Protecting & Promoting National Parks & the Delaware River

You're Invited!

Join us for a discussion about National Parks Conservation Association's efforts to protect and promote national parks and the Delaware river.

Alan Spears will interview Amanda John and Joy Oakes who lead NPCA's on-the-ground work in the Delaware River watershed from Hancock, New York to the mouth of Delaware Bay in Delaware.

6:30 PM - Reception

7:00 PM - Program

Parking: Independence Visitor Center garage,
41 North 6th Street, Philadelphia, PA.

Questions? Contact Eric Olson at eolson@npca.org.

Host Committee:

Lloyd & Thacher Brown
Tricia Dressel
Bill & Helen Elkins
Sam & Laurie Marshall
Marc & Elaine Orlow
Philip Price, Jr.
Ken & Shelley Rosenberg
Ehren Vance
Peter J. Walsh, Jr.

National Parks & the Delaware River

The Delaware River travels 419 miles from its headwaters in New York downstream through New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware. Its mainstem remains the longest undammed river in the East. Its watershed connects 12 national parks to the river and provides water to more than 15 million people in Philadelphia, New York City, and New Jersey.

In just a short drive from Philadelphia, you can visit remarkable national parks to climb mountains, enjoy scenic overlooks, camp overnight, raft, walk, bike, or run alongside the river, go fishing, and learn about America’s history and culture.

National Parks Conservation Association has been working in local communities, engaging new leaders and partners to elevate the Delaware River, anchored by its diverse national parks, as a destination for recreation and conservation.

Join us on March 1 as we explore National Parks Conservation Association’s current and future efforts to protect and promote the following national parks in the Delaware River watershed:

- Appalachian National Scenic Trail
- Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
- First State National Historical Park
- Lower Delaware National Wild and Scenic River
- Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River
- Valley Forge National Historical Park

Amanda John, Pennsylvania and Delaware Program Manager

Amanda works to preserve the unique natural, historic, and cultural integrity of 19 national parks, 7 national heritage areas, and 6 national trails in the Mid-Atlantic Region. Amanda previously worked for the Potomac Conservancy and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation leading policy and advocacy efforts to protect water quality in Maryland, Washington, D.C. and Pennsylvania at local, state, and federal levels. She is also a Senior Fellow with the Environmental Leadership Program.

Joy Oakes, Senior Director, Mid-Atlantic Region

Since 2001, Joy has led NPCA’s programs in Delaware, D.C., Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia. Joy is a leader in the Choose Clean Water Coalition of more than 200 organizations working for clean water in the Chesapeake watershed. She is a leader in a new partnership with National Geographic and middle and upper Delaware River community leaders in the Scenic, Wild Delaware River Geotourism initiative, www.scenicwilddelawareriver.com.

Joy has led successful campaigns at Valley Forge and many other parks to preserve nationally significant lands in and adjacent to national parks, and to contest inappropriate developments near and inside of national park boundaries. She has led publication of “Making Connections” reports at Delaware Water Gap and other parks which engage community leaders in articulating the economic benefits and quality-of-life values generated by the national park that anchors that region.

Alan Spears, Cultural Resources Director

Alan Spears uses real-life stories and a conversational style to connect with his audiences. A longtime National Parks Conservation Association legislative representative and resident historian, he has helped ensure that important national stories are preserved for posterity.

Since our founding in 1919, the National Parks Conservation Association has been the independent, nonpartisan voice working to strengthen and protect America's favorite places.

With more than a million members and supporters beside us, we are the voice of America’s national parks, working to protect and preserve our nation’s most iconic and inspirational places for present and future generations. We celebrate the parks — and work tirelessly to defend them — whether on the ground, in the courtroom or on Capitol Hill.

From our national headquarters in Washington, D.C., and 25 regional and field offices around the country, we call on our program and policy experts, committed volunteers, staff lobbyists, community organizers and communications specialists to inform and inspire the public and to influence decision makers to ensure that our national parks are well protected.

We’ve earned many hard-won victories together — but our national parks face new threats every day. Learn more about the challenges and opportunities facing our national parks, then use your voice to advocate on their behalf.

Learn more by visiting www.npca.org.

Photo credit: (c) Rabbit75/ Dreamstime.com