© Cartsoft

If you are a parks enthusiast and own an iPhone, you need this application: National Park Maps. Download this app and get high quality maps for national parks, national monuments, national recreation areas and more!

All maps are saved directly to your iPhone or iPod Touch enabling you to access and of them no matter where you are. You can browse maps by state, region, or alphabetically and each map includes navigation tools and links to relevant information for each park, including the National Park Service and Wikipedia pages. Oh yeah, you can check the weather too!

Get the app now!

National Park Maps? There’s an App For That! originally appeared on About.com National & State Parks on Thursday, March 18th, 2010 at 09:00:34.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

© William Hook via Flickr

Grab that phone! Two mobile guides have just been released for the best backcountry hikes in Utah’s national parks.

Created by TalkingRockies, LLC and David Day (author of Utah’s Incredible Backcountry), the guides introduce outdoor enthusiasts to everything from trails maps and directions to trail images and levels of difficulty. These convenient mobile guides work on all models of the iPhone and iPod Touch, as well as most mobile devices based on the Android operating system. All 4 versions are available for $3.99 in iTunes App Store and Android Market.

Learn more about TalkingRockies applications now!

Mobile App Highlights Utah’s Backcountry originally appeared on About.com National & State Parks on Wednesday, March 17th, 2010 at 11:52:30.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

© banspy via Flickr

Looking for volunteer work this summer? Why not try working in the beautiful Great Smoky Mountains National Park? The Volunteers-in-Parks program is once again looking for volunteers to assist with managing people and elk in Cataloochee Valley, NC.

Volunteers will assist park rangers with providing visitor information on elk viewing practices and elk behavior, and help with parking and traffic management. Each volunteer will be asked to work at least two scheduled, 4-hour shifts per month beginning the second week in May and continuing through November. Keep in mind, volunteers are very needed for afternoon shifts – 1-5 p.m.

Interested? Check out two informational meetings and volunteer orientation sessions at the ranger station in Cataloochee Valley on April 15 and 17, from 1-5 p.m. Email Ranger Mark LaShell or call 828-269-3161 for more information.

Volunteers Needed With Elk Program in Great Smoky Mountains originally appeared on About.com National & State Parks on Wednesday, March 17th, 2010 at 10:42:10.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

© basykes via Flickr

We work hard to preserve our lands and wildlife but something as simple as noise is proving to do more damage than we think. In fact, human-generated noise is interfering with animals’ abilities to mate, avoid predators, find prey, and more.

In a study published this month in Trends in Ecology and Evolution, researchers from Fort Collins stated that human noise not only affects wildlife even in remote wilderness areas, but that noise has increased in reach and intensity in recent decades.

The biggest find is known as masking- chronic noise’s interference with an animal’s perception of sound. An example of this would be if a highway prevents a female bird from hearing a full range of calls and interfering with the selection of a mate. But it’s not just the loud noises that get in the way. Some animals are more disturbed by quiet noises like hiking or cross-country skiing. Sound like we need to learn when to yell and when to pipe down.

Nature Says, “Shhhhhhhh!” originally appeared on About.com National & State Parks on Tuesday, March 16th, 2010 at 13:54:54.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

© Evil Erin via Flickr

It’s National Wildlife Week! Celebrate it by doing what comes naturally – get outdoors! This signature event is part of the National Wildlife Federation’s Be Out There™ campaign – an initiative to connect families and communities to nature, raise healthier kids, educate, and inspire. Here are a few things that can help you and the family enjoy the week:

• Download a custom Family Activity Passport featuring a week’s worth of local animals and plants to watch for, tips for gardening with children, and games
• Download a custom Educator Activity Guide featuring a week’s worth of animals/plants to watch for, tree planting ideas, and ideas to make your school environmentally friendly
• Download a custom Family Activity Passport featuring a week’s worth games, gardening tips, and more!

For questions about National Wildlife Week, send an email.

It’s National Wildlife Week! originally appeared on About.com National & State Parks on Monday, March 15th, 2010 at 10:16:23.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

© Lauren Himiak

Are you between the ages of 18 and 25 and have a good deal of social media experience? Well, you’re in luck. Sierra Club has an internship for you and it’s pretty awesome.

Sierra Club is seeking a young person to be an Outdoors Youth Ambassador. If selected, you get to travel around the country camping, rafting, hiking, and contributing to environmental service projects. Oh and there’s more. You get to blog your experience, live in San Francisco, earn a $2,500 stipend for the 8-week internship, plus all expenses paid for travel, and get outfitted with $2,000 worth of gear from The North Face and Planet Explore.

Find out more and apply online before the deadline – March 31st!

It’s the Best Internship Ever originally appeared on About.com National & State Parks on Saturday, March 13th, 2010 at 09:00:05.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

© Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy

Over three days in April, The Institute at the Golden Gate will host several hundred environmentalists, scientists, business leaders, philanthropists, social entrepreneurs and youth activists at its headquarters at Fort Baker in Sausalito. Why? The second annual Turning the Tide conference.

This year’s conference -held April 14-16 - will unite those ready to give their expertise and solutions to today’s most pressing environmental issues from climate change and wildlife preservation to oceans and water conservation. For more information on Turning the Tide, including ticketing, updated scheduling, and speaker details, check online or call 415-561-3560.

To reach a broad global audience, several keynotes and breakout session will be offered via webcast as well as through live discussions on Twitter and Facebook. Further information about these features may be found online.

Signature Environmental Forum Comes to California originally appeared on About.com National & State Parks on Friday, March 12th, 2010 at 09:57:14.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

© NPS

Can a person run as fast as a fox? Can we jump as high? Is our sense of smell better? Join park naturalist, Megan Wilkins, at Voyageurs National Park to learn about the fox family on Sunday, March 14.

Participants will meet at the Rainy Lake Visitor Center and the program runs from 2-4 p.m. Families are encouraged to attend as this program is recommended for ages 5 and up. There is no fee or registration required to attend.

Visitors are also encouraged to come early to browse through the museum, check out the winter displays in the interactive area, and go snowshoeing or skiing.

Fun, Foxy, and Family-Friendly originally appeared on About.com National & State Parks on Thursday, March 11th, 2010 at 10:56:09.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

© NPS

The White House has unveiled the official souvenir egg and logo for the 2010 Easter Egg Roll which is taking place on April 5 in Washington, D.C.

This year’s egg comes in four colors – purple, pink, green, yellow – and includes stamped signatures of the President and First Lady. All eggs have been crafted from Forest Stewardship Council and packaging was designed to minimize waste and be more green. The National Park Foundation produces and sells the White House Easter Egg which is given as a souvenir to all children 12 years and younger who attend the White House Easter Egg Roll.

This year’s Easter Egg Roll is focused on promoting health and wellness with the theme, “Ready, Set, Go!” Tickets were selected in a lottery and are no longer available. However, souvenir eggs may be purchased online.

White House Souvenir Easter Eggs on Sale Now originally appeared on About.com National & State Parks on Tuesday, March 9th, 2010 at 17:28:49.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

© Unhindered by Talent via Flickr

Due to limited daylight, tons of snow, and just about zero visibility, the first woman attempting to scale Mount McKinley in the winter is waiting it out in snow cave. She and a partner have been living in the cave at about 10,000 feet  since last Sunday.

Christine Feret, a French woman who is now an American citizen, is hoping to be the first woman ever to scale the mountain during the winter. Only 16 people have ever pulled it off during the snowy season. Four actually died trying.

Feret is climbing with Artur Testov, a Russian-turned-Alaskan with plenty of climbing experience. This is his fourth attempt at McKinley at Denali National Park and Preserve. The two began their journey on February 23 and are hoping the weather clears up so they won’t have to dip into their fuel supply to stay warm.

Blizzard May Hinder First Women to Climb McKinley originally appeared on About.com National & State Parks on Tuesday, March 9th, 2010 at 11:09:56.

Permalink | Comment | Email this