Melanie S.

A book cover with the title: Eager: The Surprising, Secret Life of Beavers and Why They Matter by Ben Goldfarb. It has a tan background with red and black lettering with a black beaver icon under the title.

The 2026 #ParkChat Book Club List. Feb/Mar Eager Beavers, Apr/May Ranger in Skirts, Jun/Jul Sea of Grass, Aug/Sep The Story of my Boyhood, Oct/Nov Our National Forests, Dec/Jan Wild Girls.

A12.2: #ParkChat Book Club is very much enjoying Eager: The Surprising, Secret Life of Beavers and Why They Matter (by @bengoldfarb.bsky.social). Learn about Beaver Deceivers, Beaver Whisperers, and the role beavers play in nature. Our second meeting is Tue, 3/17 at 5 PM Pacific. DM me for deets.

Stop Selloff Steve

A12.1: Former Rep. Steve Pearce (R-NM) is in the confirmation process for head of the Bureau of Land Management. There, he'll oversee 245M acres of public lands and push to private them (sell them). Check out the VetVoice Foundation 's website and take swift action: SellOffSteve.org #ParkChat

A11: What kind of support do you as a journalist, need from us--park lovers? #ParkChat

#parkchat Q11 and Q12
Does anyone have a question for @samahill.bsky.social tonight?
And does anyone have an announcement or something to share with the group?

A11: Loss of the public lands... which therefore means access to the public lands and protection of the ecological systems and cultural resources. #ParkChat

Q10: What experience should never disappear from a visit to a national park — no matter how much the world changes? #parkchat

A9: I'd be happy if they looked even like they do today (no improvements, same or more acreage) and not a completely dismantled system of public lands. The bar is LOW.

#ParkChat

Q9: When you picture national parks 50 years from now, what do you hope they still look or feel like? #parkchat

I have had the exact opposite experience.

We are ramping up in CA and the turn out is great. Folks like National Parks Conservation Association, CalWild, CA Native Plant Society, VetVoice Foundation, etc. #ParkChat

A8. Is everything narrow enough? Ecological Collapse. Staff Burnout. Lack of Funds. Public Land Sell Offs. Destruction of the NPS System. Loss of History. Loss of Species. Hunting. Disruption. Poor Water Quality.....

#ParkChat

Q8: What worries you most about the future of national parks? #parkchat

A7: Yes, I do. You can see it in the difference of social media influencers. I think the younger generation is mad at us. We've done a poor job protecting the environment (the planet) and are leaving them with numerous environmental disasters. #ParkChat

Q7: Do you think younger generations connect with national parks differently compared to past generations? #parkchat

True dat. #ParkChat

A6: Visitors have a huge role... especially participating in public comment periods, showing up at meetings where decisions are made, educating decision makers, and more. These parks depend on people like us to help them--I am the Lorax. #ParkChat

Q6: What responsibility do visitors have in shaping the future of parks? #parkchat

A6: Ohhhh... great question. I feel like we are missing oak woodlands as an ecosystem protected at the federal level. #ParkChat

A4: I'm torn as well. I don't think learning about parks while in the park with technology (i.e. your phone) is the way to go, but having access to tools, apps, maps, guides, etc. is helpful. #ParkChat

Q4: How much technology belongs in national parks — helpful tool or distraction from nature? #parkchat

A3: A HUGE role.... national parks offer areas for pilot projects, improved planning, and more. I am reminded of the impact allowing wolves back into Yellowstone had on many public lands. #ParkChat

Q3: What role should national parks play in educating people about environmental issues? #parkchat

A2: Actually keep the visitor management plans rather than scrap like this Administration proposes. While these lands are available to all of us, they do have a capacity and the visitor experience suffers greatly without limits on visitation. Even movie theaters have max capacities. #ParkChat

Melanie's here in SoCal! #ParkChat

Tonight #ParkChat welcomes our National Park journalist @samahill.bsky.social as our special guest host. He be looking at “The future of the National Parks” both now and in the future. Please let us know where you’re joining us from. Tonight I’m at Dauphin Island #Alabama.

A1: Improved signage, new visitor management plans, adopted resource management plans, and states/nonprofits stepping up to help during this Administration.

#ParkChat

Q1: What changes have you noticed at your national parks over the years?

Bigger crowds? Harder to find reservations? Amenity changes? Changes to the landscape?

What stands out for you? #parkchat

The 2026 #ParkChat Book Club List. Feb/Mar Eager Beavers, Apr/May Ranger in Skirts, Jun/Jul Sea of Grass, Aug/Sep The Story of my Boyhood, Oct/Nov Our National Forests, Dec/Jan Wild Girls.

A book cover with the title: Eager: The Surprising, Secret Life of Beavers and Why They Matter by Ben Goldfarb. It has a tan background with red and black lettering with a black beaver icon under the title.

A12: #ParkChat Book Club is about to start Eager: The Surprising, Secret Life of Beavers and Why They Matter (by @bengoldfarb.bsky.social). The book focuses on the ecological importance of beavers (nature's engineers). Our second meeting is Mar. 17 at 5 PM Pacific. DM me for deets.

Q10: I can’t think of any… I’ll call myself lucky! #ParkChat

Q10 What's one of your more challenging morning experiences?
One of mine was waking up to the 4th day of wet spring snow while backpacking in RMNP & our cheap tent was having none of it. Everything soaked, we hiked out directly to a hotel in the nearest town (near Grand Lake). #parkchat

Love it. #ParkChat