NPT News May 2011

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First National Kids to Parks Day Inspires Families Nationwide to Discover Parks

Our inaugural National Kids to Parks Day initiative inspired more than 11,000 kids and their families, elected officials, organizations and business to visit a park on May 21st. We are grateful to our partners and sponsors for helping to make our first National Kids to Parks Day a huge success. Some of the highlights include:

National Kids to Parks Day was endorsed by 191 mayors, in 45 states and the District of Columbia, who signed proclamations and many planned public celebrations and events in cities and towns across America...read more

Bruce F. Vento Public Service Award Reception

Mark your calendars for the Bruce F. Vento Award reception at the Newseum in Washington, D.C. on June 23rd. This year National Park Trust will honor Senator Susan Collins of Maine. Senator Collins is being recognized for her outstanding record in land conservation and environmental protection. To learn more about the event, sponsorship opportunities or to purchase tickets, contact Shana Fajardo, Development Director at 301.279.7275 xt.15.

NPT Receives Partners in Education Award

NPT received an Outstanding Partner in Education Award from Alexandria Public Schools in Virginia. Kimberly Graves, Principal of Jefferson Houston School nominated NPT. In its first year as a Buddy Bison school, the students canoed the Anacostia River, participated in the White House Easter Egg Roll, attended two National Kids to Parks Day events and hosted the Earth Conservation Corps, where they were treated to a demonstration of raptor rescue birds. Grace Lee, NPT Executive Director accepted the award at a breakfast at the Alexandria Hilton on May 18th, saying "we are delighted to work with a school that is so actively engaged in providing environmental education and experiences for their students, and sincerely appreciate being recognized."

 

Claymont Mansion

NPT secured a Save America’s Treasures grant to perform restoration work on the Claymont Mansion, a Washington Family home in West Virginia. Extensive structural and cosmetic repairs to the mansion’s ballroom and second floor veranda have been completed. “These were huge and structurally complicated projects which went off without a hitch,” says Ellen Arrison, Chair of the Claymont Society Board of Directors. The Mansion's ballroom project encompassed the entire west side of the building, from the basement, to the ballroom, to the second floor, to the attic. In the basement footers and a stabilizing beam have been inserted....read more

Support for LWCF Gains Momentum

The Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) received a big boost during FY2012 House budget negotiations. A 'Dear Colleague' Letter, circulated by the LWCF coalition, resulted in 150 congressional members on board, including 15 Republican members. This is an historic high for an LWCF 'Dear Colleague' letter, and sends a strong message to the Appropriations Committee that the program needs consistent and robust funding in 2012 and beyond. NPT is part of the LWCF coalition and supports a full and dedicated fund for this important federal preservation tool.

Former NPT Lands Nature Conservancy Internship

Kudos to Collin Knauss, former NPT intern has been awarded the 2011 Charlie Blumenstein Water and Wildlife Conservation Internship. Collin, a biology major at Colorado College will intern with The Nature Conservancy Silver Creek Preserve in Picabo, Idaho where he will assist with the protection and enhancement of wildlife habitat and natural resources.  At NPT, Collin created our Buddy Bison social media outreach which allows us to engage with families. Collin continues to take Buddy Bison on park visits and often blogs about his adventures.

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National Park Trust  /  401 E. Jefferson Street, Suite 102  /  Rockville, MD 20850  /  Email: info@parktrust.org  /  www.parktrust.org