The Staircase to Stewardship
We serve visitors as they go from initial awareness, to being welcomed, making memories, developing appreciation, and joining us as stewards. We call this path the “Staircase to Stewardship.” Explore the five core visitor serve areas below or launch the visitor services site self-assessment here.
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![A person's hand reaching out towards the sunset with blurred grass and trees in the background.]()
Outreach
Every visitor first becomes aware of your site through outreach: your website, social media, word-of-mouth, or conversations at a local community event. Outreach services are the entry point on the Staircase to Stewardship - where we first engage the next generation as they begin their path to stewardship.
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![Two children in scout uniforms examining a topographical map outdoors during a hike, with one child holding a compass.]()
Welcomes
Visitors come to your site looking for something. Initially they’re looking for the park entrance, how to check in, and eventually for their trailhead, campsite, or picnic area. Orientation services help them find what they’re looking for. Signage, trail maps, and warm smiles all welcome visitors and help them feel that they belong.
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![Woman hiking on a trail at sunset, wearing a hat, tank top, shorts, and carrying a backpack, surrounded by desert bushes and rocks.]()
Recreation
Visitors come to your site in search of an experience. It might be a relaxing fishing trip, a backpacking weekend, or a walk through history. We play an active role in facilitating these experiences through the recreation opportunities we provide.
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![A girl and boy examining a branch with yellow and green leaves in a forest during autumn, with a man in the background grilling on a barbecue.]()
Interpretation
We don’t settle for smiles and good memories. Interpretation helps visitors see how our parks and resources are connected to important values in their lives. It’s how we reveal the deeper significance of a site and plant the seeds of stewardship.
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![A young girl with dark hair in pigtails, wearing a gray dress, is sitting on the grass in a park, picking up trash and holding a trash bag.]()
Calls to Action
Stewardship is the pinnacle of the visitor experience. We want visitors to fall so deeply in love with our sites that they can’t help but share their time and resources - joining us in protecting parks. Every park site depends on this cycle of moving our constituents towards stewardship.
