[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Since our founding in 1947, we have provided over $149 million in direct and in-kind aid to parks. See below for several examples of these funds at work. For more information, please see our Annual Reports.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_column_text]
Visitors weaved their own baskets under the oak trees at Cane River Fall Fest. Photo: CRNHA
EN Grant Helps Fund Inaugural Cane River Fall Fest
A grant from Eastern National helped fund the first-ever Cane River Fall Fest, hosted by Cane River Creole National Historical Park and Cane River National Heritage Area, Inc., on October 27, 2018 at Oakland Plantation.
Attendance at the festival topped 525 people—the highest single-day visitation recorded at the park since 2014. Visitors at the event had plenty of activities to choose from, including blacksmith and living history demonstrations, harvest-themed crafts, pumpkin decorating, historical games, face painting, music, and guided tours.
“We are thrilled that so many of our neighbors came out to their national park to celebrate the season with us,” remarked Barbara Justice, chief of interpretation at Cane River Creole National Historical Park. “Local children of all ages and 90 eighth graders from the Donnie Bickham Middle School in Shreveport, Louisiana, explored life on a plantation and experienced the wonder of harvest season on the Cane River.”
Third grade students from Middlesboro Elementary School prepare to enter CaveSim during the Celebrating a Legendary Land event at Cumberland Gap National Historical Park.
Eastern National Grant Brings Unique CaveSim Experience to Cumberland Gap National Historical Park
A $10,000 grant from Eastern National helped fund a visit from CaveSim at Cumberland Gap National Historical Park’s Celebrating a Legendary Land event, held August 31 to September 2, 2018. CaveSim, the world’s only cave simulator, allows visitors to safely and easily learn about caves regardless of physical ability.
Participants in CaveSim put on helmets and explore 60 feet of “cave” passages inside a semi-trailer. The goal is for visitors to maneuver through the cave without bumping or touching the delicate formations while learning about a variety of cave critters and artifacts. When visitors emerge from CaveSim, they are given a score to see how carefully they navigated the cave. More than 300 visitors participated in the simulation, including 60 third graders from Middlesboro Elementary School.
“Star Trek and Feminism: Where No Woman Has Gone Before” was a featured discussion during Women’s History Month programming at Belmont-Paul Women’s Equality NM.
EN Donation Funds Women’s History Month Programs
A $25,000 donation from Eastern National was provided to the National Woman’s Party and Belmont-Paul Women’s Equality National Monument to put on a month-long celebration of the fight for women’s equality. The educational programs were aimed at engaging new audiences as the country prepares to celebrate the centennial of the 19th amendment, which allowed women to vote.
A major highlight of the program series were the Community Day Open Houses. Discussions led by NPS rangers and representatives from the National Woman’s Party encouraged thoughtful conversation among visitors, with historical interpreters offering a glimpse into the people and moments from the women’s equality movement. Visitors were also invited to explore the Florence Bayard Hilles Feminist Library where they could interact with rarely seen items on display, including banners and artifacts, as well as a never-before-seen collection of signs and memorabilia from the historic 2017 Women’s March.
Another popular program funded with Eastern National’s donation was the Weekend Women’s History Series, which highlighted the histories, struggles, and achievements of women and provided opportunities to engage in women’s stories in the past, present, and future. A fun and notable talk was titled “Star Trek and Feminism: Where No Woman Has Gone Before.” This session, led by Ranger Zach Whitlow, explored how Star Trek continues to break the barriers of race, gender, and class by creating a feminist world ruled by the laws of justice, equality and the celebration of difference.
EN Grant Helps Fund Educational Programs at Salem Maritime NHS
Participants in EN grant-funded programs find their park at Salem Maritime NHS. Photo: NPS
A $2,500 grant from Eastern National was awarded to Salem Maritime National Historic Site to help fund environmental education programs for culturally and economically diverse students from the local area. The programs were enjoyed by 110 youths aged 10-16, encouraging lifelong connections to parks and thoughtful consideration of parks as conduits for natural resource conservation.
A highlight of the program for middle school students from Salem was a boat trip to Baker Island aboard the Naumkeag with Essex Heritage. On the island, students learned about shipwrecks, island history, and light stations through role playing and other interactive activities.
High school students were afforded the rare opportunity to head out on Sea Shuttle’s Endeavor, where they learned about coastal and marine ecology. On one trip students learned how to use underwater cameras and examined organisms from the sea bottom – one student even discovered a female lobster with eggs! Another trip, focused on oceanography, challenged students to use critical thinking to address some of the larger problems facing the Salem Sound, including invasive species, climate change, sea level rise, and storm water runoff.
Eastern National Grant Funds Oneida Art and History Series at Fort Stanwix NM
Ron Patterson, world-renowned lacrosse stick maker and member of the Oneida Nation, leads a session during the Oneida Nation Art and History series at Fort Stanwix National Monument. Photo: NPS
A $9,850 grant from Eastern National allowed Fort Stanwix National Monument to host a summer-long Oneida Art and History series. The Oneida Nation played a strong role in the history of the American Revolution and Fort Stanwix, serving as the first allies of the brand new United States and assisting in battle with the British. The Oneida Art and History series honored the Oneida Nation’s culture and helped visitors understand the role that they played in the country’s early years.
More than 1,800 visitors to Fort Stanwix and the jointly managed Oriskany Battlefield State History Site experienced living history, cultural demonstrations, and more as part of the Art and History series. A highlight from the series was a demonstration with Oneida Heritage staff member Ron Patterson, a world-renowned lacrosse stick maker. In addition to sharing techniques for making the equipment, he told traditional Oneida stories related to the ancient game and explained how lacrosse prepared young warriors for battle.
Eastern National Funds Help Lay Groundwork for Long-Term Improvements on the Blue Ridge Parkway
Staff from the Blue Ridge Parkway, partner organizations, and Harper’s Ferry Media Center participate in a Long Range Interpretive Planning workshop in March 2017.
In 2017 the Blue Ridge Parkway received a $10,000 grant from Eastern National to help complete a Long Range Interpretive Plan for the Moses H. Cone Memorial Park, which will guide the development of interpretive services and materials in the coming years. Combined with $5,000 from the park’s Eastern National annual donation account, the grant allowed the park to host a three day workshop facilitated by a specialist from the National Park Service’s Harpers Ferry Media Center in March. The workshop was attended by an interdisciplinary team of park and partner staff.
The completed Long Range Interpretive Plan is particularly important as the National Park Service prepares to expand the interpretive space in the Cone estate’s Flat Top Manor from 340 square feet to more than 2,000 square feet. The Moses H. Cone Memorial Park on the Blue Ridge Parkway provides a unique blend of natural, historical and cultural experiences to more than 70,000 visitors a year.
Eastern National Grant Brings Girl Scout Troop 711 to Cowpens National Battlefield
Participants experienced a taste of colonial life during a two-night program. Girl Scout Troop 711 helps restore the herb garden at the Robert Scruggs House during the Cowpens Colonial Culture Camp.
With assistance from an $8,530 grant from Eastern National, Cowpens National Battlefield hosted Girl Scout Group 711 for a two-night immersive Colonial Culture Camp. Eastern National’s funding provided colonial camping and cooking equipment as well as colonial clothing for campers, allowing participants to truly experience life as an 18th century settler. Among other activities, the girls took a lantern-lit tour of the historic battlefield, dipped candles, spun yarn, and even helped restore the herb garden at the 1828 Robert Scruggs House, a project that will positively impact future visitors’ experiences. The girls each earned a Cowpens National Battlefield Historic Trail patch and the Girl Scout Ranger patch.
Cowpens has a long history of hosting Boy Scout troops, but the weekend marked the first time a Girl Scout troop has camped out and completed a service project in the park. Park staff hope that the outing will inspire additional Girl Scout troops to participate in future programs.
Eastern National Grant Brings an Educational and Enjoyable Weekend of Activities for Visitors to James A. Garfield National Historic Site Annual Civil War Encampment
Performers entertained the crowd with period music at James A. Garfield National Historic Site’s eighth annual Civil War encampment weekend.
More than 1,300 visitors attended the park’s most popular summer event.
Visitors to James A. Garfield National Historic Site were treated to a robust weekend of living history during the park’s eighth annual Civil War encampment weekend held July 15 and 16, 2017. The event was funded in a large part by a $6,500 grant from Eastern National and featured reenactors, hands-on family activities, and a series of educational programs.
Attendees were invited to join in activities throughout the weekend, with opportunities to tour the Garfield home; interact with reenactors portraying Abraham Lincoln, Ulysses S. Grant, Lincoln’s generals, and more; enjoy live period music; and even participate in a rousing game of Civil War-era baseball. Children’s activities included a tea with Mrs. Lincoln and an opportunity to participate in the popular mini-militia and drum corps. The Eastern National grant also provided funding for a parking shuttle to alleviate traffic and ensure a smooth experience for park visitors. This is the second year in a row that Eastern National has provided a grant to support this event.
Eastern National Grant Provides Critical Infrastructure for Eclipse Viewers
Funds allowed the park to accommodate a crowd almost three times the size of Beatrice, Nebraska’s population. The Gerdes family prepares to view the total solar eclipse on August 21, 2017.
On August 21, 2017, the first total solar eclipse that was visible from the contiguous United States since 1979 passed directly over Homestead National Monument of America. Although totality lasted for less than three minutes, more than 30,000 visitors and hundreds of volunteers descended on the park for three days of festivities, dramatically swelling the population of Beatrice, Nebraska.
A $10,000 grant from Eastern National assisted Homestead in welcoming eclipse viewers with open arms by providing much-needed support to ensure visitors had a positive experience. Funds were used to provide rangers and volunteers who were stationed in remote areas of the prairie with backpacks containing first-aid supplies, water, maps, bug repellent, and sunscreen. Brightly colored event T-shirts were produced and provided to volunteers who assisted at the event, making them easily visible to visitors. Additionally, shuttle buses were funded as part of an elaborate transportation system to alleviate traffic in Beatrice and accommodate visitors.
Eastern National Grant Helps Kids Explore the Intersection of Art and Nature
A Parks in Focus participant uses a digital camera to get the perfect shot.
30 digital cameras were purchased to support the Parks in Focus® program.
With assistance from a $4,770 grant from Eastern National, Obed Wild and Scenic River purchased 30 digital cameras, memory cards, and other accessories for use in the Parks in Focus® photography program. The Parks in Focus pilot program was introduced at the park through a partnership with the Udall Foundation, which created Parks in Focus to connect youth from underserved communities to nature through photography. Prior to receiving the grant, the necessary equipment had to be borrowed from the foundation. Having its own equipment helps ease the park’s future facilitation of the program.
In this first year of the pilot program, cameras have been provided to over 80 youth, including 21 third and fourth grade girls from Girls, Inc. of Oak Ridge. Speaking about their participation in the program, Girls, Inc. Program Director Alanna Hunsaker reflected that “over the course of 10 months, I witnessed girls lives impacted for the better. The girls became more comfortable being outdoors and built self-confidence through learning about photography.”
Eastern National Sponsors Inaugural Lincoln Home National Historic Site Teacher-Ranger-Teacher
Teacher-Ranger-Teacher Jenna Glore at Lincoln Home National Historic Site.
Educational lesson plans developed will enhance field trip experiences for 29,000 annual student visitors.
A $3,584 grant awarded by Eastern National enabled Lincoln Home National Historic Site to welcome local educator Jenna Glore of Riverton Elementary School as the park’s first-ever Teacher-Ranger-Teacher this summer. While at the park, Jenna developed three educational lesson plans and supporting materials. These lesson plans will be available for use by the approximately 29,000 students who annually visit the park.
The nationwide Teacher-Ranger-Teacher program is an extended professional development opportunity for K-12 educators. It engages teachers from schools with underserved student populations and creates a strong community partnership between the National Park Service and local educators. During the program, teachers earn graduate credits through the University of Colorado Denver.
“I wanted to be part of the Teacher-Ranger-Teacher program this summer to learn more about place-based learning and resources available to me through the NPS,” said Jenna. “It has been very beneficial to be able to create resources for other teachers that I can use in my own classroom as well. I am looking forward to using what I have learned to provide new experiences for my students outside the classroom.”
Publicly available lesson plans from Lincoln Home National Historic Site are available here.
Eastern National Donations Help Fund Cape Cod National Seashore Concert
Park Ranger Jenna Sammartino addresses the audience as Cape Symphony Artistic Director and Conductor Jung-Ho Pak looks on. Photo: NPS
Visitors at Cape Cod National Seashore were treated to a free concert highlighting the theme “Sanctuary.”
On August 25, 2017, Cape Cod National Seashore hosted a live performance by the Cape Symphony, a community chorus of over 100 members, and additional guest musicians and presenters. The event was co-presented by the Lower Cape Outreach Council, and major funding was provided through Eastern National donations as well as support from the Friends of Cape Cod National Seashore.
Approximately 1,500 visitors gathered in the newly reopened Salt Pond Amphitheater to enjoy the concert, which was themed “Sanctuary” in celebration of Cape Cod National Seashore as a place of sanctuary for people and other living things. A musical piece entitled Sanctuary, which was originally commissioned for the NPS Centennial, was reprised. The program also highlighted park history, whales, art and inspiration, and the Wampanoag culture.
Eastern National Helps Big South Fork Visitors “Go Big” in 2017
The Potter family of Jamestown, TN, explores Boulder House at Big South Fork.
Explorers of all abilities and ages are hitting the trails to complete the challenge.
Visitors to Tennessee’s Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area have taken the “Find Your Park” campaign to heart with the 2017 Go Big Challenge. Go Big participants commit to hiking, biking, riding, and paddling at least 100 miles throughout Big South Fork while completing trivia challenges along the way. Designed to include visitors of all ages and physical abilities, the Go Big Challenge activity booklet contains a variety of physical and educational challenges that cover a wide range of skill level. Upon completion of the Go Big Challenge, participants receive commemorative patches that were funded with the Eastern National grant.
The Potter family, of Jamestown, TN, has been participating this year:
“My husband, kids, family and I were so excited when we got the news of the GO BIG Challenge at Big South Fork. It has opened up so many doors for us to explore new areas of the park that we had never seen before by hiking new trails and seeing new rock houses, structures, and waterfalls. This challenge has brought us together as a family exploring the outdoors. Just recently we completed the part of the challenge at Blue Heron where we visited Cracks-in-the-Rocks, and it was amazing! Learning the history in the cemeteries has also been neat for us as we learn about the people that settled the area.
We have enjoyed every bit of this challenge and we are very thankful for this year long activity for us in our area. In fact, my extended family has enjoyed parts of this challenge as well! My mom and stepdad do every challenge with us and they are ages 60 and 72. My brother and his kids come all the way from Eastern Tennessee to participate in parts of the challenge. It is a great reason to get out into the woods and explore more regularly!” – Crysti Potter, Jamestown, TN
Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area and Eastern National are sponsoring the challenge through December – swing by a Visitor’s Center for more information or to participate in this year’s challenge.
Eastern National Sponsors 2017 Cane River Find Your Park Festival
More than 350 participants enjoyed the inaugural celebration.
In a dual celebration of National Park Week and the rich heritage of the Cane River region of Louisiana, Eastern National joined forces with Cane River Creole National Historical Park to present the first ever Cane River Find Your Park Festival on Saturday, April 22 at the Oakland Plantation. The $10,000 grant from Eastern National was provided in support of Cane River Creole National Historical Park’s mission to enhance visitors’ understanding about the people and traditions of the area.
Families in attendance enjoyed myriad demonstrations of traditional Creole activities and cultural touchstones, such as making meat pies and learning about bee keeping, as well as an opportunity to visit a petting zoo. A genealogy station was also available to festival-goers who were interested in learning more about their personal connections to the region.
Eastern National Presents Grand Prize to Student Filmmaker at Tribeca
Second Annual America I Am Film Competition Hosted at Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island
Eastern National has partnered with the National Park Service and the Tribeca Film Institute® to present the America I Am competition grand prize to an aspiring high school film maker. This year’s winner, Kyle Ransom of Provo, Utah, was chosen by the jury to receive the $10,000 Storyteller’s Award in recognition of his documentaryNew Frontier.
The America I Am competition was designed to encourage young film makers to consider the American experience in their five minute films, with a special emphasis on understanding America’s shared history and culture. Corinna Richards, Eastern National’s Metro New York Regional Manager, presented the $10,000 grand prize to Mr. Ransom in a ceremony at Ellis Island’s Great Hall on April 19. Contest finalists were also invited to tour the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island as well as participate in master classes taught by film industry professionals.
Eastern National 2016 Initiatives
Centennial
Big South Fork NRRA and Eastern National Encourage “100 Miles for 100 Years”
In honor of the National Park Service’s Centennial, Big South Fork NRRA and Eastern National asked visitors to hike, ride, and paddle at least 100 miles in 2016.
Visitors to Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area celebrated the National Park Service’s 100th year in a big way. In partnership with Eastern National, Big South Fork NRRA in Tennessee encouraged visitors to get to know the park better over the course of the year by completing the Centennial Challenge: 100 Miles for 100 Years. Participants in the year-long, self-paced initiative logged their mileage diligently during the year, sharing photos and tracking their adventures on at least 100 miles of the multi-system trails offered by the park. Upon completion visitors received special edition Big South Fork NRRA Centennial Challenge patches which were partially funded by Eastern National’s $1,725 grant.
In the spirit of connecting with a new generation of park supporters, visitors, and advocates, Big South Fork NRRA conducted outreach to many community organizations to promote the Centennial Challenge and park visitation. Educational materials were provided to scouting groups, high school JROTC programs, and even local hospitals to encourage participation and completion of the challenge.
Call to Action
Eastern National Funds Promote Safer Swimming at Buffalo National River
200 lifejackets were provided for the park’s 800,000+ annual visitors
Swimming in the Buffalo National River is like nothing you’ve ever experienced. The powerful waterway is a peaceful retreat during the summer season, but river swimming presents challenges that some visitors may not have encountered in other bodies of water, such as fast moving currents and slippery, uneven spots along the river bottom.
In 2016, Eastern National provided Buffalo National River $10,000 for a new program that offers swimmers in the park complimentary access to lifejackets for a day or weekend. Two hundred personal floatation devices in adult and child sizes were purchased and placed at newly constructed loaner stations at some of the most popular swimming points along the river, granting the park’s 800,000+ annual visitors opportunities to borrow life vests and learn about the importance of appropriate water safety gear, especially for children.
Every Kid in a Park
Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore Increases Fourth Grade Park Access with Eastern National Funds
Picture this! Michigan educators will now be able to share park programming with students across the state regardless of location or budget.
A $10,000 grant from Eastern National has enabled the development of a comprehensive fourth grade curriculum guide that features lessons and programming that can be used by Michigan educators regardless of their location or proximity to a park. Past park-centric lesson plans have largely focused on programming that takes place before, during, or after park visits by school children. Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore and the Clear Lake Education Center continue this commitment to serving Michigan’s fourth graders, but have augmented the traditional curriculum design with activities and lessons that allow for more budget and scheduling flexibility. In addition to field trip lessons and guides, the Michigan Academic Standards-compliant curriculum offers activities for educators to implement in indoor and outdoor settings. Lessons are currently being piloted and revised as necessary, and we look forward to their online publication once content is finalized in October 2017.
Eastern National Donation Highlights
- Pea Ridge National Military Park used donation funds to purchase a coat that was worn by a Union soldier at the Civil War Battle of Pea Ridge in 1862. The coat is now on display at the park.
- Eastern National donation funds were used to produce a new park film at Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park entitled, Kennesaw: One Last Mountain.
- Coal-making demonstrations were made possible by Eastern National’s donations at Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site. Also, Eastern National published The African American Experience at Hopewell Furnace, written by NPS staff. The book takes an in-depth look at life for African Americans at Hopewell during the 18th and 19th centuries.
- Park newspapers and brochures were produced using Eastern National’s donation funds at Cape Cod National Seashore, Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield, and Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area.
- Visitors to Fort Macon State Park can now view four antique military firearms and bayonets that were purchased using Eastern National donation funds.
- A number of special events were sponsored by Eastern National’s donation funds, including: Children’s Archaeology Day at Effigy Mounds National Monument; Labor Day Concert and Festivities at Cumberland Gap National Historical Park; Sagamore Hill Day at Sagamore Hill National Historic Site; Beach Sweep at Fort Sumter National Monument; 150th Anniversary of the Battle of Arkansas Post Event at Arkansas Post National Memorial; Open House Event at Lowell National Historical Park; Vicksburg Heritage Fair and several other events at Vicksburg National Military Park; Junior Ranger Day at Jimmy Carter National Historic Site; 75th Anniversary Event at Natchez Trace Parkway, and many more.
- Eastern National provided funding for Volunteer Appreciation Events at several parks, including: Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield, Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site; Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site; Weir Farm National Historic Site; and Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve.
- Training sessions and seminars were sponsored by Eastern National’s donations at Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield, Weir Farm National Historic Site, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, and Appomattox Court House National Historical Park.
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