7 Meaningful Ways to Support America’s National Parks

America's national parks protect some of the most extraordinary landscapes, wildlife, history, and cultural resources anywhere in the world. But protecting more than 85 million acres — from Yellowstone's geysers and Everglades wetlands to Civil War battlefields, ancient Pueblo sites, historic homes, wild coastlines, and thousands of miles of trails — is an enormous job.

And the need doesn't stop when a park boundary appears on a map.

National parks face aging roads and visitor facilities, damaged trails, wildfire and flooding, invasive species, changing ecosystems, historic structures requiring restoration, increasing visitation at many popular destinations, and the constant need for trained people to protect resources and serve visitors.

The National Park Service estimated that its deferred maintenance and repair needs totaled approximately $24 billion at the end of fiscal year 2025. At the same time, more than 323 million recreation visits were recorded across the National Park System during 2025.

That's a lot of extraordinary places to protect — and a lot of people who love them.

Hi, I'm Rob Decker. I've spent more than 50 years exploring and photographing America's national parks, and those experiences have shaped both my life and my work. The longer I've spent in the parks, the more strongly I've felt that enjoying them also comes with a responsibility to help care for them.

The encouraging part is that you don't need to be a ranger, scientist, wealthy donor, or conservation expert to make a difference.

There are practical things every park lover can do.

Why America's National Parks Need Our Support

The National Park Service manages 433 individual units covering more than 85 million acres across all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories.

And despite the shorthand we often use, those aren't all "national parks."

The National Park System includes 63 places specifically designated as National Parks, along with national monuments, historic sites, historical parks, battlefields, memorials, recreation areas, seashores, lakeshores, preserves, parkways, scenic trails, and many other federally protected places.

All of them require care.

That may mean repairing a deteriorating bridge in one park, restoring wildlife habitat in another, preserving a centuries-old historic building, removing invasive plants, maintaining a wastewater system, rebuilding a storm-damaged trail, protecting an archeological site, monitoring wildlife, fighting wildfires, or helping millions of visitors safely experience a place without damaging what they came to see.

Some challenges are highly visible. Others happen quietly behind the scenes.

National Park Service research also identifies rising temperatures, drought, wildfire, sea-level rise, extreme storms, invasive species, habitat changes, and other environmental pressures as threats that can affect park ecosystems, cultural resources, infrastructure, and visitor experiences.

Federal appropriations remain essential to running the National Park Service. Private philanthropy and volunteers don't replace that public responsibility — but they can provide resources, expertise, and capacity that help parks accomplish more.

1. Donate to the National Park Foundation

One of the simplest ways to support parks nationwide is to donate to the National Park Foundation.

The National Park Foundation is the official charitable partner of the National Park Service. It raises private funds for projects and programs throughout the National Park System, supporting work that can include conservation, wildlife habitat, trail restoration, historic preservation, education, and opportunities for people to experience parks.

You can make a one-time gift, become a monthly supporter, contribute through a donor-advised fund, make a gift in someone's honor, explore employer matching programs, or include the parks in estate planning.

And you don't need to make a huge donation.

Thousands of people giving smaller amounts can accomplish a great deal collectively.

2. Purchase an America the Beautiful Pass

If you regularly visit national parks and other federal recreation lands, the America the Beautiful — The National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass remains one of the best values in outdoor recreation.

For 2026, the annual pass for U.S. citizens and residents costs $80. It covers entrance fees and standard amenity fees at participating lands managed by agencies including the National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

If you're planning more than a couple of visits to fee-charging federal recreation areas, the annual pass can pay for itself quickly.

And perhaps the best result of owning one is psychological: once you've got a pass in your wallet, you suddenly have one more reason to start planning another adventure.

Learn more about America the Beautiful passes from the National Park Service.

3. Support a Park-Specific Friends Group or Conservancy

If one park holds a special place in your heart, you can make your support much more local.

Across the National Park System, nonprofit Friends Groups, conservancies, foundations, and cooperating associations work alongside individual parks and regions.

These organizations can raise funds, organize volunteers, rehabilitate trails and historic structures, support scientific research, fund educational programs, restore wildlife habitat, assist with visitor services, and help parks accomplish projects that might otherwise be difficult to complete.

Some familiar examples include organizations dedicated to Yosemite, Yellowstone, Grand Canyon, Acadia, Great Smoky Mountains, and many other individual parks.

You can become a member, donate, volunteer, attend fundraising events, shop through nonprofit park bookstores, or participate in special projects.

4. Volunteer Your Time — Not Just Your Money

Money isn't the only resource parks need.

Every year, volunteers work alongside National Park Service employees and partner organizations on projects across the country.

Opportunities vary widely. Depending on the park and your interests, volunteers may help with:

Some opportunities involve a single volunteer day. Others become long-term commitments.

And volunteering offers something a financial donation can't: the chance to experience the work behind protecting the places you love.

5. Make Your Voice Heard

National parks are public lands, and decisions made by elected officials can affect their funding, staffing, infrastructure, conservation programs, land management, and long-term protection.

You don't have to approach that from a partisan perspective.

If national parks matter to you, tell the people who represent you.

Ask them to support adequate and reliable funding for National Park Service operations, maintenance, science, conservation, historic preservation, visitor services, and the people who do that work.

Be specific when possible.

If a trail, historic site, wildlife program, visitor center, park employee, or ranger experience made a difference to you, explain why. Personal stories can be much more meaningful than a generic form letter.

Find your U.S. Representative and make your voice heard.

6. Be the Kind of Visitor the Parks Need

One of the best ways to protect national parks is also the easiest:

Take care of them while you're there.

More than 323 million recreation visits were recorded across the National Park System in 2025. Multiply even a tiny individual impact by hundreds of millions of visits and it becomes easy to understand why visitor behavior matters.

Sometimes conservation is as simple as leaving a place exactly as you found it.

7. Share Your National Park Experience With Someone Else

People protect what they understand — and they are more likely to understand places they have experienced personally.

So share your park stories.

Show someone the photograph you made in Grand Teton. Tell your grandchildren about the first time you saw Old Faithful erupt. Take a friend on their first national park hike. Share the story of a historic site that changed your understanding of American history.

And don't make it only about the famous parks.

There are 433 units in the National Park System, including historic sites, monuments, battlefields, memorials, recreation areas, seashores, trails, and extraordinary places many people have never heard of.

Introducing someone to a lesser-known park can create another lifelong supporter.

This may be especially important for children.

The future of the parks ultimately depends on people who believe these places are worth protecting. Helping a young person develop that connection may be one of the most important contributions any of us can make.

What Does Supporting National Parks Actually Accomplish?

The phrase "support the parks" can sound vague, so it's worth understanding what that support can look like on the ground.

Depending on the organization, park, and project, philanthropic and volunteer support can help restore trails, improve accessibility, protect wildlife habitat, preserve historic structures, fund research, expand educational programs, recruit volunteers, introduce young people to parks, and strengthen nonprofit organizations that work alongside the National Park Service.

In July 2026, for example, the National Park Foundation announced $5 million in grants to strengthen 77 park partner organizations across the country — its largest investment of that kind to date.

Those partnerships matter because caring for a system as large and diverse as America's national parks requires cooperation among government employees, nonprofit organizations, volunteers, scientists, local communities, businesses, donors, and visitors.

How National Park Posters Gives Back

National parks have given me more than five decades of photographs, adventures, friendships, memories, and inspiration.

Giving something back has always felt like part of the responsibility that comes with building a business around those places.

Through National Park Posters, I donate 10% of annual profits to organizations working to protect and support America's national parks and public lands.

It's one way I can help the organizations, associations, foundations, trusts, and conservancies doing work on behalf of these extraordinary places.

But just as important to me is helping people develop their own connection with the parks.

Every poster begins with my own national park photography and becomes a WPA-style celebration of a place I've experienced. My hope is that the artwork doesn't simply remind someone of where they've been — but inspires the next trip, the next hike, the next photograph, and perhaps the next person who decides the parks are worth protecting.

Learn more about how National Park Posters gives back to our parks.

Frequently Asked Questions About Supporting National Parks

What is the easiest way to support America's national parks?

There is no single best method. You can donate to the National Park Foundation or a park-specific nonprofit partner, volunteer, purchase an America the Beautiful Pass, contact elected officials about park funding and protection, and practice responsible visitation. Even sharing your experiences with other people can help build support for parks.

What is the National Park Foundation?

The National Park Foundation is the official charitable partner of the National Park Service. It raises private funds to support projects and programs across the National Park System, including conservation, restoration, education, access, historic preservation, and visitor experiences.

Can I donate directly to a specific national park?

Yes. Many individual parks work with official nonprofit Friends Groups, conservancies, foundations, and cooperating associations. The National Park Service can also accept qualifying direct gifts for specific parks, projects, or programs. Visit the official NPS page for your favorite park to find its current support options.

Does buying an America the Beautiful Pass support national parks?

The America the Beautiful Pass provides access to participating federal recreation lands and contributes to the federal recreation fee system. For frequent park visitors, it is also one of the most practical ways to combine regular use of public lands with support for visitor services and recreation infrastructure.

How much is an America the Beautiful Pass in 2026?

The 2026 America the Beautiful Resident Annual Pass costs $80 for U.S. citizens and residents. Eligible U.S. citizens and residents age 62 and older can purchase a $20 annual Senior Pass or an $80 lifetime Senior Pass. Other free or discounted passes are available for qualifying military members, veterans, Gold Star Families, people with permanent disabilities, and fourth graders.

How many national park sites are there?

The National Park Service currently manages 433 individual units covering more than 85 million acres. Only 63 of those units carry the specific designation "National Park"; the larger system includes monuments, historic sites, memorials, battlefields, recreation areas, seashores, lakeshores, parkways, trails, and other designations.

Can I volunteer at a national park?

Yes. National parks and their nonprofit partners offer volunteer opportunities ranging from single-day service events to long-term positions. Work may include trail maintenance, visitor services, wildlife monitoring, habitat restoration, historic preservation, citizen science, educational programs, and specialized professional support.

Why do national parks need donations if they receive federal funding?

Federal appropriations are fundamental to National Park Service operations. Private donations are supplemental and can help fund additional conservation, restoration, educational, research, accessibility, and visitor projects. Nonprofit partners can also provide volunteer coordination and philanthropic capacity that expands what individual parks are able to accomplish.

What is the national park maintenance backlog?

At the end of fiscal year 2025, the National Park Service estimated approximately $24 billion in deferred maintenance and repair needs across park roads, trails, buildings, utility systems, and other facilities. Maintaining those assets is essential to protecting resources and providing safe visitor access.

Does contacting Congress really help national parks?

Congress makes decisions about federal appropriations and legislation affecting national parks. Communicating respectfully with elected representatives is one way citizens can explain why National Park Service staffing, maintenance, conservation, science, historic preservation, and visitor services matter to them.

The Parks Belong to the Future, Too

When you stand beneath a giant sequoia, look across the Grand Canyon, watch bison move through Yellowstone, or walk into a historic room where the course of the country changed, it's easy to feel as though these places have always been here — and always will be.

But protection doesn't happen automatically.

Every trail repaired, habitat restored, historic building stabilized, invasive plant removed, scientific survey completed, ranger program presented, and child introduced to a national park is part of a much larger effort.

I've spent more than 50 years enjoying these places.

I want the generations that follow us to have the same opportunity.

Donate if you can. Volunteer if you have the time. Buy a pass and use it. Tell your representatives why parks matter. Be a responsible visitor. Support the organizations doing good work. And most of all, introduce somebody else to the parks.

Because the best way to protect America's national parks for the future is to keep creating people who love them today.