A New Generation Preserves Tribal Land and Culture in America’s National Parks
From building trails to stream restoration and historic building preservation, service corps members are on the frontlines addressing mission critical issues facing the National Park Service (NPS). Service corps are foundational to the conservation and preservation of parks—all while helping young people explore and launch outdoor careers. The National Park Foundation (NPF) works with parks and park partners to engage high school students and young adults exploring careers in conversation as they learn practical field skills and develop confidence as emerging leaders.
Service corps members working at Yosemite National Park are doing just that through the Yosemite Ancestral Stewards program. Funded in part by Apple, the crew is spending 12 weeks in the park this summer helping to complete conservation projects protecting and surveying archeological sites, ecologically restoring meadows, and reducing hazardous fuels in El Capitan meadow’s black oak grove.
The National Park Foundation is proud to support the Yosemite Ancestral Stewards program, the first tribal conservation crew made up of young adults from the Yosemite National Park-affiliated tribes, which is working with an Ancestral Lands Conservation Corps at the park. Together, the crews are protecting the sacred black oak grove in El Capitan Meadow, connecting a new generation to the land and career opportunities. We thank partners like Apple for their support of NPF’s Service Corps program that makes this work possible.
Every year in August, Apple customers support programs like this one through an Apple Pay campaign celebrating the National Park Service’s anniversary. Through August 27, 2023, Apple will donate $10 for every purchase made in the U.S. using Apple Pay on apple.com, through the Apple Store app, or at an Apple Store. Donations are limited to a maximum of one million dollars ($1,000,000).