Grand Canyon National Park Celebrates National Park Week by Recognizing Park Volunteers

The National Park Service (NPS) at Grand Canyon will recognize National Park Week April 21 -27, 2003, by celebrating park volunteers.

"National Park Week is an opportunity for us to show our appreciation to the many individuals of all ages who have devoted time and energy into making our national parks a better place, and to extend warm invitations to our neighbors and friends - especially those who have never visited a national park - to experience the wonder of these special places," NPS Director Fran P. Mainella said.

"Every year volunteers work side by side with the National Park Service staff on projects to protect and care for park resources," Joseph Alston, Park Superintendent said. "Last year alone, well over 1,000 people volunteered their time and talents to help safeguard the Grand Canyon. Volunteers have helped design trails; have been involved in planting projects, invasive plant removal, visitor education, the condor reintroduction program, and many other projects and programs. Over 40,000 hours were worked by these volunteers, donating nearly $500,000 worth of services to the National Park Service. We are grateful for their contributions and hope their experiences at the park will long be remembered."

"This year during National Park Week, the Grand Canyon High School student body will assist the National Park Service Revegetation Crew on a planting project between Mather and Yavapai Points on the South Rim of Grand Canyon," Deb Shannon, Grand Canyon Revegetation Crew Volunteer Coordinator said. "The project is in honor of Earth Day and will take place on Thursday, April 24. This is the 7th year Grand Canyon High School students have partnered with the Revegetation Crew to complete large-scale plantings in impacted areas near the rim."

National Parks are living examples of the best this Nation has to offer - our magnificent natural landscapes and our varied yet interrelated heritage. Parks can provide recreational experiences, opportunities to learn and grow, and places of quiet refuge. Many park volunteers have left with a new appreciation of the resource and knowing they have made a real difference for parks and people.

"Our neighbors have a national park at their doorstep" Superintendent Alston said. "I invite everyone to come and see what Grand Canyon National Park has to offer during National Park Week and year round. During National Park Week and throughout the year, visitors can join a park ranger in one of the many daily activities for a better understanding of the Grand Canyon - it's past and present. Activities include fossil walks, geology talks, the Canyon's cultural history, the California condor and much more!

The first National Park Week celebrated the 75th anniversary of the National Park Service, and the president has proclaimed it annually since 1994. America's 388 national parks tell our country's stories and welcome visitors year round; National Park Week is an opportunity to recognize and celebrate the many ways national parks enrich people's lives and the people who have contributed to them.

To learn more about the Volunteers in Parks Program be sure to visit the National Park Service's Volunteer In Parks area on the Web at www.nps.gov/volunteer/. For information on National Park Week events, including March for Parks, in communities and national parks across the country, check out www.nps.gov/npweek/. For more information on Grand Canyon National Park visit the park's web site at www.nps.gov/grca/ or call (928) 638-7888.