for women’s suffrage, and the efforts of five women in launching a movement that continues to this day.  There are important stories and lessons to be learned here.

Photo credit:  National Park Service

Post from: Blisstree

Visit the Women’s Rights National Park

Mary McNamara, entertainment writer at the LA Times, offers a review of the series, and it sounds like we can expect some pretty impressive photography.  It looks to be another winner for Burns!

I visited woefully few of the National Parks, getting the ones close to home, but not venturing much farther afield.  There are 391 in all, and I’m afraid to check off my many, or should I say how few, I’ve visited!

If this series doesn’t interest you in visiting one of our 391 national parks, nothing will!

I’ll be taping this series, and am excited to see what’s it all about.  How about you?

Photo credit:  Bauer Griffin

Post from: Blisstree

National Parks: America’s Best Idea Airs on PBS

Among thousands of tulips on the grounds, along with lots of other flowers,  is a bell tower — a carillon — that was a gift to our country from the Netherlands.  There are 50 bells in the carillon, the largest about 7 feet in diameter and weighing in and over 12,000 pounds, and the smallest measuring about 9 inches in diameter and weighing about 35 pounds.  The bells are programmed to chime the hour 10 am – 6 pm daily.  They also ring out in special concerts.

Stairs lead up to an observation platform, and from there a smaller staircase leads up to the glass enclosed bell cabin.  Climb the stairs for the view, or enjoy the sights from ground level.

The grounds are part of the National Park Service, and are large enough enjoy a picnic, toss a frisbee, or walk around looking at the tulips, the carillon, and the Iwo Jima monument.  Admission to the park is free.  Parking can be difficult.

It’s a great place to spend an afternoon, but my favorite time is dusk.  As you watch the sun go down you can also see the lights of the monuments and the city come on.  It’s a special time just before nightfall.

Photo credit: cliff1066 @flickr

Post from: Blisstree

Visit the Netherlands Carillon in DC

This year’s celebrations focus on a lot of activities for kids, in conjunction with National Junior Ranger Day on April 25th.

Here is a sampling of activities:

• Russell Cave National Monument (Alabama, in photo) – Kids can make a Native American necklace and enjoy a nature hike along the way to a cave shelter.
• Boston National Historical Park (Massachusetts) – Enjoy a scavenger hunt along the Freedom Train and at Bunker Hill Monument, and learn to make rope in the Navy Yard.
• Lewis & Clark National Historical Park (Oregon) – Learn about the Columbia Condors:  Forgotten Giants in the Sky.
• Effigy Mounds National Monument (Iowa) – Special Earth Day hikes.

You can find out what’s happening at your National Park on this list of National Park Week events.

Photo credit:  wikimedia

http://www.nps.gov/npweek/sched.htm

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Celebrate National Park Week, April 18-26th

Students aged 9 to 12 are asked to answer the question:

Why are our national parks important to you and what is your best idea to protect our parks for the future.

Essays must be no more than words in length, and must be submitted by May 1st, 2009.  Read the judging criteria and other details, as well as submit your entry online.

First Prize is a $1,000 Visa gift card and the opportunity to direct a $5,000 contribution from the National Park Foundation to the winner’s favorite national park.

Photo credit: flickr

Post from: Blisstree

Junior Ranger Essay Contest

Here’s another reason. The Arizona Republic reports:

More than 265 teenagers from 44 U.S. states and nine Canadian provinces will meet at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff from Monday to Aug. 3 to participate as finalists in North America’s largest high-school environmental-education competition: the 2008 Canon Envirothon.

Teams will be tested on knowledge of soils and land use, aquatic ecology, forestry, wildlife, and a current environmental issue. This year’s current-issue topic for the competition is “Recreational Impacts on Natural Resources.” Students will analyze long-term and short-term environmental, social and economic factors relative to recreational impacts upon natural resources and their management.

Participants will compete for a share of more than $125,000 in educational scholarships and Canon products. The competition is organized by the National Association of Conservation Districts in the U.S., the U.S. Department of Agriculture and its Natural Resource Conservation Service, and the U.S. Forest Service.

Wow. That does not sound like an easy competition!

Recreational impact on natural resources is an important subject to me and an issue that the National Park Service grapples with constantly. Does rock climbing harm Devil’s Tower? Do power boats disrupt wildlife at Voyageurs National Park or the Everglades National Park? Is snowmobiling in Yellowstone really that big of a deal?

Looking at the few comments readers left on the Arizona Republic article, some folks think no, not really. One commenter suggests:

“Recreational Impacts on Natural Resources.” Translation: If you kiddies want any of our grant money, you must submit to our global warming eco-whacko brainwashing and stop having any kind of recreational fun. No hunting, fishing, offroading, four wheeling, hiking, biking, horseback riding. . No fun allowed in the future. Get it? You want fun? Keep it in your house.

What do you think?

Post from: Blisstree

Flagstaff Hosts 2008 Environthon Next Week