Park Etiquette

A school group enjoys walking the battlefield.

NPS

Taking Care of Kings Mountain National Military Park

Before visiting the park, please review these rules of park etiquette with your students.

Kings Mountain National Military Park belongs to everyone.

You and your class have a responsibility to take care of Kings Mountain National Military Park. This responsibility is shared with all park visitors. We would like to have everyone practice the three R's while visiting the park: Respect, Responsibility, and Reason.

You share the park with other citizens of the United States and the world. Quiet, respectful visitation is expected in the park. Many park visitors are descendants of those who fought and died during the battle and view the park as sacred ground. We want you to have fun and enjoy your visit to Kings Mountain National Military Park, but remember that the park is an outdoor museum, not a playground.

Leave No Trace

This summarizes a park and popular outdoor recreation ethic that reminds everyone to be responsible for their actions and leave the park unaltered so that it may be enjoyed by future generations. You can learn more about Leave No Trace practices and principles here.

Your safety is important to us, and to those who come after you.

Stay on the trails. Have you ever heard the saying, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure?" At Kings Mountain National Military Park, that means to pay attention to your surroundings, where you are walking and what you are doing so that you can prevent injury to yourself and others and prevent the need for medical care. If you were to have an accident in the park, it would no doubt ruin your day. However, it would also affect many other people. Rescue operations are very expensive and frequently endanger rescuers, inconvenience other park visitors and can completely change your group's plans.

Protect Our Resources

By following safety rules such as staying on the trail and not walking, climbing, or sitting on the monuments, memorials, and markers or other archaeological resources you not only protect yourself and others, but you also protect fragile resources. Resources like the Chronicle Marker and Colonial Road can easily be damaged when people walk on them. Eventually this damage could cause these special sites to erode away. Help us protect these sites for future generations by staying on the trail.Like all National Parks, Kings Mountain National Military Park was created to protect all of its features from human disturbance. Imagine if everyone who came to the park picked flowers, there may be none left for you to see. Safety is another consideration. Some plants may be poisonous, and many "cute" animals carry diseases or can be dangerous when frightened or provoked. There are places outside of the parks where collecting ecological samples may be appropriate. In our National Parks, however, all objects are to be left alone for our enjoyment and that of future generations.

Watch the weather and dress appropriately.

When touring the park, be aware of the weather. Wear appropriate walking shoes and outerwear.