Friends Charleston National Parks

TO PRESERVE AND PROTECT THE FORT SUMTER NATIONAL MONUMENT AND CHARLES PINCKEY NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE.

THE TRUST IS THE FRIENDS GROUP FOR CHARLESTON'S NATIONAL PARKS INCLUDING FORT SUMTER, FORT MOULTRIE, AND CHARLES PINCKNEY. THE TRUST IS A CHARITABLE ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO PRESERVING AND UTILIZING THESE AMERICAN TREASURES FOR THE COMMON GOOD. THE TRUST SUPPORTS THE CHARLESTON AREA'S NATIONAL PARKS WITH PRIVATELY-FUNDED PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES BEYOND THE RESOURCES OF THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE (NPS).BEYOND SUPPORTING SPECIAL EVENTS AT EACH OF THE PARKS SUCH AS CAROLINA DAY AT FORT MOULTRIE, CONSTITUTION DAY AT CHARLES PINCKNEY, AND THE U.S. MINT'S FORT MOULTRIE QUARTER RELEASE, THE TRUST ASSISTED THE PARK IN CELEBRATING THE CENTENNIAL OF THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE.

THE TRUST'S KIDS TO THE PARKS PROGRAM ARRANGES FIELD TRIPS AND PAYS FOR BUS AND BOAT TRANSPORTATION FOR UNDERSERVED CHARLESTON COUNTY STUDENTS TO VISIT FORT SUMTER. TO DATE OVER 5000 YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE BENEFITTED FROM THIS PROGRAM. KIDS TO THE PARKS HELPS THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE MEET THE GOAL OF CONNECTING A DIVERSE AUDIENCE TO A LOCAL NATIONAL PARK AND TO U.S. HISTORY.

IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE NPS GOAL TO PRESERVE NATURAL AND CULTURAL RESOURCES, THE TRUST'S ADOPT A CANNON PROGRAM HAS RAISED FUNDS TO CONSERVE THE HISTORIC CANNONS ON DISPLAY AT FORT SUMTER AND FORT MOULTRIE. THE PRESERVATION TREATMENT OF THIS PRICELESS COLLECTION WILL PROTECT THESE GUNS FROM THE HARSH COASTAL ENVIRONMENT AT THE FORTS AND ALLOW THEM TO CONTINUE TO BE ENJOYED BY THE VISITING PUBLIC. ADOPT A CANNON HAS ALSO HELPED CONNECT THE PUBLIC WITH THE TANGIBLE RESOURCES WITHIN NATIONAL PARKS. IN 2016 A MAJOR DONATION FROM THE FAMILY FOUNDATION OF AN ANONYMOUS DONOR GUARANTEES THAT THIS LONG RANGE CONSERVATION PROJECT WILL BE SEEN THROUGH TO COMPLETION.