@the.worried.wanderer: I’ve been feeling sick to my stomach all weekend… As I’m sure you’ve heard by now, thousands of National Parks Service & US Forest Service employees were fired last week. Why does this matter? Every year, our Parks grow in popularity. With more and more visitors flocking to our public lands, we need adequate staff to maintain the parks and keep us safe. Nearby towns that rely on tourism will suffer. Wildfire prevention and response will suffer…. How will our parks be affected? Longer lines, overflowing bathrooms, unmaintained trails (which could be dangerous), less Search & Rescue resources, campgrounds are closing, closed visitor’s centers, less rangers protecting wildlife, less rangers to help guide visitors, increased vandalism, the list goes on and on. Here’s how you can help: 1️⃣ Donate to organizations like the National Parks Conservation Association, National Park Foundation, or local orgs. 2️⃣ Write your lawmakers. literally created the letter for you. Just fill in your info and click send. It takes 30 seconds. National Parks Conservation Association has one too! (I’ve added 🔗 you know where) 3️⃣ Volunteer at the parks! Most parks have a non-profit partner. Look up *Park Name* Conservancy 4️⃣ Call your representatives. Let them know you care about public land protection & funding. ESPECIALLY if you live in a red district. You can use the app “5 Calls” for scripts and phone numbers. 5️⃣ And most importantly, recreate responsibly! Pack everything out! Pick up any trash you see. Stay on trail. And teach others about Leave No Trace. And yes, I do believe their plan is to eventually sell these lands to private companies so they can drill and exploit the environment. Let’s hope I’m wrong.

Jessy Vanpo

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Region: US

Wednesday 21 January 2026 17:15:39 GMT