Shenandoah National Park Association

TO INCREASE PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING, APPRECIATION, AND STEWARDSHIP OF SHENANDOAH NATIONAL PARK BY PROVIDING INTERPRETIVE/EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS, FINANCIAL SUPPORT, AND SERVICES IN RESOURCE EDUCATION.

2023 WAS ANOTHER RECORD YEAR FOR SNPA. THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS APPROVED ITS FY 23 BUDGET WITH A PROPOSAL TO DONATE $130,000 AS DIRECT SUPPORT TO SHENANDOAH. IN DECEMBER AT THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING, BECAUSE OF THE RECORD SALES YEAR, APPROVED AN ADDITIONAL $50,000 TO BE DONATED TO THE PARK TO SUPPORT INTERPRETATION AND EDUCATION. THE ASSOCIATION WAS ABLE TO SUPPORT FIVE RESOURCE EDUCATION SEMINARS DURING 2023. DRAWING TO SEE; THE ILLUSTRATED JOURNAL; BASIC NIGHT SKY PHOTOGRAPHY IN SNPARK; STORIES IN STONE; AND HISTORY OF WINEMAKING IN SNP WAS HELD THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. A TOTAL OF 78 PARTICIPANTS REGISTERED FOR THE SEMINARS AND SNPA RECEIVED GREAT REVIEWS ON THEIR EVALUATIONS.SNPA PROVIDED SUPPORT FOR THE WILDFLOWER WEEKEND INCLUDING PROVIDING FUNDING FOR THE BROCHURE THAT LISTS THE EVENTS AND PROVIDED PRIZES FOR THE PARK'S WILDFLOWER ART CONTEST.SNPA PROVIDED SUPPORT FOR THE ANNUAL NIGHT SKIES FESTIVAL HELD IN AUGUST. THIS YEAR'S FESTIVAL WAS A HUGE SUCCESS WITH OVER 3,000 VISITORS ATTENDING THE PROGRAM ON SATURDAY EVENING. SNPA FUNDED A PRESENTATION BY ASTRONAUT TOM JONES AND PAID FOR THE PRINTING OF THE PROGRAM.SNPA PURCHASED 15,000 JUNIOR RANGER BOOKLETS AND 15,000 JUNIOR RANGER BADGES TO BE DISTRIBUTED TO CHILDREN VISITING THE PARK. SNPA ALSO PURCHASED PENCILS TO HAND OUT WITH THE JUNIOR RANGER BOOKLETS.SNPA IS FUNDING THE RENTAL OF OFFICE SPACE IN LURAY FOR THE EDUCATION OFFICE. THIS LOCATION GIVES THEM A SPACE TO SET UP FOR DISTANCE LEARNING AND WE FUNDED THE COSTS OF HIGH-SPEED INTERNET. THIS PROGRAM IS REACHING THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN IN SCHOOLS NOT ONLY NEAR SHENANDOAH NATIONAL PARK BUT IN OTHER STATES AND COUNTRIES.SNPA FUNDED THE PURCHASE OF 2 MACS, A LAPTOP, AND AN IPAD FOR THE EDUCATION PROGRAM. SNPA HAS CONTINUED TO PAY THE MONTHLY FEE TO A HOSTING SITE THAT PROVIDES FULL SUPPORT FOR THE LIVE CAMERAS THAT WERE INSTALLED IN 2022. THESE CAMERAS HAVE BEEN A GREAT RESOURCE TO THE PUBLIC. SNPA ALSO FUNDED THE PURCHASE OF A 3D DIGITAL CAMERA FOR THE MEDIA OFFICE TO USE FOR THE FACEBOOK LIVE PROGRAMS AND OTHER MEDIA NEEDS.DURING A FOREST FIRE IN THE PARK THAT HAD SMOKE BLOW THROUGHOUT THE VALLEY, AN AIR QUALITY MONITOR FROM THE VIRGINIA OFFICE WAS PLACED ON THE SNPA OFFICE/WAREHOUSE BUILDING TO SHOW THE AIR QUALITY. THIS WAS SO HELPFUL FOR THE PARK TO SHARE INFORMATION DURING THE FIRE, THAT SNPA PURCHASED MONITORS TO HAVE THIS INFORMATION YEAR ROUND. ONE WAS PLACED AT THE SNPA OFFICE, ONE WAS PLACED AT BYRD VISITOR CENTER AND THE THIRD ONE WAS PLACED AT DICKEY RIDGE VISITOR CENTER. ALL THREE CAN BE VIEWED ON THE PURPLEAIR.COM WEBSITE.