How to Support National Parks: A Guide to Making a Real Impact in 2025
If you’re wondering how to support national parks, the answer has never been more urgent. America’s National Parks are in crisis. The current administration has slashed funding, fired thousands of public land employees—including over 1,000 National Park Service staff—and left our parks more understaffed, overburdened, and vulnerable than ever. Without proper funding and boots on the ground, these iconic landscapes face irreversible damage, overcrowding, and neglect.
We’ve visited 44 out of 63 U.S. National Parks, and we’ve seen firsthand how critical park staff are. Rangers do more than just maintain trails and answer questions—they are the frontline defenders of these protected lands, safeguarding fragile ecosystems, historical sites, and wildlife. Without them, our parks suffer.
This isn’t just a political issue—it’s about preserving public lands for future generations. But the good news? We’re not powerless.
While the government cuts corners, we have to step up and fight back. This blog will walk you through exactly how you can help, from contacting your representatives to practicing responsible recreation. Every voice matters. Let’s make sure our National Parks don’t become a thing of the past.
Contact Your Representatives: Demand Better Funding & Protections
One of the most effective ways to support National Parks is by contacting your elected officials and demanding better funding and protections. The government controls the budget and policies that determine the future of our public lands, and your voice matters. By calling, emailing, or writing to your representatives, you can urge them to prioritize national park funding, fight against deregulation, and support conservation efforts.
To find the right person to contact, use these tools:
- U.S. Senate: www.senate.gov/senators/contact
- U.S. House of Representatives: www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative
- State & Local Officials: www.usa.gov/elected-officials
What if I really don’t like talking on the phone?
Calling on evenings and weekends with the intent of leaving a voicemail is still a great way to make your voice heard. Congressional offices are usually open during normal business hours in their local time zone. If you are going to leave a voicemail, please leave your full street address to ensure your call is tallied.
What if I really, really don’t like talking on the phone?
We get it, talking to people on the phone is the absolute worst! Another route is to email your representative the above script. For the subject line, some variation “Protecting Our National Parks – Your Support Matters”
What do i say when i reach out? Here’s A script
Hi, my name is [Your Name], and I’m a constituent from [Your City, ZIP Code]. I’m [calling/emailing] to express my deep concern about the recent layoffs within the U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, and National Park Service. These cuts endanger our public lands, compromise wildfire management, and negatively impact local economies dependent on tourism and recreation.
National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, and US Forest Service staff are the heartbeat of our Public Lands, and they are essential to the functional operation of the special places that millions of Americans visit every year. Those park visitors drive local economies and support hundreds of thousands of jobs.
These cuts endanger our public lands, compromise wildfire management, and negatively impact local economies dependent on tourism and recreation. As we head into wildfire season I am especially concerned about our country’s ability to keep communities safe due to these positions being eliminated without thought.
Our communities and economies rely on our parks – and parks rely on our federal staff. As your constituent, I want you to do everything in your power to protect National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, and US Forest Service staff from these egregious staffing cuts.
I urge you to:
- Advocate for the immediate reinstatement of ALL laid-off USFS, BLM, and NPS employees. Not just allowing seasonal hires.
- Oppose any further reductions to the federal workforce that threaten essential public services.
- Support legislation that safeguards the integrity and funding of our public land agencies.
- Stop slashing federal employees.
Improperly funding the budget for national parks and public lands undermines the very places our lawmakers like you have promised to protect.
Thank you for your time and attention to this critical issue.
[Your Name]
Take your message to them, Town Halls and Public Hearings!
In addition to contacting your representatives directly, consider attending town halls and public hearings to voice your support for national parks in person. These events give you the opportunity to speak directly to elected officials, ask questions about their stance on public lands, and hold them accountable for decisions that impact national park funding and protections.
Bringing up issues like budget cuts, conservation efforts, and the need for stronger environmental policies in a public forum not only puts pressure on policymakers but also raises awareness among other attendees. If you can’t attend in person, many town halls are streamed online, allowing you to participate virtually. Your presence and voice matter—when constituents show up and speak out, leaders are more likely to listen.
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Visit Responsibly, Now More Than ever
With fewer rangers on the ground, the responsibility to protect and preserve national parks falls on all of us. Every visitor plays a role in ensuring these landscapes remain intact for future generations. Overcrowding, litter, and irresponsible behavior can lead to long-term damage—especially now that parks are more understaffed than ever.
The best way to minimize your impact is by following the Leave No Trace principles, a set of guidelines designed to help people enjoy the outdoors responsibly.
We’ve broken down each of these principles in detail on our Instagram page—click here to learn more about how to implement them on your next national park trip!
The 7 Principles of Leave No Trace provide a simple framework for responsible recreation:
- Plan ahead and prepare – Know park regulations, check weather conditions, and pack appropriately.
- Travel and camp on durable surfaces – Stick to trails and established campsites to avoid damaging fragile ecosystems.
- Dispose of waste properly: Pack out all trash, leftover food, and personal hygiene products.
- Leave what you find: Avoid picking flowers, disturbing wildlife, or taking natural or historical objects.
- Minimize campfire impact: Use designated fire rings and keep fires small, or better yet, use a camp stove.
- Respect wildlife: Observe animals from a distance and never feed them. Human food disrupts natural behaviors and diets.
- Be considerate of other visitors: Keep noise levels low, yield to others on trails, and respect the experience of fellow park-goers.
Beyond Leave No Trace, visitors can reduce overcrowding by exploring lesser-known parks or traveling during off-peak times. Over-tourism puts strain on park resources, so consider visiting during weekdays, early mornings, or in the shoulder seasons. If you’re hiking a popular trail, follow signage, stay on designated paths, and avoid creating new “social trails” that damage fragile habitats. Small choices add up—the way we visit determines what’s left for future generations.
Donate or Support Conservation-Focused Businesses
If you want to make a direct impact on National Parks, consider donating to organizations that fund conservation efforts. With recent budget cuts and staff reductions, nonprofit organizations play an increasingly critical role in keeping our parks protected.
One of the best ways to contribute is by supporting the National Park Foundation, the official charitable partner of the National Park Service. Your donation helps fund park maintenance, wildlife conservation, educational programs, and restoration projects.
Beyond direct donations, you can also support businesses that give back to public lands. Companies like Patagonia, The Landmark Project, and Parks Project sell national park-themed gear and apparel, with a portion of every purchase funding conservation projects. Many outdoor brands also contribute to sustainability initiatives, so choosing to buy from ethical companies is another way to put your money where it matters.
Another great option is participating in park adoption programs. Many organizations allow individuals to “adopt” a park, trail, or even a specific species within a park (like an animal or a trail), with donations going directly toward habitat restoration, research, and infrastructure improvements. These programs provide a meaningful way to contribute to the long-term preservation of our public lands.
Even if you can’t donate large amounts, every dollar helps. Whether you give directly, shop from conservation-minded brands, or participate in a park adoption program, your contributions help ensure that national parks remain protected for future generations.
Spread Awareness: Educate & Inspire Others
One of the most powerful tools for advocacy is simply talking about it. The more people who understand the threats facing national parks, the more likely they are to take action. Social media, blogs (like this one), and conversations with friends and family can all help raise awareness and inspire others to get involved.
Start by sharing this message on social media—use your platform to spread the word. Whether it’s posting about an issue affecting a specific park, resharing content from conservation organizations, or encouraging others to take action, your voice can reach and influence more people than you realize. Tag elected officials, use relevant hashtags, and link to resources (like this blog post, and this Instagram post) that make it easy for others to get involved.
Beyond social media, encourage your friends and family to take action. Remind them that their voice matters. Urge them to vote, to contact their representatives, donate to conservation efforts, and practice Leave No Trace principles when visiting public lands. The more people who take small steps, the bigger the collective impact.
Another powerful way to advocate is by sharing personal stories. If you’ve visited a National Park that left a lasting impression, write about it. Share why these places matter—not just as beautiful destinations, but as irreplaceable ecosystems and pieces of history. Whether through blog posts, videos, or community discussions, telling stories about your experiences helps others connect emotionally to the need for protection.
Awareness is the first step toward change. By educating, sharing, and inspiring others, we can create a movement of people who care about and actively protect our national parks. The more we talk about it, the harder it is to ignore.
In Conclusion, take action today!
Our National Parks belong to all of us, but they won’t survive without action. These landscapes, wildlife, and cultural sites are under serious threat, and it’s up to us to ensure they remain protected for future generations. If we don’t fight for them, who will?
Now is the time to step up and make a difference. Choose at least one way to help: Call your representatives, volunteer your time, donate to conservation efforts, or spread awareness online. Every action—no matter how small—contributes to the larger fight to protect our public lands.
Don’t wait—these lands need us now more than ever. Whether you’re advocating for policy changes, practicing Leave No Trace, or inspiring others to care, you’re making an impact. Let’s ensure that national parks remain wild, protected, and accessible for generations to come. The future of these places depends on what we do today.
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