11 Reasons to Get Out and Explore America’s Public Lands
WASHINGTON—A stunning image of a backcountry snowboarder traversing a winter wonderland at Bridger-Teton National Forest in Wyoming is the grand prize winner of the 2018 Share the Experience photo contest, hosted by the National Park Foundation, the official nonprofit partner of the National Park Service. Captured by Ching Fu of Asheville, North Carolina, this image will be featured on the America the Beautiful – the National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass. View the complete collection of winning photos on the National Park Foundation’s blog today.
This annual contest invites amateur photographers to submit their favorite views, moments, and adventures from America’s national parks and public lands.
“These photos are a window into the incredible experiences that await us at national parks and public lands across the country,” said Will Shafroth, president of the National Park Foundation. “This annual contest is a great example of how committed partners help inspire people to get out and explore these diverse places of beauty that belong to all of us.”
The grand prize for the winning image is $10,000, followed by $5,000 and $3,000 for second and third place. Winners also receive outdoor gear provided by Celestron and Osprey Packs, hotel packages courtesy of Historic Hotels of America®, and an annual National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass.
“It was actually my first time to this particular spot in Bridger-Teton National Forest. The pristine snow-covered slopes, the sea of trees, the mountains, and particularly the lighting just stopped me in my tracks – it was stunning,” said Ching Fu, who took the winning image while backcountry snowboarding. “I’ve done several other backcountry tours in this forest and love the unique perspectives and views I got from each trip.”
A photograph by Joe Neely from Phoenix, Arizona, of Yellowstone National Park took second place.
Third place went to Adam Jewell of Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, for his photo of Grand Teton National Park.
Prizes are also being awarded for 2018 fan favorites and the following six category winners:
- Adventure and Outdoor Recreation
- Historical and Cultural
- Scenic, Seasons, and Landscapes
- Family, Friends, and Fun
- Wildlife
- Night Skies
Nearly 8,000 photos were submitted to the contest, which ran from May 24, 2018, through December 31, 2018.
The National Park Foundation is also excited to launch the 2019 Share the Experience photo contest with a new co-sponsor Booz Allen Hamilton, the contractor and partner for the completely new Recreation.gov platform. The 2019 contest is now open and accepting entries through December 31.
“Booz Allen Hamilton is thrilled to have the opportunity to support the National Park Foundation, participating federal agencies, and Recreation.gov by showcasing photos of amazing visitor experiences at national parks, forests, and other federal recreation areas,” says Dee Dee Helfenstein, executive vice president, Booz Allen Hamilton. “The intent of the new Recreation.gov website is to help visitors discover incredible recreation opportunities and plan their trips to these beautiful locations. The photos submitted through the Share the Experience contest reflect our mantra to #BringHomeAStory by capturing those memorable moments from a must-visit destination, family camping trip, or weekend getaway with friends that will last a lifetime.”
The 2019 Share the Experience photo contest is hosted by the National Park Foundation and Booz Allen Hamiton in partnership with the National Park Service, the Bureau of Land Management, the Bureau of Reclamation, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the U.S. Forest Service, and Recreation.gov. Share the Experience is the official photo contest of America’s national parks and federal recreational lands, showcasing the more than 500 million acres of federal lands and drawing entries from across the United States.
For a full listing of prizing and rules, or to submit a photo, please visit www.sharetheexperience.org. You can also follow @GoParks on Instagram for photo inspiration.
The 2019 categories are:
- Adventure and Outdoor Recreation
- Historical and Cultural
- Scenic, Seasons, and Landscapes
- Family, Friends, and Fun
- Wildlife
- Urban Playgrounds (new category!)
Share the Experience is a great example of the countless ways there are to #FindYourPark and #BringHomeAStory. Find Your Park/Encuentra Tu Parque inspires all people to connect with, celebrate, and support America’s national parks and community-based programs. #FindYourPark invites people to discover and share their own unique connections to the country’s natural landscapes, vibrant culture, and rich history. Recreation.gov helps visitors get out there, experience America, and bring home a story through travel recommendations, trip planning tools, and reservations at thousands of locations across the country. #BringHomeAStory encourages visitors to find their next outdoor adventure or federal recreation experience to create lasting memories and inspire others to do the same.
ABOUT THE NATIONAL PARK FOUNDATION
The National Park Foundation is the official charity of America’s national parks and nonprofit partner to the National Park Service. Chartered by Congress in 1967, the National Park Foundation raises private funds to help protect more than 84 million acres of national parks through critical conservation and preservation efforts and connect all Americans with their incomparable natural landscapes, vibrant culture, and rich history. Find out more and become a part of the national park community at www.nationalparks.org.
ABOUT BOOZ ALLEN HAMILTON
For more than 100 years, business, government, and military leaders have turned to Booz Allen Hamilton to solve their most complex problems. They trust us to bring together the right minds: those who devote themselves to the challenge at hand, who speak with relentless candor, and who act with courage and character. They expect original solutions where there are no roadmaps. They rely on us because they know that—together—we will find the answers and change the world. We solve the most difficult management and technology problems through a combination of consulting, analytics, digital solutions, engineering, and cyber expertise. Booz Allen is the contractor and partner for the reimagined Recreation.gov (www.recreation.gov), the official source for travel ideas, trip planning, booking, and social storytelling across Federal public lands, waterways, and more. To learn more, visit www.boozallen.com. (NYSE: BAH)