Tauck's National Parks Volunteer Program Surpasses 15,000 Participants

The unique program, which allows Tauck guests traveling on two different Tauck itineraries to work on preservation and beautification projects, also concluded its 10th year in operation and marked the contribution of over 30,000 hours of volunteer labor to Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks.

“We're tremendously proud of the incredible contribution our guests have made to the care and preservation of Yellowstone and Grand Teton, two truly iconic ‘crown jewels' in our National Parks system,” said Dan Mahar. According to Mahar, rather than identifying one individual as the 15,000th volunteer, Tauck used the occasion to celebrate the accomplishments of all of its guests who have participated in the program over the last decade. “The success of this program isn't about the work performed by one person, but rather it's about the amazing difference that can be made when large numbers of people each share in the effort.”

Tauck first began offering the volunteer program to its guests visiting Yellowstone in 2003, and the program was later relocated to Grand Teton – a true sign of the program's success said Mahar. “We literally ran out of projects for our volunteers to work on in the areas of Yellowstone we visit,” said Mahar, “so in 2009 we shifted our focus to Grand Teton where the need was greater.” Projects completed in both Yellowstone and Grand Teton have included preservation work on many of the parks' hundreds of historic structures, removal of non-native plant species, rainwater runoff control, and light landscaping work.

HONORS FROM THE WHITE HOUSE AND THE U.S. INTERIOR DEPARTMENT

Tauck's National Parks guest-volunteer program has received widespread recognition, including being honored by President Bush at the White House in 2006 with the nation's highest honor for historic preservation, the Preserve America Presidential Award. Tauck's efforts have also been honored by the U.S. Interior Department and Reader's Digest magazine, which named the program to its annual list of “America's 100 Best.”

The Yellowstone program is part of Tauck's “World Of Giving” corporate philanthropy initiative, which also includes annual employee volunteerism events, domestic and international destination grants, and other efforts. For more information, call 1 800 468 2825, or go to www.tauck.com.

More information: Tauck - Making Connections through Inspirational Travel & Exceptional Choice