Dear Friend of the National Parks,
The exquisite beauty of America’s national parks is calling your name. It’s time to check out NPCA’s remarkable 2022 collection of specially curated educational tours just for park enthusiasts like you. Designed to give you exclusive experiences within the parks and special behind-the-scenes access to our staff experts, partners and local specialists, these tours are the most worthwhile way to revel in the magnificent sites of our parks, from skyscraping glacial peaks to colorful arrays of coral reefs.
Highlighting NPCA’s important contributions to park protection along the way, NPCA staff experts and our trip leaders will take you on an adventure like no other. When you join an NPCA small-group tour, you’ll journey through America’s most awe-inspiring landscapes, historic sites and heritage areas in the places we know best: America’s national parks.
Another benefit of traveling with NPCA is that a portion of your trip cost goes back to support NPCA’s mission to protect the parks for present and future generations. Finally, your health and safety is our top priority. NPCA has worked diligently with each of our travel partners to develop important safety measures so you can travel with ease.
Take a look at these fantastic journeys in fall 2022:
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On the Road to Freedom: Understanding Civil Rights Through our National Parks and Heritage Areas
September 9-16, 2022
Join NPCA experts on this transformative journey through some of the most significant sites associated with American civil rights. Along the way, you will have a unique opportunity to meet with NPCA partners, local historians and even those who played an active role in the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960’s. See firsthand how NPCA and partners are expanding cultural resource protections to help preserve the stories of the U.S. civil rights era. You’ll leave this exceptional tour with a deeper connection to the brave women, men and children of this region and their fight for justice. |
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Ancient Forests of the Olympic Peninsula
September 12-18, 2022
Olympic National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is where natural wonders, complex ecosystems and rich indigenous history come together to create a truly magnificent experience. NPCA experts and key local guides will show you a lesser-known side of the region. You’ll have the exciting opportunity to examine NPCA’s recent park protection victories in the area, like the now free-flowing Elwha River. While we explore this striking, mountainous park, we’ll also observe otherworldly sea stacks on Ruby Beach, kayak crystal-blue Lake Crescent and hike the lush, ancient Hoh rainforest to the “quietest place in America.” |
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Natural Fortunes of the Four Corners
September 25-October 1, 2022
Known for sweeping vistas, culturally rich Ancestral Puebloan settlements and internationally recognized dark skies, the Four Corners is unlike anywhere else in the world. Journey alongside expert guides on an adventure through the archaeological wonders of New Mexico, Colorado, Utah and Arizona. Along the way, you’ll find a deeper understanding of NPCA’s role in preserving the region’s priceless ancestral and cultural resources. On this thrilling tour, we’ll compare the cliff dwellings of Mesa Verde to the extraordinary ancient structures in Chaco Culture National Historical Park, and Aztec Ruins and Hovenweep National Monuments. |
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Fa‘a Samoa: The National Park of American Samoa
October 6-13, 2022
Talofa! On this tour, you’ll visit all three islands of the breathtaking National Park of American Samoa. Alongside NPCA experts, local guides and community members, you’ll enjoy local food and explore tropical rainforests, hidden beaches, and flora and fauna found in no other U.S. national park. Explore the exquisite landscapes, vibrant reefs and historic sites of the islands via boat and on foot. Feel the warm welcome of Samoan culture as you uncover NPCA’s efforts to conserve the park’s unrivaled environment, treasured cultural sites and lesser-known Rose Atoll Marine National Monument. |
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The National Parks of Hawaii
October 16-24, 2022 & 24-26, 2022
Experience the unparalleled cultural and natural beauty within all seven of Hawaii’s national parks by joining expert biologists, naturalists and cultural interpreters as you journey through four Hawaiian Islands. From spectacular active volcanoes in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park to sweeping views on Haleakalā Crater, this expert-led tour will take you on an immersive adventure through the most astonishing and sacred sites of the islands. Home to over 10,000 native species, Hawaii offers an unparalleled opportunity to watch for dazzling wildlife as you explore the ways NPCA, partners and community members are safeguarding Hawaii’s precious ecosystems and magnificent culture. |
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California Escape: Channel Islands National Park
(small-ship cruise with Lindblad Expeditions)
November 1-5, 2022
Embark on an unprecedented five-day expedition into wildness and wellness in the remote and remarkable Channel Islands. Step aboard the National Geographic Venture and sail to three of the five wildlife-rich islands that make up Channel Islands National Park, plus Catalina Island, as you learn about NPCA’s important role in the history of the park. Known as America’s Galápagos, the Channel Islands and their surrounding waters provide habitat for more than 2,000 species of plants and animals, including 150 native species found nowhere else in the world. |
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The Backroads of Big Bend
November 9-15, 2022
From the mystical desert town of Marfa to the rugged Chisos Mountains, this diverse landscape promises a deep dive into the region’s cultural history. Your guides and NPCA experts will show you a lesser-known side of the park as we paddle the Rio Grande, hike to the most spectacular views in Big Bend, admire the darkest night skies and examine NPCA’s current park protection efforts in the region. Journey through one of the wildest corners of America, all with the comfort of an NPCA small-group tour. |
If you have any questions about these great 2022 park adventures, please reach out to me by phone at 202-454-3305 or by email at [email protected].
Thank you for your support and everything you do to help protect America’s national parks!
See you in the parks,
Jared Dial
Associate Director, Educational Travel Program
Photos: National Memorial for Peace and Justice, Montgomery, AL © Distant Horizons; Kalaloch Beach Sunset, Olympic National Park © 2021 DNC Parks & Resorts at Kalaloch, LLC; Tourist Admiring Square Tower House, Mesa Verde National Park © Donyanedomam; Snorkeler Observing Coral, Rose Atoll Marine National Monument © Ian Shive; Sunrise at Haleakalā Crater, Haleakalā National Park © Vlue; Looking through the Window, Kayaker Enjoying the View, Channel Islands National Park © Brian Swanson, Big Bend National Park © NPCA. 
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