National Park Week — Free park admission

The gorgeous spring weather means more time outdoors and for many of us the time of year to travel to our country’s awe-inspiring national parks. It is also the perfect opportunity to think about the welfare of our parks. There are threats to the parks and to their funding that are negatively impacting wildlife and the water and air quality. What can we do? Enjoy the free admission into our national parks this month during National Park Week. Then, join park preservation programs and get involved in restoration projects. Here’s what leading granola bar brand Nature Valley is doing.
The gorgeous spring weather means more time outdoors and for many of us the time of year to travel to our country’s awe-inspiring national parks. It is also the perfect opportunity to think about the welfare of our parks. There are threats to the parks and to their funding that are negatively impacting wildlife and the water and air quality. What can we do? Enjoy the free admission into our national parks this month during National Park Week. Then, join park preservation programs and get involved in restoration projects. Here’s what leading granola bar brand Nature Valley is doing.

Preserve the Parks Program

Now in its third year, Nature Valley’s Preserve the Parks Program, which benefits the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA), has helped raise more than $1 million to support and perserve America’s national parks.

This year, Nature Valley is encouraging education, outdoor exploration and support. To get the 2012 Preserve the Parks Program started, Nature Valley is making a $300,000 donation to the NPCA and is inviting consumers to help raise an additional $200,000 by entering the Universal Product Codes (UPC) from specially-marked packages of Nature Valley products at PreserveTheParks.com.

National Park Week means free admission

In celebration of the 2012 National Park Week (April 21 to 29), consumers are invited to visit the Nature Valley Facebook page and “Like” designated posts during that week to help trigger additional donations to the NPCA – $1 per “Like,” up to $50,000.

“America’s parks continue to face environmental and economic threats, and we are thankful for the continued support from Nature Valley,” says Tom Kiernan, president of the NPCA. “As we approach the 2016 centennial of the National Park Service, we have a responsibility to ensure these treasures are preserved and protected for future generations.”

Get outdoors and explore the parks

Consumers can join Nature Valley in helping to preserve America’s national parks by getting outside and exploring all that the parks have to offer, especially during National Park Week, when admission to national parks is free. Additionally, if consumers aren’t able to physically visit a national park, they can experience three iconic national parks through a new digital platform launched by Nature Valley in March 2012. Nature Valley Trail View encourages outdoor exploration and education with 300-plus miles of immersive national parks content through panoramic views and interactive guides, and is a great way to share favorite park views and sights to digitally inspire others to get outside.

Lend your support

Here are a few ways to show your support for our national park preservation:

t
• Visit PreserveTheParks.com and enter UPCs from specially-marked packages of Nature Valley® products to help raise funds to benefit restoration efforts in support of six national parks. For each UPC entered online now through December 31, 2012, $1 will be donated to the NPCA, up to $200,000.

t

• Volunteer at a national park – visit PreserveTheParks.com for more information.

t

• Visit the Nature Valley Facebook page and “Like” designated posts about Nature Valley Trail View. For each Facebook “Like” during National Parks Week (April 21-29), Nature Valley will donate $1 to the NPCA, up to $50,000.

t

• Consider a personal donation to NPCA at PreserveTheParks.com.

National parks restoration projects

Funds raised by Nature Valley this spring and throughout the year will support restoration projects benefiting six national parks, including:

t
• Acadia National Park: Constructing a connector trail to provide better access to Acadia National Park.

t

• Everglades National Park: Improving public access to, and providing greater awareness about the Everglades and Everglades National Park.

t

• Grand Teton National Park: Protecting wildlife migration corridors near Grand Teton National Park.

t

• Great Smoky Mountains National Park: Restoring land and wildlife habitats to benefit Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

t

• Joshua Tree National Park: Ensuring healthy ecosystems to benefit the wildlife of Joshua Tree National Park.

t

• Yellowstone National Park: Restoring pronghorn migration routes around Yellowstone National Park.

“The Preserve the Parks program continues to be a priority initiative for the Nature Valley brand, and we hope to continue to get consumers involved in preserving these iconic and patriotic places,” says Scott Baldwin, associate director of marketing for Nature Valley. “Through continued consumer passion and support, we can help ensure that America’s national parks exist for future nature lovers to experience and enjoy.”

More vegan news you can use!