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  Keeping our local, state and national parks clean is an effort that involves everyone, from visitors to volunteers. Instilling the desire to maintain clean parks is something that should ideally start at a young age. If you are looking for great ways to get youth involved in keeping our parks clean, here are a few programs you might want to consider implementing in your community and schools. Look Into Adopting a Park Contact park rangers or supervisors in your area to learn more about how your youth group or family can adopt a park. Once you have found a park to adopt, plan to visit the park on a regular schedule to assist with keeping the park clean and well-maintained. Under the supervision of the park ranger or supervisor, you can help to remove invasive species, paint and spread mulch along with helping to pick up litter. Participate in the Leave No Trace Program The Leave No Trace program...

Staying safe in the wild requires taking several precautions. This is particularly true if you are exploring an area where bears are known to live. To ensure you remain safe while spending time in the great outdoors, there are a few precautionary steps that you should take. Preventing Bear Attacks Encountering a bear in the wild can be an exciting moment. At the same time, bears are sometimes unpredictable and can cause serious injuries. Therefore, you should avoid encountering a bear by keeping your distance and making noise so you do not accidentally surprise the bear by seemingly sneaking up on it. Some other ways to prevent bear attacks include: Hike with a group, as groups tend to be noisier and smellier. Groups are also more intimidating to bears because they appear larger. Never allow bears to access your food. All food should be kept in a bear-resistant food storage locker . Trash should be disposed of in a bear-resistant...

With winter approaching, concerns about encountering bears in the wild become less of a priority. After all, you are not likely to run across a bear in the winter if the bear is in hibernation. Prior to winter, however, these same bears actually become more active as they hunt for food and drink in preparation for the long winter ahead. This lesser-known process, called hyperphagia, also has an impact on bear behavior and the amount of risk you face when encountering a bear in the wild. What is Hyperphagia? Hyperphagia is the bear process of putting on weight in order to prepare for winter and hibernation. During the fall months before winter, bears eat and drink at a nearly nonstop pace in an effort to put on these extra pounds. As such, bears tend to be very active in the fall, giving national park visitors greater opportunities to see the bears in action. At the same time, this extra activity...

Located in the western Sierra Nevada range of Central California, the magnificent Yosemite National Park is a genuine national treasure. Covering 747,956 acres, the park features granite cliffs, a giant sequoia grove, waterfalls, glaciers, lakes, streams, mountains, and meadows. With almost 95 percent of the park being designated as wilderness, it is also home to around 90 different species of mammals, over 20 different types of reptiles, a dozen different types of amphibians and well over 200 different species of birds. Visiting Yosemite National Park With all that it has to offer, it is not hard to understand why so many people visit Yosemite National Park. In fact, around 4 million people visit the park every year. Despite the vast size of the park, most visitors never explore beyond the 5.9 square miles of the Yosemite Valley. Those who visit the park will find that recreational opportunities abound. Some popular activities include exploring the park’s 800 miles of hiking trails,...