The Nature Corps History

In 1987, The Nature Corps (originally founded as Sousson Foundation) responded to the call of a Presidential Commission encouraging Americans to “serve as stewards of their public lands.”

At that time, the impact of 275 million visitors a year was being felt at all National Parks. Unfortunately, the problem persists as resources allotted to the National Park Service are not enough to keep up with the burden of popularity. Today, the backlog of park projects exceeds $8 billion.

To address this issue, The Nature Corps, in conjunction with the National Park Service, organizes volunteer programs that allow concerned individuals to come together to meet the conservation and recreational needs of our nation.

Since the organization’s inception, dedicated Nature Corps volunteers have participated in a number of award-winning programs to create a legacy of conservation in our western National Parks. Together, they have worked to restore wilderness areas, protect endangered species, rehabilitate park facilities, and preserve historic structures. Their legendary contributions are responsible for protecting some of our nation's most cherished natural treasures.