Research Learning Centers
Protection of park resources requires a knowledgeable public. As stewards of the world's finest system of national parks, we have the responsibility to widely share our knowledge about park resources in order to enhance the public's ability to learn from, and to enjoy, its national parks. We must apply innovative techniques to reach out to diverse publics and actively involve them in preserving and restoring, when necessary, the national parks. Recounting our experience in natural resource preservation will inspire a greater public pride in the national parks.
The Learning Network has established three Research Learning Centers at North Cascades, Olympic, and Mount Rainier to facilitate the use of all as libraries of knowledge and support for visiting researchers. Research will be encouraged in the parks in ways that support other park values. Coordinated interpretation and education programs at each learning center will transfer information about park resources to park-based interpreters and the public at large, through outreach to schools, web site development, and other means.