National Park Travelers Club
The National Park Travelers Club (or NPTC) is a non-profit 501(c)7 social club organization.[2] Its mission is to provide networking and recognition opportunities for visitors to America's National Park System. This Club acts to support and expand appreciation of the U.S. National Park System.
| Founded | 2004 |
|---|---|
| Type | Non-profit social club |
| Location |
|
Members | over 3000 |
| Website | http://www.parkstamps.org |
Description edit
The NPTC was organized in 2004, at the second meeting of a small group of National Park enthusiasts. Since then, it has grown to over 3000 dues paying members (dues are $10 for the first year, and $5 per year after that[3]), and over 18000 members of the free online site. Paying dues gives members access to the Master List, Master Database, and Master Map of all known National Park Passport Stamp locations, in addition to voting in club elections. The online site features trip reports and hints for visits to parks, information on legislation impacting parks, and a message board for park related topics. The membership meets yearly at the NPTC Annual Convention and also arranges smaller group meetings at events such as park dedications or important park anniversaries. Additionally, awards are given out to members meeting visitation criteria, such as visiting certain numbers of park units within a year, or over a lifetime. The NPTC publishes a quarterly newsletter called The Stamp Pad.[4]
Conventions edit
The NPTC has hosted 20 annual conventions at various National Park Units.[5] These meetings serve as an opportunity for club members to socialize, share trip stories, hear keynote presentations from National Park Service Rangers, and take group guided tours of the area. Attendance at the meeting is open to the public.[6] A special official national park passport stamp is produced for each convention, and only available during the convention.[7]
- 2003: Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
- 2004: Rocky Mountain National Park, the NPTC was formally chartered at this convention
- 2005: Mammoth Cave National Park
- 2006: Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
- 2007: Olympic National Park
- 2008: Lowell National Historical Park[8][9]
- 2009: Sequoia National Park[10]
- 2010: El Malpais National Monument[11]
- 2011: National Mall[12]
- 2012: Apostle Islands National Lakeshore[5]
- 2013: Shiloh National Military Park[13]
- 2014: Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park[14]
- 2015: Chamizal National Memorial[15]
- 2016: Independence National Historical Park[16]
- 2017: Mount Rushmore National Memorial[17]
- 2018: New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park[18]
- 2019: Flagstaff, Arizona area national monuments (Wupatki National Monument, Sunset Crater, Walnut Canyon National Monument)[19]
- 2020: Virtual meeting via Zoom due to the COVID-19 pandemic[20]
- 2021: Mary McLeod Bethune Council House National Historic Site & Carter G. Woodson Home National Historic Site (Washington DC)
- 2022: Gateway Arch National Park & Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site (St. Louis, MO)
- 2023: Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site (Hendersonville, NC)
Awards edit
The NPTC awards travelers for lifetime achievement, as well as for annual visitation of the parks.
Lifetime Achievement Awards[21] edit
- Bronze: visiting 100 park units
- Silver: visiting 200 park units
- Gold: visiting 300 park units
- Titanium: visiting 400 park units
- Platinum: visiting all 428 current National Park System units
Annual Master Traveler Awards[22] edit
- Special Achievement: collecting 20 national park passport stamps from 10 park units in 2 geographic regions
- Clean Sweep: visiting a park unit in each of the 9 geographic regions within a year
- Bronze: collecting 50 stamps from 25 units in 4 geographic regions within a year
- Silver: collecting 75 stamps from 35 units in 5 geographic regions within a year
- Gold: collecting 100 stamps from 50 units in 6 geographic regions within a year
Other awards edit
- Most Wanted (formerly "Ten Most Wanted"): for finding a park passport stamp that has been exceptionally difficult to locate[23]
- Surprise Park (discontinued after 2012): for visiting a park selected each year by the President of the club for having an anniversary of historical importance
- Civil War 150th Anniversary (discontinued after 2015): for visiting a Civil War related site and collecting its stamp on the anniversary of an event which happened exactly 150 years ago.
Recognition edit
In addition to the articles referenced below, the club has been recognized by various organizations, including:
References edit
- ^ "About the NPTC". NPTC. Retrieved August 13, 2011.
- ^ "501(c)7 Acceptance Letter". IRS. Retrieved August 13, 2011.
- ^ "NPTC Membership Form" (PDF). NPTC. Retrieved August 13, 2011.
- ^ "The Stamp Pad". NPTC. Retrieved August 13, 2011.
- ^ a b "National Park Travelers Club 2015 Convention Preview". NPTC. Retrieved July 24, 2014.
- ^ "2010 Convention Agenda" (PDF). NPTC. Retrieved August 14, 2011.
- ^ "Master List Page". NPTC. Retrieved August 14, 2011.
- ^ "National Park Travelers Club Coming to Lowell National Historical Park". NPS.gov. Retrieved August 13, 2011.
- ^ "Next Stamp... Lowell!" (PDF). Lowell Sun. Retrieved August 13, 2011.
- ^ "Travel club sets sights on Three Rivers and Sequoia National Park". The Kaweah Commonwealth. Retrieved August 13, 2011.
- ^ "Passport Stampers Convene At El Malpais". NPS.gov. Retrieved August 13, 2011.
- ^ "Group celebrates 'obsession' with national parks". USA Today. August 9, 2011. Retrieved August 13, 2011.
- ^ National Park Travelers Club 2013 Convention Preview. NPTC. Retrieved July 21, 2012.
- ^ National Park Travelers Club 2014 Convention Preview. NPTC. Retrieved July 13, 2013.
- ^ National Park Travelers Club 2015 Convention Preview. NPTC. Retrieved July 24, 2014.
- ^ National Park Travelers Club 2016 Convention Preview. NPTC. Retrieved July 18, 2015.
- ^ "National Park Travelers Club 2017 Convention Minutes" (PDF). NPTC. Retrieved January 8, 2021.
- ^ "National Park Travelers Club 2018 Convention Minutes" (PDF). NPTC. Retrieved January 8, 2021.
- ^ "National Park Travelers Club 2019 Convention Minutes" (PDF). NPTC. Retrieved January 8, 2021.
- ^ "National Park Travelers Club 2020 Convention Schedule" (PDF). NPTC. Retrieved January 8, 2021.
- ^ "Lifetime Achievement Award". NPTC. Retrieved August 26, 2016.
- ^ "Master Travelers Award". NPTC. Retrieved August 13, 2011.
- ^ "Most Wanted Stamps". NPTC. Retrieved August 13, 2011.
External links edit
- National Park Travelers Club Official Website
- Interview with founder Mike Brown