Western National Parks Association

Programs: Interpretive and education services: wnpa plays a significant role in connecting people to parks. The 84 park stores in national park visitor centers offer thousands of books and products which provide meaningful and long-term connections to the parks. Wnpa operates in 12 states and 71 national park service units to further its mission. Wnpa has been publishing educational books and products since 1938. More than 200 publications are currently in print, with many award winners among them. New literature is published annually, including park-relevant educational items available to visitors at no charge. At the national parks store in tucson, arizona, wnpa hosted seven american indian art shows with speakers and cultural demonstrations. Similar events were hosted in national parks in arizona, new mexico, nevada, california, and texas.

grants and donations to park partners: in addition to providing educational opportunities through national park stores, wnpa gives direct donations to the national parks in support of cultural, historical and educational activities developed by park rangers. These activities enhance the visitor experience, provide opportunities to connect with youth, and engage the local community. Numerous events were funded during the year in national parks. Events included living history demonstrations and encampments, several cultural festivals, junior ranger camps, art exhibitions, and archeological and geographical surveys. Each of the 71 national parks affiliated with wnpa received direct donations in 2017. The association supports scientific research in national parks with grants awarded to qualified individuals and institutions. Grants are used to support a wide range of research projects that help create a better understanding of the parks, including the natural resources; the culture and heritage of the people who once lived there; and the social, economic and political history at the park sites. Since inception, wnpa has provided more than $2 million for research in the parks

community programs: at its headquarters in tucson, az, wnpa hosts free weekly educational presentations (130 annually), at which attendance exceeded 6,000 in 2017. The association's outreach event of the year is the sponsorship of a national parks pavilion at the tucson festival of books. The pavilion provided the opportunity for 20 national parks from the western united states to connect with over 135,000 festival attendees in 2017. Wnpa provided funding for other organizations with similar missions including parks in focus, ironwood tree experience, linking southwestern heritage through archaeology, and outward bound adventures.

visitor program services: through cooperating agreements with national park service units and membership in the desert southwest cooperative ecosystem studies unit, wnpa provides a variety of services in the 12 states with affiliated parks. These include project management, program facilitation, product development, printed materials and publications, exhibit design and fabrication, and other interpretive activities.