So, it’s National Park Week! Unfortunately, we are also right in the middle of a global pandemic. The weather is getting warmer, and we’re all anxious to pack up the RV and head out on the open road, but social distancing rules have us cooped up at home. We’re all doing our part to stay home and stay healthy to inhibit the spread of the novel Coronavirus, but what does that mean for our national parks? You might be wondering what you can do to support Rocky Mountain National Park, which closed March 20 until further notice due to social-distance mandates. When parks close, they lose valuable revenue that they need to keep the park programs going. Paying staff, caring for wildlife and habitats, caring for displays, keeping up grounds, and patrolling the area all cost money, and parks could suffer if we don’t help them during this crisis.
Additionally, Rocky Mountain National Park has several conservation programs that require funding to continue. If we do nothing, our favorite parks may not be able to sustain these essential services, and we will lose out on enjoying the best our area has to offer. So, what can you do to support Rocky Mountain National Park?
Charitable donations
Rocky Mountain National Park, through its non-profit charity, the Rocky Mountain Conservancy, is involved in a number of conservation programs that protect public land and conserve energy, promote renewable resources, and educate the public about how they can interact with the wilderness with the smallest possible ecological footprint. You can donate to the conservancy anytime and know your money will support many worthy programs to help keep our public lands clean and beautiful as well as promote renewable energy and the decrease of carbon emissions. Visit the Rocky Mountain Conservancy online. Your donation is tax-deductible.
Enjoy a national park online and promote it on social media
Rocky Mountain National Park has seven webcams set up around the park. You can view live updates of the area and watch wildlife caught on camera. View the Alpine Visitor Center webcam where you can see the Fall River Canyon, Old Fall River Road, Trail Ridge, and Mount Chapin, weather permitting. Snow may inhibit the viewing experience in this area. Another webcam is set up in the Kawuneeche Valley, where you can check out the Never Summer Mountains and look down on the Colorado River. You can also view the Continental Divide, the Fall River entrance, Longs Peak, and Beaver Meadows webcams. While you are watching, you can scope out your next RV-camping destination online.
To help this national park, share your webcam experiences and your links and hashtags on social media to promote park awareness and highlight how your friends can help too. On social media, you can suggest to your friends different ways they can support the park as well. Share the park’s social media links and show what you are doing to help because we’re all in this together, and we want our parks to get the help they need. You can follow Rocky Mountain National Park on its social media channels on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.
Support the online gift shop
Although the Trail Ridge Gifts Store is closed for the season and won’t reopen until June, the park’s non-profit national park charity, the Rocky Mountain Conservancy, hosts an online store. Your business can help the park make up for money lost during the closure by buying cool Rocky Mountain National Park t-shirts, sweatshirts, or coffee mugs. The gift shop even has amazing Native American arts and crafts as well as regional art. Pick up maps or books on the area as well. The online store supports the conservation and educational programs sponsored by the park, and it’s a great way to celebrate National Park Week.
Volunteer
Volunteering is an excellent way to help out Rocky Mountain National Park. Even though the park is currently closed, you can apply for one of the many volunteer positions available and get a jump start on the summer season. Many park employees are working from home, so they may be able to screen applicants and provide information on opportunities in the park. There may even be things you can do to help while the park is closed. You can view opportunities and apply online.
No matter what you choose to do to help our national parks through the COVID-19 pandemic, you are contributing to something valuable to protect our public lands, so that they will be here for us to enjoy for years to come. Just remember that none of us can do this alone, but together we can accomplish anything. Happy National Park Week!
Team Outdoorsy is here to help you along your journey. If you have questions or concerns about your upcoming RV rental, give us a call at 1-877-723-7232, send us an email, or start a chat. And for a continuously updated list of frequently asked COVID-19 questions relating to RV travel, visit our FAQ page.
