There’s no shortage of ways to make a difference — and no time to waste. Yes, it can feel overwhelming. But that’s no excuse to stand still. The time for action is now.

This is my ACTION LIST — a blueprint forged from over 35 years of boots-on-the-ground experience.

I’ve hiked and camped in nearly every U.S. National Park, explored countless National Monuments, BLM lands, state parks, and nature centers. I’ve planted over 150,000 trees, led major mountain expeditions, and stood shoulder-to-shoulder with nonprofits fighting to protect what matters. I’ve been a proud, long-time member of 1% for the Planet and helped create educational and inspirational materials for National Parks across the country through cooperating associations. I’ve written more than ten books and created thousands of inspirational gift items dedicated to nature, public lands, and the wild spaces that feed the human spirit.

This isn’t theory. It’s a life lived in action — and now, I’m sharing what I believe are the most powerful, practical steps we can take RIGHT NOW to protect, restore, and reconnect with our natural world.

Ilan Shamir, Founder of Your True Nature

This is my top list.
Let’s get to work and work together!

Get on the phone with your congress members and demand that they fund the NPS and retain the hardworking NPS employees that protect and preserve the parks!

• 5 Calls – A powerful and easy-to-use app that helps you identify your local representatives and provides a script to help you choose your wording. Don't want to call? Most representative websites allow an email equivalent.

• Earthjustice – A nonprofit environmental law organization that represents public interest in cases involving environmental protection, including safeguarding public lands.

• Association of National Park Rangers (ANPR) ANPR website is a professional organization dedicated to promoting and enhancing the professions, spirit, and mission of National Park Service employees. They provide resources and professional development opportunities for park rangers, including those in interpretive and educational roles. ANPR also advocates for national park employees and supports the National Park Service and the National Park System. They offer an annual conference, a quarterly magazine, and professional development training and mentoring. 

• Love our Parks and Rangers – All profits from these products support national parks and rangers.
  
• Purchase items in National and State Park, Public lands, Nature Centers gift shops
  
• https://americasnationalparks.org/shop-our-stores/ 
  
• https://www.parksproject.us/pages/about-parks-project
  

• Conservation Lands Foundation – Works to protect and expand National Conservation Lands through advocacy and partnerships.
  
  
• NPCA Take Action
  – Advocates for national park protection through policy influence.

Many national parks have affiliated local organizations or “Friends of” groups that support specific parks through fundraising, volunteerism, and advocacy. 

• Student Conservation Association (SCA) Take Action : Offers hands-on conservation opportunities in national parks and public lands, engaging volunteers in service projects nationwide.
  
  

• The Yellowstone Forever organization https://www.yellowstone.org/ : supports Yellowstone National Park. 

• The Nature Conservancy: Private Lands Conservation. This organization works to protect ecosystems, often through strategic land acquisition and partnerships with local communities, landowners, and businesses to establish local groups that can protect land. Private land conservation is an innovative tactic that leverages the increasing interest of the private sector to take part in conservation. Some of the main tools used to achieve these goals include land trusts, conservation easements, private reserves, and incentives.
  
  

• Trust for Public Land (TPL): https://www.tpl.org/our-work.  Works to create parks and protect land for public use, ensuring healthy, livable communities.
  
  

• Land Trust Alliance:  https://landtrustalliance.org/ This organization supports land trusts, which are community-based, nonprofit organizations that actively work to permanently conserve land. They educate, advocate for, and provide accreditation to hundreds of land trusts across the country. The Land Trust Alliance's mission is to save land, strengthen communities, and create a healthier planet.

• The Wilderness Society: Take Action  Focuses on protecting wilderness areas and public lands through advocacy, education, and legal action.
  
  

• NPCA: National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) Works to protect America's national parks. Monitors the implementation of policies and executive orders that affect national parks. 

• National Park Foundation (NPF)
  – The official nonprofit partner of the National Park Service, funding projects to protect and enhance national parks.

• National Park Trust: Dedicated to preserving parks and creating park stewards by engaging youth from diverse communities.
  
  

• AmeriCorps Bringing out the best of America. Every year more than 200,000 individuals serve organizations making a difference in communities across America.
  
  

• National Forest Foundation https://www.nationalforests.org/get-involved/youth-engagement : The National Forest Foundation (NFF) engages diverse youth across the United States to nurture the next generation of community leaders and stewards of our public lands. From the urban centers of Chicago and Los Angeles, to as far away as rural Alaska and with local tribes in Georgia, an array of students participate in wide-ranging conservation programs on America’s National Forests.
  
  
  

Use your creativity, networks, passions, ideas, and funds. Supporting these organizations and participating in these actions will help protect and preserve our national parks and public lands for future generations.