Guide to Being a Parkgonaut

Since I first started driving to history, I met people who like me who are smitten by the parks-- people like Tim Sprano of Virginia, the Rich family of Georgia, and others who line up at the NPS passport stamping stations. I struggled to find a term to describe us, and “park fanatics” just didn’t do it. Several weeks ago, as I was leaving the RV park near Gettysburg, I chatted with two women from Houston who asked if I was going to all 400+ parks. They were on that quest, and as I drove away, the name “parkgonauts” popped into my head to describe us. So here is my guide to being a parkgonaut.

Chief of Interpretation Dennis Frye at Harper's Ferry NHP visiting some of the people he has researched.
(Photo by Hunner) 

As many of you know, Jason had his Argonauts and NASA its astronauts. The Argonauts sought the Golden Fleece, and the astronauts shot the moon.  These were intrepid adventurers who through personal sacrifice, traveled the world or space on missions of daring deeds. OK so traveling in an RV is not quite the stuff of Greek myths or space walks but you get the idea.

Parkgonaut Hunner at Delicate Arch, Arches NP, Utah

Here are some skills and abilities I think necessary for parkgonauts. First, you need a park. Doesn’t have to be many, even one will do. You just need to explore a National Park or even a state or local park. Something that takes you away from your everyday world.

Second, you need time. A day, an afternoon, even an hour will do, you just need some time to spend at a park.

Third, you need to be inquisitive about something in the park, whether is a natural resource, a historical person, place, or event, or just something that grabs your attention. This something needs to interest you so that you keep wanting to scratch that itch by going to parks.

Fourth, as my friend George says, you need bug spray. I might put this as optional depending on where you are going but you might need to get a pack and put in some essential supplies you need for a trip away from home and car, even if only for a few hours.

El Capitan at Yosemite NP (Photo by Hunner)

Fifth, a bit of preparation helps but is not required. Research the park, start walking to get ready for the miles that you might hike to fully embrace the park. I like to bicycle some parks since I get an intimate view of the landscape and enjoy riding through the history. The main piece of advice is get away from your car as much as you can. Get out and read the roadside exhibits that explain what happened there. Even in the most crowded parks, it is amazing how few people hike even a ½ mile away from the parking lots and visitor centers.

Pokemon ranger at FDR Memorial, Washington DC showing me how to play. (Photo by Hunner)

Lastly, start conversations with fellow visitors. Ask where they are from, have they been to this particular place before, where else have they gone or are going? Visitors are engaged with our parks, and love to share their experiences. I have enjoyed talking with and learning from my fellow travelers.

Welcome to the club, all you parkgonauts. We celebrate the parks not just in this centennial year, but throughout our lives. The parks speak to us deeply. They provide tranquility and rejuvenation, they take us out of ourselves, and they ground us in nature and the past. So get out and chase that Golden Fleece in the National Parks.

First person interpreter Carl talking with parkgonaut George at Appomattox Courthouse NHS, Virginia
(Photo by Hunner)

Next week, I am attending a family wedding on an island in the Baltic Sea. Stay tuned for a blog about the history of this fascinating island of Bornholm which I will post next Monday night.