Story Share

As part of the community outreach in connection with Ken Burns’ 12-hour documentary series The National Parks: America’s Best Idea—that aired in October 2009 and will air again in January and March 2010—park visitors, members, students, and staff were encouraged to share their stories about their national parks.

You can explore the “untold” stories below from students in youth programs at the Golden Gate National Parks already posted on this site, or click the links in the sidebar to view stories from around the nation about the most special places in the nation—preserved not for royalty or the rich, but for everyone. 

Youth in the Parks

The Golden Gate National Parks offers several educational and hands-on programs to Bay Area youth interested in working for a better environment, green jobs, and a brighter future. And Linking Individuals to their Natural Communities (LINC) is a unique program in this ladder of learning. Organized by theme, this program provides a variety of modules each with a different natural resource topic such as plant propagation, habitat restoration, mapping, trail work, and environmental education.

All activities are linked to park priorities and provide critical natural resource support to the parks while providing an enriching and challenging summer job to students learning about ecology and environmental science. The program also helps students hone their job and leadership skills.

As part of the end of the program requirements, students are encouraged to reflect on their journey and express their experiences in the parks through an artistic medium. The LINK 2009 class chose to work on the “untold stories” project in support of Ken Burns’ The National Parks: America’s Best Idea documentary where members of the community and individuals created materials to share their love of place through the use of technology—old and new—to create sustained connections.

From poems about Yosemite to digital stories about how LINC helped them develop a connection to our outdoors, their stories touch on what LINC is all about—connecting all of us to a place larger than ourselves. Here are their journeys:

Brittney

Brittney's video takes us on a journey of initial ambivalence about the parks and lessons learned to her gradual transformation through unexpected friendships, environmental appreciation, and personal growth.

Diego

Inspired by Yosemite Park Ranger Shelton Johnson and his magical eagle bone flute, Diego engages us in a story about finding “home.”

 Suzanne

Through a heartfelt combination of words and images, Suzanne leads us through a thoughtful journey between Yosemite National Park and Lands End at Golden Gate National Parks and the impact both these places had on her.

Resources

• KQED Story Share
• PBS Story Share