Thirty years young: congratulations & thank you to our Friends of Jasper National Park
Since 1983, the Friends of Jasper National Park has been working to promote understanding, appreciation and respect for the natural and cultural history of Jasper National Park.
The Friends of Jasper National Park is an independent, cooperating association鈥攐ne of the longest-running and most successful within the entire national parks system. The Friends rally volunteers and inspire our community to connect to our park.
As our town and our park changed over the past 30 years, our Friends have adapted and grown, always with the dedication to sharing their love of Jasper. As they wind down the year of anniversary celebrations, we at Parks Canada congratulate our Friends of Jasper National Park, and look forward to 30 more years.
A quick scan of the list of incredible accomplishments of our Friends tells a story of how our visitors, community and park benefit from this ongoing relationship and the Friends鈥� dedication over the years.
Some Friends of Jasper National Park major projects, done cooperatively with volunteers and Parks Canada, include:
- Cavell Meadows restoration: Volunteers repaired the trail, camouflaging and re-vegetating damaged sections of meadow, and installed trail markers, maps and interpretive signs.
- Pyramid Island restoration: Since there had never been a formal trail system on the island, it had been heavily impacted by more than 60 years of uncontrolled traffic. Over three years, the island鈥檚 soil and plant life were rehabilitated, defined pathways were installed and interpretive signage was developed.
- Jasper Discovery Trail: The Jasper Town Trail Interpretive and Directional Sign Project was a multi-agency partnership working towards providing trail users with information about the trail, about the town and about Jasper National Park to enhances their enjoyment, understanding and appreciation of the area.
- Jasper Trail Alliance: Launched in 2012, a volunteer force and thriving Facebook community have grown by leaps and bounds, collectively improving trails within the park and sparking lively online conversations.
- Friends of Jasper National Park Store: Located in the buzzing Info Centre, volunteers and staff sell books, maps and unique souvenirs鈥擬ountains and Monsters, anyone?鈥攚ith proceeds going towards programs and projects in the park.
Ongoing programs organized by the Friends of Jasper National Park include:
- Full moon and dark sky hikes
- Parks Day annual celebrations
- Early Birds Sunday morning hikes
- Intro to birdwatching courses
- Hiking Club
- Jasper: A Walk in the Past interpretive program held nightly in the summer
- Family hiking program
- MAPS bird banding program operated in partnership with Parks Canada
The Friends of Jasper National Park will hold their Annual General Meeting at the Old Fire Hall starting at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 12. New members are welcome!
听Parks Canada
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