The Congaree National Park: A Short Story

Life can be pretty stressful, and at times I feel the need to escape. When life’s pressures build to a critical mass my favorite place to go is Collier Township’s Panhandle trail, with its long hiking, and bike riding path, the more secluded hiking trails set deep in the woods, and fossil cliff it’s the ideal place to escape this mad mad world. I begin my journey at the start of the trail that stretches from Pittsburgh to Washington DC. The sound of tiny stones crunch under my feet as I walk, birds fly through a vibrant blue sky, and come to rest perched high in the trees that frame the walking, and bike trail. I continue down the trail for a quarter of a mile reading the small signs placed on the edge of the path set there to inform you of

National parks are a government institution meant to preserve the natural wonders of America’s landscapes. Established as the first national park in the U.S. by Congress in 1872, Yellowstone National Park was intended as “a public park or pleasuring ground for the benefit and enjoyment of the people.” The Secretary of the Interior, along with other governmental departments like the War Department and the Forest Service of the Department of Agriculture later worked to authorize additional national parks and monuments throughout much of the West. President Woodrow Wilson created the National Park Service in 1916, which was responsible for protecting and managing the national parks already created, as well as those yet to be established. Once

The indication of morning had approached; wind halted while the air became temperate. Morning routine of the birds, fetching food for their children, communicating with the others, hatching their eggs. Newly seeded grass shooted out, growing like weeds. The air reminded Mary of a camping trip when she was younger in Yosemite Park. Pinecones and trees gave her the happy memories, ones of her husband and her only child before the accident.

We see the vast wilderness that inhabits Yosemite National Park, moonlight engulfs the woods. During which we hear a male voice.  Man's VoiceWe interrupt your regularly scheduled programming to bring you a very important news bulletin. The mysterious disappearances at Yosemite National Park is causing worry for the surrounding area and Yosemite workers alike. 5 disappearances have been reported in the past 3 weeks with no evidence left for search and rescue officers. WMOT will continue to follow this story. In the meantime stay safe and remember to never venture into the park after dark. EXT. YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK -  DAY(4pm)RYDER, Search and Rescue Officer for Yosemite National Park, is carrying a headless rattle snake he just killed next to the river bank. He looks at

This year the National Park Service celebrates its 100th anniversary. Their mandate is to "conserve the scenery and the natural and historic objects and the wild life therein” in an unimpaired condition so that they might be enjoyed by present and future generations." I interviewed Park Service employee Daniel Craighead, an Occupational Safety and Health Specialist, to discuss how occupational safety and training supports the Park Services mandate.

It was always a joy for the trail crew to call in the mules and horses early in the morning from the lush, Leprechaun-green government pasture down in Red’s Meadow on a sweet, warm summer’s day.  The animals really loved it too, as they munched on mush from feed bags tied around their necks.  They would get so frisky and spunky from feeling their oats that they would deposit road apples in the corral.  This was soon stomped into the dirt and completely overwhelmed the fresh, fragrant smell of flowers, meadow and forest.

For my National Public Lands Day project, to better the environment, I am volunteering at the Big Morongo Canyon Preserve. National Public Lands Day promotes both outdoor enjoyment, volunteering, and conservation of public lands. This event takes place on September 30th at 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. I will arrange a ride with my mom, then gather the needed supplies. My mom will drop me off a 8:00 a.m. with a group of park rangers, to whom I will address. For the following six hours the park rangers will assign the fellow volunteers and I specific tasks to complete.

On a sunny, steamy summer day in mid-July, as I passed under a bronze archway reading Rocky River Ranch, little did I know what the future held. Camp life was a 180-degree turn from the peace and quiet I was used to in my calm home. Being an only child from a household with two loving parents, my life lacked conflict. As a shy, introverted person I quickly had to adapt to a place full of endless chatter, interaction, and wacky songs. I was nervous about my ability to make such a difficult transition, but the love and positivity abound at camp simplified the shift.

identify at least two non-native (exotic/introduced) species found in each park and discuss the ecological problems associated with their introduction.

The work that the National Parks Service has done is remarkable. It as been successful in protecting millions of square miles of forest land. Stephen Mather was a successful businessman who earned his money in other businesses and then transferred his genius to the business of stopping deforestation. His restless nature was a well known aspect of his personality and that was something that was desperately needed in the national parks service

Life at Camp Green Lake is hard we must dig a hole 5 feet wide and 5 feed deep every day in the hot blazing sun. I don’t mind digging holes. I made a good friend his name is Stanley Yelnats I help him by digging his hole and he is helping me to read, it works out great he got sent to camp Green Lake

The National Park System, which established its first park in 1872 is composed of about 400 different parks, located in every state but Delaware. The system not only includes famous parks like Yellowstone, and the Great Smokey Mountains, but also historic parks with old battlefields, giant lakes, and even simple seashores. Some parks have an extraordinary natural history, such as Grand Canyon National Park with its nearly 300-mile-long canyon running through its center. Other parks have a unique military history. At the Antietam National Battlefield in Maryland, for example park visitors can see the historical site of one of the most famous battles of the Civil War. In Florida visitors to the Everglades National Park can see the remnants of

I sat down at a park bench as Sweat dripped off of my forehead from my morning jog. It was early in the morning, about 7:30 am and the sun was just beginning to rise. My break only lasted a short amount of time because today I had more important matters to address. The name's Rose Marie Johnson, it rolls off the tongue and sounds sweet and regal, I want you to know that this isn't a journal, you could say it's a cautionary tale but it's not a tale it's my reality.

I raised my hand for it to light upon, it barely landed and then was gone. Fluttering back through the flowers and trees, dancing in the warm summer

The sunless sky covered the woods over the treetops which created a canopy over my head. The crimson and auburn foliage was a magnificent sight, as this was the season known as Fall. There was a gentle breeze, creating the single sound of rustling leaves. The leaves appeared as though they were dying to fall out of the tree and join their companions on the forest floor. Together with pine needles and other flora the leaves formed a thick springy carpet for me to walk upon.