A FRIEND TO PUBLIC LANDS Canyonlands Natural History Association is a nonprofit partner for southeastern Utah’s special places and the people who love them Written by Sharon Sullivan
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HEN YOU BUY A SOUVENIR, T-SHIRT, GUIDEBOOK OR ANY OTHER ITEM FROM A NATIONAL PARK STORE OR PUBLIC LANDS INFORMATION CENTER, YOU’RE NOT ONLY ACQUIRING A MEMENTO. YOU’RE ALSO SUPPORTING FREE PROGRAMS AND BROCHURES FOR THE
PUBLIC, OUTDOOR EDUCATION FOR LOCAL YOUTH, THE PURCHASE OF TELESCOPES TO VIEW PARKS’ NIGHTTIME SKIES, SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH, AND MORE. “We donate back to public lands over a million dollars a year,” says Sam Wainer, operations manager for Canyonlands Natural History Association (CNHA) – one of 70 “cooperating associations” that serve as nonprofit partners for public land agencies. These nonprofit partners are called by different names – for example, there’s Grand Canyon Conservancy, Yellowstone Forever, and Zion National Park Forever Project. Cooperating associations support
parks, and the public’s enjoyment of public lands by funding educational, scientific, and interpretive efforts. CNHA serves not only Arches and Canyonlands national parks; it also supports Hovenweep, Natural Bridges, and Bears Ears national monuments; Cedar Mesa and Grand Gulch Primitive Area; the Manti-La Sal National Forest; and the information centers in Blanding and Moab. “The bulk (of funds) goes to the (parks), where most
of the money is generated,” Wainer says. Tourism to the region has exploded since Wainer began working for CNHA 25 years ago. There were 700,000 annual visitors in the late 1990s, compared to well over 2 million people these days. Wainer continually develops new designs for products, as well as educational gifts like kids’ puzzles. His intention is to foster an emotional, lasting connection between people and their public lands.
Top: The Needles District of Canyonlands National Park. [Colin D. Young/shutterstock.com] Opposite page, top: The Arches National Park bookstore. [Courtesy CNHA] Middle: Moab Information Center's Amy Mayer assists visitors Vicki and Dan Shaw of Montrose, Colorado. [Photo by Murice D. Miller] Bottom: A Student Conservation Intern talks with a young visitor. [NPS/Andrew Kuhn]
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MOAB AREA REAL ESTATE MAGAZINE December 2021–February 2022
