The national park system has grown considerably since its inception and now includes 401 units, 84 million acres, and 22,000 employees. Fifty-nine of the units are national parks. Under this agency are also national monuments, seashores, scenic trails, wild and scenic rivers, as well as battlefields and other historic sites. Truly a collection of world-class treasures, this is a monumental outdoor museum. And, with a prime purpose of educating the people, it has been called "the nation's largest university."

These public lands are among the last natural reserves for America's plants and animals. The park service has been given the task of providing space for countless species in a world of dwindling wild places. The parks then become outdoor laboratories for scholars from within and without the park system. Their contribution to our understanding of this imperiled planet cannot be weighed. How can we restore the Everglades? Can we reintroduce wolves to Yellowstone? Which wildfires should we put out? Which fires should we start? Why are spruce trees dying in Colorado and should we try to do anything about it? The litany of questions is endless, but out of all the mystery has come great wisdom. We know how to be better stewards of our planet.

But not all is perfect in parkdom. The great university faces many challenges stemming from too little money and too much love. Parks are literally being visited to their detriment without the funding for even routine upkeep. Crowds in the more popular parks give visitors a "citified" experience rather than the picture postcard solitude they expect. Incredibly, nearly 300 million people a year visit a national park system that is two billion dollars behind in repairs. Big numbers that add up to big problems. Perhaps a little more money and a little less love is in order.