To Preserve and Protect: Exploring Stewardship and Restoration of Our National Parks

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"....to conserve the scenery and the natural and historic objects and the wild life therein and to provide for the enjoyment of the same in such manner and by such means as will leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations."

The Organic Act of 1916

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For over one hundred years, the National Park Service has been entrusted with the mission of preserving and protecting America’s most beautiful places for the enjoyment of this and future generations. From the awe-inspiring geysers of Yellowstone to the giant kelp forests of the California Channel Islands, the charge of preserving these natural wonders, especially in the face of global environmental threats, is no small task.

Though these protected sites are visited by millions a year, there are but a few dedicated people who stand watch on the front lines of maintaining and restoring our National Parks for the benefit of all.

These are their stories and their ongoing legacy.