Patricia Shultz, author of 1,000 Places to See Before You Die, has joined the National Parks Project - a partnership between Nature Valley and the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA).

This year, the initiative will be focusing on the following: re-establishing plant life in Grand Canyon; nurturing the growth of Yellowstone's wildlife population; and rebuilding Biscayne's damaged coral reefs.

Patricia is currently working on her new book that will be published in 2011. The book will be an up-to-date version of her original book that includes new places and updates. She is a big supporter of the National Parks, which are represented heavily in both books.

Practice what you preach! That's what TV host and zookeeper Jack Hanna does. Recently, he took his own advice and used pepper spray on a grizzly bear coming at him at Glacier National Park.

Hannah and his his wife were among other hikers in Montana's park over the weekend when a bear cub, weighing about 125 pounds, charged them. Hanna told the press that he held up a canister of pepper spray, which he takes on hikes, and used it when the cub was about 30 feet away.

But the bear kept coming. Hanna sprayed toward the animal again, but it continued to charge. It wasn't until the third attempt that the bear turn and fled. Hannah said he's been carrying the spray for 15 years and this was the first time he's ever used it. Good thing he remembered it!

For those planning a trip to Voyageurs National Park this summer, be aware of a new reservation system for all tour boats operated in the park. Visitors who want to take an interpretive tour boat ride on the Otter tour boat or the Voyageur tour boat should make a reservation with Reserve America online or by calling 877-444-6777.

Here are a few things to keep in mind:

• Boat tours may be reserved 3 months in advance; You will receive a confirmation notice when booking in advance
• Advanced reservations will not be accepted by the park but walk-ins on the day of a tour will be accepted if space is available
  • Walk-in reservations, on the day of a tour, may be made at the Kabetogama Lake and Rainy Lake Visitor Center
• All reservations must be made with a credit card (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, or Discover); no cash or checks are accepted
• All walk-in ticket sales stop 30 minutes prior to the departure time
• Federal Senior and Federal Access Pass discounts apply for all tours so be sure to bring it with you!

The Obama administration is certainly enjoying the national parks. While President Obama recently vacationed in Acadia National Park, Vice President Biden is heading to Yellowstone National Park this week, as well as the Grand Canyon.

On Monday, the Vice President will deliver remarks to parks workers at Yellowstone, and is schedules to speak at Hopi Point on the south rim of Grand Canyon National Park on Tuesday. The purpose of the trip is not to relax though. The VP is slated to check on stimulus-funded projects that are putting more than 1,000 people to work in the parks. About $25 million from the $862 billion stimulus went to jumpstarting 800 construction and maintenance projects in national parks.

It is the peak season at Glacier National Park and rangers want you to remember that now you have a better chance of encountering wildlife both on park trails and roads. Glacier is home to many large mammals including elk, moose, deer, bears, wolves, mountain lions, lynx, wolverines, bighorn sheep and mountain goats. Visitors need to be alert whether they are on foot or driving.

Park managers recommend that hikers always carry bear spray while in bear country. And hikers, backpackers, and campers are all urged to familiarize themselves with standard safety precautions. Learn simple precautions right now!

Dry Tortugas National Park, which closed Thursday July 22 due to Tropical Depression 3, will reopen today. Visitors should contact Ferry and Seaplane concessions directly to find out if they are operating as weather conditions in Key West can impact these operations.

Everglades National Park remains open as well.

In the largest search and rescue Grand Teton National Park has seen sine the 1960's, rangers rescued 16 climbers who were injured in a lightning storm on the 13,770-foot Grand Teton on Wednesday. They called off the search for the 17th climber at dark.

Rangers were dropped on the mountain's summit from a rope dangling beneath a helicopter, then lifted the injured climbers off the peak. They were transported to Lower Saddle, then boarded a Yellowstone National Park helicopter and were shuttled to the Lupine Meadows rescue cache. Injuries were varied from burns and electrical injuries to secondary trauma from being thrown.

Update: Rescuers have found the body of the 17th climber.

As if Yellowstone National Park didn't already have a reputation for bison, a visitor from Utah was injured by one in a thermal area near Old Faithful earlier this week.

A 49-year-old woman and a 61-year-old male were exiting the Biscuit Basin thermal area to rejoin their family in the parking lot, when a bison appeared in nearby brush and charged them. The woman was struck and flipped in the air. She sustained injuries as a result of the bison's impact and fall to the ground but was able to transport herself to a nearby hospital with the assistance of ranger and EMT staff.

This is the second time a park visitor has been charged and injured by a bison this summer. Bison are powerful animals and caution should always be used when approaching. Park regulations require people to stay at least 25 yards away from most animals like bison and elk, and at least 100 yards away from bears and wolves at all times.

Michael Jackson's infamous home, Neverland Ranch, became well-known for entertaining children, containing an amusement park, as well as a 10,000-volume library and a zoo. But the latest rumor is that it could become California's newest state park.

A resolution is in the works to order state parks officials to study converting the 2,600-acre property into a state park. The state NAACP is supporting the idea, and believes Neverland could join Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park to honor African Americans.

"I think Michael's history is world history and I think it would become the No. 1 attraction for the state parks if we could pull it off," said state NAACP President Alice Huffman. So what do you think? Share your comments now!

Glacier National Park is now showcasing new exhibits that focus on the tribal perspectives of the park. Located at the St. Mary Visitor Center, the exhibit is called "At Home in This Place" and is an exciting addition to the park's already informative exhibits.

Numerous tribal elders and tribal leaders for all three nations were involved in consultations throughout the design and development of the exhibits. There are five new main exhibits:  1) Welcome-panels; 2) Bittersweet Meanings; 3) Backbone of the World; 4) The Wisdom in Spoken Words; 5) Animal Lessons.

There is also a new interactive 3-D park topographic map with optic fiber lights highlighting the Continental Divide, the parks highest mountains, and how tourism has changed over time. The new exhibits will be permanently on display at the St. Mary Visitor Center so check them out!