Cooperating Associations are one of the oldest and most enduring partnerships of the National Park Service. The first association started as a fundraising organization for Yosemite National Park in 1924. National Park Service naturalists and historians nationwide soon realized the benefits of partnering with public citizen organizations for assistance with funding and operating educational and research programs in the parks. When visitors purchase educational materials about a park, their knowledge is enhanced, thus their experience enriched. Part of the beauty of cooperating associations is that the proceeds from sales at visitor center and online stores benefit visitors, and also help to support the parks in their efforts to preserve the cultural and natural resources of their lands and to encourage stewardship of these national treasures. Today, about 70 cooperating associations operate throughout the country and support the preservation of a diverse National Park system. This successful partnership model has been adopted by other government agencies--and by other nations as well!
The Redwood Park Association traces its roots to the Coastal Parks Association, which was operating within Point Reyes National Seashore and Golden Gate National Recreation Area when Redwood National Park was established in 1968. Coastal Parks reorganized in 1984, forming Redwood Natural History Association. RNHA became a partner with the USDA Forest Service at the Smith River National Recreation Area in 1994. The name changed to Redwood Park Association in 2004 to better reflect its relationship with the park and forest.
Redwood Park Association operates under congressional authority as a nonprofit partner supporting educational, interpretive, and historical and scientific research responsibilities of the National Park Service. Since its modest beginning in 1984, RPA has funded more than one million dollars in aid to Redwood National and State Parks.
The Redwood Park Association traces its roots to the Coastal Parks Association, which was operating within Point Reyes National Seashore and Golden Gate National Recreation Area when Redwood National Park was established in 1968. Coastal Parks reorganized in 1984, forming Redwood Natural History Association. RNHA became a partner with the USDA Forest Service at the Smith River National Recreation Area in 1994. The name changed to Redwood Park Association in 2004 to better reflect its relationship with the park and forest.
Redwood Park Association operates under congressional authority as a nonprofit partner supporting educational, interpretive, and historical and scientific research responsibilities of the National Park Service. Since its modest beginning in 1984, RPA has funded more than one million dollars in aid to Redwood National and State Parks.
