Civic Engagement - National Park Service

Superintendent Arthur Stewart and Park Planner Deidre Gibson participate in a Public Planning Meeting for Valley Forge National Historical Park















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FOR EMPLOYEES

As a public agency whose mission is preservation and interpretation of natural and cultural heritage, the National Park Service is, by definition, already in the business of "civic engagement." Unfortunately, our parks are not always reaching all segments of society as well as they might. The civic engagement initiative is a refocusing of current efforts at partnering with communities, expanding our education agenda, telling the "untold stories", and working to identify and preserve sites that exemplify the fullness of the nation's history, culture and rich diversity.

Here are some specific ways you can integrate civic engagement into your ongoing activities:

Interpretation
By giving expression to diverse American voices and uncovering the stories of ordinary people, civic engagement encourages every citizen to relate their experience to your park. Engaging visitors in dialogue enables them to experience the park on their own terms. Through your exhibits and materials, invite your visitors to enter into the debate and examine their personal biases and opinions.

Resource Management
Our parks are resources held in trust for every citizen of our nation. Welcome and encourage public participation in the process of thinking about the future of these resources. When faced with making important decisions, including those that are often tough and uncomfortable, keep the larger philosophy and vision of civic engagement in mind. Strive to be open to ideas and requests that may be out of the traditional "comfort zone."

Education
Developing partnerships with academic institutions and other educational organizations will help incorporate the multiple perspectives of current scholarship into programming at parks and in the classroom. Collaborative education partnerships serve to strengthen the public's understanding of the contemporary relevance of heritage resources.

Planning
The NPS is committed to embracing civic engagement as the essential foundation and framework for creating plans and developing programs. Effective civic engagement involves inclusive, comprehensive park planning which engages stakeholder groups and communities in public discussions about the management and preservation of park and heritage resources. Involve the public before you do the plan!

Explore this Web site
Learn about working in and with communities to accomplish shared goals in the Community Tool Box developed by The Northeast Region's Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance (RTCA) Program.

Host or attend a Preserving Memory Seminar with your NPS colleagues to explore the enduring challenge of public history and the dilemmas faced by NPS in its role of being the "gatekeepers" of cherished stories and sites. Check upcoming seminar dates in News and Events. Read about Ed Linenthal's experiences leading seminars in "Preserving Memory".

Review civic engagement materials in the Resources section of this Web site.

If you are interested in dialoguing about Civic Engagement, send a question or comment in the Dialog section of this Web site. For any additional need, please Contact Us.