[NEW COURSE] Our invaluable national parks have been called “America’s best idea” because they preserve scenic wonders, protect endangered species, and interpret the history and diverse cultures of the nation. In 1916 Congress created the National Park Service (NPS) to protect these important resources. Mistakes have been made over the years, but the NPS has mostly done admirable work. This will be the emphasis of this course, but we also need to talk about the crisis the parks face in the current political climate. To save our parks, we need to educate ourselves.