SUMMARY

Americans continue to flock to the national parks, with more than 320 million visitors in the last year alone. But that broad appeal is facing new political pressures, from orders to revise exhibits to President Trump's construction projects. Amna Nawaz discussed the state of national parks with Tiernan Sittenfeld, the president and CEO of the National Parks Conservation Association.

View the transcript of the story.

Short on time? Watch the video and complete the following See, Think, Wonder questions: What did you notice? What did the story make you think? What would you want to learn more about?

News alternative: Check out our recent segments from the News Hour, and choose the story you’re most interested in watching. Then make a copy and answer these general discussion questions.

WARM-UP QUESTIONS

1. How old is the National Parks Service?
2. Who is Tiernan Sittenfeld, and what is her background?
3. Why are the national parks important, according to Sittenfeld?
4. What are some of the ways national parks have been impacted during the Trump administration, according to Sittenfeld?
5. Where is the Trump administration considering giving a part of a major national park to a private developer?

FOCUS QUESTIONS

In this segment, Tiernan Sittenfeld says that "... what's very concerning is that the Trump administration is showing so little regard for public input, for the role of Congress, for the rule of law."

• Do you think the public should have direct input into how national parks and park funds are managed? If so, what could that input look like?
• Who do you think should get to decide how parks and national monuments are funded and maintained?

Media literacy: Why do you think the producers of this segment chose to bring on a critic of the Trump administration's decisions without also including a supporter of the moves? Who else might you want to hear from to understand the changes being made?

WHAT STUDENTS CAN DO

Can you remember the last time you visited a national park? Do you have any near your own community? As a class, locate the closest national park to you using this National Park Service map. Then discuss —

• Have you visited or could you access the park easily?
• How do you think the park could be developed to attract you or more visitors from outside the state?
• What do you notice are some of the reasons behind establishing some of the parks on the map? Did any surprise you?
• If you could establish a new national park near your own community based on highlighting the community's history, important figures or natural areas, what would it be and why?

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