National Park Service and National Park Foundation Launch Parks 101, Uncovering National Park Stories You've Never Heard Before To Celebrate National Park Week

WASHINGTON, April 17, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Turns out there's a lot more to national parks than you thought. In conjunction with this year's National Park Week from April 15 through 23, the National Park Service and the National Park Foundation will launch Parks 101, an ongoing series of hidden histories that showcase unexpected stories and experiences from America's national parks and programs. Visit www.NationalParkWeek.org to learn more about events taking place throughout the week.

An extension of the Find Your Park/Encuentra Tu Parque movement, Parks 101 also marks the 101^st year of the National Park Service. From celebrities to local heroes and National Park Service Rangers, diverse narrators will call upon people everywhere to dig a little deeper and discover more of the lesser-known stories across the National Park System and about the National Park Service and National Park Foundation. Through immersive content coupled with buzzworthy events, park enthusiasts will connect more deeply with and be inspired to support national parks.

"The National Park Service turned 100 in 2016, but the party isn't over! There are even more ways to Find Your Park / Encuentra Tu Parque in 2017," said Acting National Park Service Director Michael T. Reynolds. "During National Park Week, and throughout the year, we invite visitors to learn something new about a favorite park or visit lesser-known parks, trails, heritage areas, and other extraordinary sites throughout the country — from their own neighborhoods to faraway places. Whether someone is a long-time park visitor or yet to make a first trip, we want everyone to discover something different and exciting about their national parks."

One of the first narrators is actor/recording artist Jordan Fisher, recent star of Broadway's Hamilton, who will post a Facebook Live from Hamilton Grange National Memorial on Wednesday, April 19^th at 6:00pm to share the enduring history of Alexander Hamilton's life and final home. An introductory video showcasing lesser- known national park sites will also launch this month.

"I'm honored to join the National Park Foundation to tell the story of Hamilton Grange, a uniquely American place that means a lot to me," said Jordan Fisher. "I am in awe of the history of the parks, and want to do my part to highlight the importance of preserving and protecting them so future generations can enjoy them too."

"The Parks 101 series will showcase the breadth of our National Park System through unique stories that show people that our national parks and their programs have something for everyone," said Will Shafroth, president of the National Park Foundation. "We are also helping them understand the important role they can play in the preservation of national parks by supporting the efforts of the National Park Foundation and local philanthropic community."

Be part of the National Park Week fun and join the conversation using #FindYourPark, #EncuentraTuParque, and #NPS101 on social media.

ABOUT THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America's 417 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Learn more at www.nps.gov.

ABOUT THE NATIONAL PARK FOUNDATION
The National Park Foundation is the official charity of America's national parks and nonprofit partner to the National Park Service. Chartered by Congress in 1967, the National Park Foundation raises private funds to help PROTECT more than 84 million acres of national parks through critical conservation and preservation efforts, CONNECT all Americans with their incomparable natural landscapes, vibrant culture and rich history, and INSPIRE the next generation of park stewards. In 2016, commemorating the National Park Service's 100th anniversary, the Foundation launched The Centennial Campaign for America's National Parks, a comprehensive fundraising campaign to strengthen and enhance the future of these national treasures for the next hundred years. Find out more and become a part of the national park community at www.nationalparks.org.

MEDIA CONTACTS:
National Park Service
Kathy Kupper
202-208-4990  
[email protected] 

National Park Foundation
Alanna Sobel
202-796-2538
[email protected]

SOURCE National Park Foundation