America’s National Parks Podcast

Shenandoah Part 2

While the creation of the Shenandoah National Park was the successful result of persistent collaboration between business owners, local park advocates, the state of Virginia, the federal government, and the young National Park Service, it also resulted in the forced displacement of thousands of individuals residing within the new park bounds.
By Sophie PouxScript Editor: Kelsey SkonbergAudio Editor and Theme Music: Peter XiongHost: Jason Epperson
Sponsored by LLBean www.llbean.com/guideand Campendium www.campendium.com

Shenandoah Part 1

Sweeping wildflower fields, brilliant fall foliage, cascading waterfalls, black bears, and songbirds. Mountain hollows. A meandering scenic drive stretching over 100 miles across the crest of the Blue Ridge Mountains. 
Shenandoah National Park in Central Virginia has attracted visitors since the 1930s when the park first opened to the public. While the creation of the park was the successful result of persistent collaboration between business owners, local park advocates, the state of Virginia, the federal government, and the young National Park Service, it also resulted in the forced displacement of thousands of individuals residing within the new park bounds.
By Sophie PouxScript Editor: Kelsey SkonbergAudio Editor and Theme Music: Peter XiongHost: Jason Epperson
Sponsored by LLBean www.llbean.com/guideand Campendium www.campendium.com
 

National Park Passes Explained — 2023 Updates

In this episode, we're taking a look at all the "Interagency" America the Beautiful passes that are available to give you access to national parks and other federal lands, often with some great discounts. We'll also cover the brand-new LIFETIME military pass. 
Order your passes online here: https://store.usgs.gov/recreational-passes Get the Every Kid Outdoors 4th & 5th Grade Pass here: https://everykidoutdoors.gov/index.htm

Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens – an Urban Oasis

Along the Anacostia River, thousands of years ago, a vibrant Native American community thrived, relying on the natural resources of the land and the water that bisected it. Lush foliage, cattails, fish, and wild game made the region self-sustaining for the Nacotchtank people. They understood the importance of balance between using and protecting the resources of these wetlands, which fell into a devastating period of overuse with the arrival of European settlers. 
However, in the 1930s, a dredging project on the Anacostia River resulted in the government issuing a notice of condemnation of the land. Helen Fowler fought the action, and eventually persuaded Congress to protect eight acres of water gardens by annexing them to Anacostia Park.

Two New Park Units, Mosquito Science, and the True Age of Yosemite | News from the Parks

It's time for our monthly park news round-up. This time, there are two new park units, a new study shares how some people really are "mosquito magnets," and some new science shows that Yosemite is much younger than we previously thought it was. 
 
Today's show was sponsored by L.L.Bean, follow the hashtag #beanoutsider, and visit LLBean.com to find great gear for exploring the National Parks. 
And by Campendium. Find listings and reviews for thousands of campsites for your next national park adventure at campendium.com.
Make sure to follow the America's National Parks Podcast on Facebook and Instagram, and join us on the RV Miles podcast the hear our travel stories as we journey across America. 

Spooky Stories from National Parks

It’s that spooky time of year again when the leaves are turning orange and red, the days get shorter and the nights longer, and there seems to be a ghoul hiding around every bend on the trail. Which means it’s also the perfect time of year for a themed episode. Today, we will be traversing the country to hear about some obscure hauntings and a curse that has been verified by multiple visitors.
 
Host: Jason Epperson
Narrator: Abigail Trabue
Written by: Rachel Ryan
Edited by: Peter Xiong 
 

The Endangered Species Act

Species and population declines persisted during this time despite the existence of several federal laws, including The Lacey Act, the Migratory Bird Conservation Act, and the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act. A heavier-hitting piece of legislation was needed, and thus the Endangered Species Preservation Act came to be in October of 1966. Aimed at conserving, protecting, and restoring select species of native fish and wildlife, the Act and its purpose soon outgrew itself and, by 1969, was replaced with the Endangered Species Conservation Act.
But President Richard Nixon wasn’t satisfied. He called for even more comprehensive legislation, signing into law one of the nation’s, and world’s, most significant and strongest environmental laws.
Today’s America’s National Parks, the United States Endangered Species Act.
Written by Dr. Charlotte Hacker
Edited by Peter Xiong
Narrated by Abigail Trabue
Hosted by Jason Epperson

The 5 Senses of Death Valley

We often think of visiting national parks as a visual experience, the scenery drawing us in, the spectacular sights, where every moment presents yet another photo opportunity. And certainly this is true, even at Death Valley National Park. Every harshly sculpted desert landscape is a unique vista, a marvel of nature. But the conditions at Death Valley in the summertime remind us that the national parks can be experienced through senses other than sight. We primarily think of parks as something we see, but truly, if we’re experiencing a place fully, we should engage all five senses: sight, hearing, touch, smell, and taste. This episode of America’s National Parks podcast is not a story, but rather a sensory journey.
 
Written By: Lauren Eisenberg Davis
Narrated By: Abigail Trabue
Edited By: Peter Xiong
Hosted By: Jason Epperson