NPT News April 2011

APRIL 2011 ISSUE
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NPT News

Mission: To champion the acquisition and preservation of America's critical parklands
through education, partnerships, and community building.

NEWS BRIEF


2011 Vento Award Recipient Announced
National Park Trust (NPT) will honor Senator Susan Collins of Maine, on June 23rd with the 2011 Bruce F. Vento Public Service Award for her many contributions to environmental protection. 

“I am fortunate to have been born and raised in a state that is blessed with natural gifts, from the spectacular scenery of Acadia and the wilderness of the Allagash, to our pure spring waters, clean air, and majestic forests. The people of Maine know that these gifts are not to be taken for granted, but must be cherished, nurtured, and protected. The environment in which I grew up is the foundation of my work on environmental issues in the Senate,” Senator Collins said.

Learn more about NPT’s Vento Award and Senator Collins environmental contributions.

YOUTH PROGRAMS NEWS

Dear Friend: Join us for the first National Kids to Parks Day on Saturday, May 21st.  Please sign our pledge to participate and be counted as one of the thousands nationwide who will visit a national, state or local park.  Buddy Bison says: “Explore outdoors, the parks are yours!”

National Kids to Park Day Local Celebrations
America’s Mayors Issue National Kids to Parks Day Proclamations

More than 135 mayors have proclaimed Saturday, May 21 as National Kids to Parks Day in their communities. Nationwide, cities and towns have rallied behind this simple concept:  enjoying the outdoors leads to a healthier life. NPT salutes America’s mayors for their leadership and creativity in planning local park events.


The North Face and NPT Partner on Second Annual Explore Your Parks (EYP) Event
The North Face (TNF) is partnering with state parks to encourage residents in the San Francisco, Boston, New York, Washington DC, Denver, Portland, and Twin Cities areas to get outdoors and enjoy recreational opportunities at area parks. Free day passes and park activity guides are available with TNF purchase at participating retailers.

NPT is proud to work with TNF on a DC-metro fun-filled event that is open to the public. The event supports National Kids to Parks Day and  First Lady Obama’s “Let’s Move Outside” Campaign. The EYP kick-off is at Virginia’s Mason Neck State Park  on May 21 from 9 am-noon and will feature hikes, canoe demonstrations, giveaways, and an appearance by Buddy Bison. 

NPT and Caesars Entertainment Team Up to Sponsor a Buddy Bison School
NPT thanks Ceasars Entertainment for bringing Bennett Elementary School from Laughlin, VA into the Buddy Bison program. In addition to receiving Buddy Bison toolkits for the classroom, nearly 50 4th-graders plus teachers and parents journeyed to the Mojave National Preserve.  The students learned about the endangered desert tortoise, participated in a scavenger hunt and hiked through the sand dunes. 

“All of the children, without exception, were overjoyed with the entire experience. It is important to us to have this type of exposure for our children and it would not likely have been provided for if it had not been for you and your organization,” said Doug McGeehan, President, Bennett Elementary School PTO.

Thank you Ceasars Entertainment!


 NPT Joins Outdoor Alliance for Kids (OAK)
NPT actively works to connect children with nature through its Buddy Bison educational programs and has joined the Outdoor Alliance for Kids (OAK),  a national alliance of organizations with that shared mission. OAK members work to advance public policy, raise decision-maker awareness and connect children, youth and families with the outdoors. “I look forward to working with you and value your commitment to reconnecting young people with the natural world,” says Jackie Ostfeld, OAK.  

LAND PROGRAM NEWS


NPT Partners to Protect Civil War Battlefield
As we commemorate the Civil War sesquicentennial, NPT has partnered with the Trust for Public Land (TPL) to preserve a significant 16-acre privately held tract within Georgia’s Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park.

On June 27, 1864, General William Tecumseh Sherman ordered an unsuccessful attack on Confederate lines on Kennesaw Mountain resulting in over 3,000 Union casualties. Kennesaw Mountain is a major Civil War attraction hosting 1.3 million visitors each year.

NPT is helping TPL secure $2.43M from the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) in FY 2012, as well as private funds, to protect this important battlefield. The property acquisition would protect a significant inholding at Kennesaw Mountain that would likely be developed if not conserved.  Contact Shana Newman Fajardo to donate or support this important project...learn more.

INSIDE NPT


Board Member Takes Helm of Lands Committee
Jonathan Cohen recently assumed the chairmanship of the Lands Committee. An attorney at Gilbert LLP, Jonathan specializes in resolution of complex, multiparty insurance and bankruptcy disputes. As chair of his firm’s Pro Bono Committee, Jonathan is no stranger to service. 

Jonathan earned a B.A., Master’s and Ph.D. from the University of Chicago, and  J.D. from the University of California, Berkeley. Jonathan said, “I am looking forward to working with the Board and staff to help further the Trust’s very valuable mission of increasing the lands that this country sets aside as parks. ” The Cohen family are park enthusiasts and enjoy taking Buddy Bison to national parks.

NPT Welcomes New Communication and Youth Programs Director
Lisa LoVullo has joined the NPT staff as Communication and Youth Programs Director. Lisa comes to NPT with a wealth of experience in marketing, education, brand development, and journalism. She has served as the Marketing Brand Manager, Calvert Education Services; President, WILD LLC, a company specializing in relationship marketing, communications, brand building and event management; and Director of New Business Development and Electronic News and Information Services for The Baltimore Sun.

“At a time when Buddy Bison is gaining such popularity, we are in need of someone with Lisa’s unique strengths and skills to take us to the next level,” says Grace Lee, NPT’s Executive Director.
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National Park Trust  /  401 E. Jefferson Street, Suite 102  /  Rockville, MD 20850  /  Email: info@parktrust.org  /  www.parktrust.org