NATIONAL PARKS BELONG TO ALL AMERICANS. BUT TODAY, NOT ALL AMERICANS HAVE ACCESS TO THEM. 

At Shenandoah National Park Trust, we believe that every person—regardless of background, income, ability, or familiarity with the outdoors—deserves the opportunity to experience the wonder and freedom of Shenandoah National Park. Yet many Americans continue to face barriers that limit their access to our public lands. 

In recent years, we noticed a troubling gap between the young people attending one-day educational programs and those participating in immersive, multi-day learning and work experiences in the park. To close that gap, the Trust launched the Access to the Outdoors Fund, a dedicated resource to help remove the obstacles—both visible and invisible—that prevent many from connecting deeply with nature. 

With this fund, we support transportation, entry and camping fees, meals, programming, and wilderness experiences for those who might not otherwise have the opportunity or means to visit Shenandoah. Barriers such as cost, limited mobility, unfamiliarity with outdoor environments, and a legacy of exclusion and underrepresentation continue to impact who feels welcome—and who can realistically access—our parks. 

We know that not all communities face the same barriers. But for too many Americans, even one of the following can be a significant hurdle: 

• Lack of transportation 

• Financial constraints (gear, meals, park fees) 

• Personal or perceived safety concerns 

• Unfamiliarity with outdoor norms and navigation 

• Historic patterns of discrimination and segregation 

• Disabilities or injuries that affect access to trails and facilities 

The Access to the Outdoors Fund exists to help change that. Separate from our general educational programming, this fund allows us to work directly with trusted community partners to create customized, meaningful park experiences that are culturally relevant, inclusive, and supportive. 

This important work is made possible through the generosity of the Christopher Johnson McCandless Memorial Foundation, whose $150,000 gift in memory of Chris reflects his lifelong belief that the outdoors should be accessible to all. 

Equitable access means ensuring every American—regardless of circumstance—has a chance to experience the peace, beauty, and personal growth that nature offers. We are proud to be part of making that vision a reality in Shenandoah. 

We believe that everyone should be able to experience Shenandoah in a way that is safe, relevant, and affordable to them. Both historically and presently, many barriers limit access to the outdoors – specifically Shenandoah – for some communities. These barriers include, but are not limited to:

• transportation
• cost (proper gear & clothing, entrance & camping fees, meals, transportation, etc.)
• personal safety (both real and perceived)
• familiarity with the outdoors (reading trail maps, Leave No Trace practices, wildlife safety, planning precautions, etc.)
• historic discrimination & segregation, resulting in a lack of representation in outdoor spaces
• injuries and/or disabilities that limit or inhibit someone’s ability to navigate, experience, or reach the park and its facilities