Newsroom

By WNP President and CEO Marie Buck, October 10, 2025 // This is a challenging moment for the places that mean so much to all of us—the trails we explore, the landscapes that inspire us, the stories that connect us. During the government shutdown, many national parks remain accessible but are operating with limited staffing and services. For some, the places that give us the most comfort during stressful times are closed for the protection of the precious resources preserved there. For others, the call to find our strength and comfort in the beauty and power of our parks gives us a renewed spirit of stewardship—a reminder of why these places must endure.

Due to the federal government shutdown, the National Park Service may close park facilities. While the shutdown continues, this will affect WNP's park stores located within the parks.

Western National Parks (WNP) is now accepting nominations and applications for its 2025–2026 awards, grants and scholarships.

Western National Parks had the privilege of interviewing Medema about his life, work, what winning the Edward B. Danson award meant to him, and what’s next.

TUCSON, Ariz. (Sep. 22, 2025) — Out There: A National Parks Story — an acclaimed documentary that has captivated audiences nationwide — is coming to Tucson for a one-night-only screening at the historic Fox Tucson Theatre on October 23.

Teacher Debbie Luevano connected students with New Mexico’s landscapes and heritage with a 2024 – 2025 J ames E. Cook Nature’s Classroom Grant . Visiting a national park is an opportunity to connect with the many landscapes, histories, and cultures...

WNP was delighted to award a 2024-2025 James E. Cook Nature’s Classroom Grant to teacher Stephanie Mendoza of Brownsville Raul Yzaguirre STEM Scholars Academy (BRYSS). The grant supported a field trip for 173 fourth-to-eighth grade students at Brownsville Raul Yzaguirre STEM Scholars Academy (BRYSS) to Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park in Texas.

Western National Parks is honored to announce it has received a grant from the National Park Foundation, the official nonprofit partner of the National Park Service.

The Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument has opened a temporary visitor center at the Big Horn County Historical Museum in Hardin, Montana, while the monument completes exciting renovations.