National Park Trust Inc.

“The draft 990 is first reviewed by the Director of Finance and Executive Director for accuracy and content. Prior to filing, the full Board of Trustees is provided a copy of the final form 990.”

“Each Trustee and Officer is required to review a copy of the conflict of interest policy, which requires each person to disclose any relationships, positions or circumstances in which he or she believes could contribute to a conflict. Following full disclosure of a possible conflict of interest, the Board of Trustees shall determine whether a conflict of interest exists and if so, the Board shall vote to authorize or reject the transaction or take any other action deemed necessary to address the conflict and protect NPT's best interests. The Trustee or Officer who has the conflict is recused from any discussion and vote.”

“The Governance Committee of the Board of Trustees reviews and approves the compensation of the Executive Director, as well as reviews and approves compensation for other senior staff when requested by the Executive Director. Periodically, the Governance Committee reviews external data for comparable positions to ensure that NPT salaries are in line with the market.”

“The governing documents and conflict of interest policy are made available to the public upon request. The financial statements are available on NPT's website.”

“Our mission is to preserve parks today and create park stewards for tomorrow. Preserve parks today: For 34 years, National Park Trust (NPT) has enhanced the nation's park system by acquiring high-priority land identified by the National Park Service (NPS) and other agencies. To date, NPT's efforts have resulted in the completion of over 60 land acquisition, restoration and mitigation projects for more than 45,000 acres in 29 states, Washington, DC and one U.S. Territory. These have included 47 NPS projects in 41 NPS Units, 3 U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service projects, 3 National Wildlife Refuge projects and 9 state and local parks. NPT moves quickly to select, acquire and protect parkland, often working with partners, including national and local land trust and friends groups, to raise the critical funding needed to complete projects. NPT's land projects vary in size from great swaths of land, including the more than 10,000 acres to create the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve (KS) to equally important smaller parcels, such as the 12.5 acres located within the Wild Basin area of Rocky Mountain National Park (CO). Create park stewards for tomorrow: To meet the growing disconnect between kids and nature, especially children from diverse communities, both urban and rural, NPT launched two national environmental education initiatives: the Buddy Bison School Program (in 2009) and Kids to Parks DayTM (in 2011) to provide park and public lands/water experiences for youth, families, and teachers. Park experiences funded by NPT: 1) provide outdoor education using parks and public lands/water as outdoor classrooms; 2) promote health and wellness through outdoor recreation; and 3) promote the importance of park stewardship and conservation. To date, NPT provides funding for more than 60 Title I elementary and middle schools in 16 states and Washington, DC. More than 80% of students supported by NPT qualify for free or reduced-priced lunch, the federal indicator of low income.”

“To date, NPT provides funding for more than 60 Title I elementary and middle schools in 16 states and Washington, DC. More than 80% of students supported by NPT qualify for free or reduced-priced lunch, the federal indicator of low income. From hiking to the top of Watchman Overlook at Crater Lake National Park, to canoeing along the Anacostia River in Washington, D.C., National Park Trust is making conservation relevant to thousands of students from inner city and rural communities across the country. Our programs center around our lovable pint-sized woolly mascot, Buddy Bison who reminds kids to "explore outdoors, the parks are yours!" Buddy Bison is not only a tangible reminder that kids need to get out and go, but he also connects kids across the country with each other. Families and teachers alike want to know "Where's Buddy Bison been?" In addition to providing more than $325,000 in direct funding in the 2016-2017 school year to create robust park experiences for under-served youth, NPT provides educators with classroom resources (books, maps, DVDs, lesson plans, worksheets, STEM activities, etc) and a dedicated education team to introduce environmental concepts and enhance school curriculum in the areas of history, STEM, geography, reading, language arts, music and art. As an extension of our rapidly growing Buddy Bison school program, NPT also initiated national Kids to Parks Day in 2011. This grassroots day of outdoor play engages children and families with parks nationwide, teaching them not only about park stewardship, environmental science, and history, but also about the importance of a healthy lifestyle through outdoor recreation and healthy nutrition. Kids to Parks Day has captured the interest of many communities across the country with 456 mayors and 22 governors coast to coast signing official proclamations - many cities and towns hosted events in their community parks to celebrate the day. In 2017, over 1,700 park events were branded as Kids to Parks Day programs and more than 1-million people visited a park on Kids to Parks Day. Also in 2017, more than 20 Title I schools received paid grants through our Kids to Parks Day National School Contest. Our goal for our Buddy Bison school program and Kids to Parks Day is to inspire a generation of future conservation leaders and park enthusiasts. Through spring 2017, the Buddy Bison program has been implemented in the following states: California - 6 schools, 422 students Georgia - 3 schools, 340 students Illinois - 3 schools, 179 students Kansas - 1 school, 30 students Louisiana - 2 schools, 160 students Maryland - 6 schools, 621 students Massachusetts - 2 schools, 70 students Mississippi - 1 school, 70 students Missouri - 2 schools, 111 students Nevada - 2 schools, 77 students New Jersey - 4 schools, 805 students New York - 3 school, 190 students North Carolina - 1 school, 45 students Pennsylvania - 1 school, 70 students Texas - 3 schools, 297 students Virginia - 1 school, 43 students Washington, DC - 20 schools, 1134 students”

“California: March 2017: 34 4th-grade students from Anne Pennycook Elementary visited Rush Ranch. The students explored the brackish tidal marsh habitat at Rush Ranch. They learned how the marsh has changed over the years. After an introduction to the wildlife who make their homes in the estuary, they hiked to a historic barn and windmill, where they enjoyed the beautiful view and looked for barn owls. Georgia: May 2017: M. Agnes Jones Elementary took 80 3rd graders to the Tellus Science Museum. Students explored the exhibits at Tellus, including a fossil exhibit where students participated in a dig and life-sized models of extinct animals, rocks and minerals, and how transportation has changed over the years. Lastly, they engaged in the museum's "Magnet Mania" program, where they discovered the properties of magnets first-hand. Kansas: April 2017: 64 students from Buckner Performing Arts and Science Magnet Elementary visited Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve. The students went on a tour of the historic house, barn, outbuildings, Southwind Nature Trail, and Lower Fox Creek School. They also learned about the prairie ecosystem. Louisiana: March 2017: 110 4th graders from Chalmette Elementary visited Barataria Preserve - Jean Lafitte National Historic Park. One group of 40 students explored the Visitor Center side of the Preserve, going on a nature walk and seeing a multitude of snakes and even a wild crocodile, while the other 70 students went on a hike and explored the wetland with dip nets. Maryland: April Yearly - 85 students from Washington Middle School for Girls (D.C.) and Harmony Hills Elementary School (MD) visited the Patuxent Research Refuge in Laurel MD to learn about the wildlife and natural resources that U.S. Fish and Wildlife work to protect. September 2013-to present - Beacon Heights Elementary School 5th-grade students completed service projects at Glenridge Recreation Center throughout the school year. During the 2016-2017 school year they visited the park 3 times collecting trash, collecting data on ecosystem and learned about the changing seasons. October (Yearly Event) - 200 students from Washington Jesuit Academy (DC) canoe on the Anacostia River at Bladensburg Waterfront Park (MD). Minnesota: May 2017: 53 4th-grade students from Bruce Vento Elementary went on the Big River Journey and around Harriet Island. Mississippi: May 2017: 135 students from Popp's Ferry Elementary visited Mississippi Sandhill Crane National Wildlife Refuge. Students met Big Buddy Bison at the Sandhill Crane visitor center before splitting into 4 different stations. They hiked through the pine savanna and discovered carnivorous plants, created coded "tags" for themselves and pretended to be sandhill cranes, explored the exhibits of the museum, and got hands on with a guessing game involving natural artifacts from plants and animals that call the savanna their home. Nevada: May 2017: 100 students from Howard Hollingsworth Elementary visited Red Rock Canyon Park National Conservation Area. Led by their teachers, students walked the Children's Discovery Trail in the Lost Spring area of Red Rock Canyon. Along the way, they learned about rock formations, local plant and animal life, and the culture of the First Nations of the area through exploration and hands-on learning. Afterwards, the students met Buddy Bison and took home their own Buddy Bison plush toys to take on all their other adventures. New Jersey: May 2017: 60 students from Pennsylvania Avenue Elementary School visited Warren E. Fox Nature Center at Estell Manor Park. The students learned about the biology and ecology of plants and animals in the pinelands, participated in an engaging nature hike using the trail system around the nature center, and participated in fun and engaging outdoor team building activities. New York: February 2017: 30 students from Brooklyn Jesuit Prep visited Brooklyn Bridge Park. The 6th grade class took a 20 minute subway ride from campus to the ed”

“NPT moves quickly to select, acquire and protect parkland, often working with partners, including national and local land trust and friends groups, to raise the critical funding needed to complete projects. NPT's land projects vary in size from great swaths of land, including the more than 10,000 acres to create the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve (KS) to equally important smaller parcels, such as the 12.5 acres located within the Wild Basin area of Rocky Mountain National Park (CO). NPT continues to make great progress with our park conservation efforts. In the late 1990s, we were the lead organization to create a new unit of the national park system dedicated to preserve our country's prairie ecosystem - the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve. NPT continues to be instrumental in adding critical private lands to other parks including Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park, GA; Bruce Vento Nature Sanctuary, MN; Yosemite National Park, CA; and Harpers Ferry National Historical Park, WV. In 2014, we transferred the title of the Ivanpah Desert Tortoise Research Facility in Mojave National Preserve, CA to the National Park Service to help protect this endangered species. We continue to support the facilities research. In 2016, we transferred the title to 32 acres of needed land for Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, IN to the National Park Service. We are currently working on several new unique preservation projects including: Lake Meredith National Recreation Area, TX Olympic National Park, WA Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, MI Appalachian National Scenic Trail, ME Washita Battlefield National Historic Site, OK C&O Canal National Historic Park, MD For a complete list of all of our completed projects, please visit our website at www.parktrust.org. Recent and ongoing projects include: Arkansas: Johnnycake Ranch (Ongoing since 2003) NPT holds the conservation easement on this 2000 acre ranch, which abuts the Ouachita National Forest and the Poteau Mountain Wilderness Area. The forest is home to 79 proposed, endangered, threatened, and sensitive species. The easement also provides habitat protection for the bald eagle. The conservation easement benefits both the Wilderness Area and the National Forest by providing a buffer zone to ensure the continued ecological viability of these federal assets. March 2013 through March 2017: NPT has been in discussions with a new lands trust management candidate. California: Mojave National Preserve (Ongoing since 2009) NPT is managing mitigation funds for a Desert Tortoise facility at the Preserve. July 2012: NPT took legal custody for facility until it is ready to be turned over to NPS. NPT received donation/mitigation funds for the management of the facility over the next 5 years. NPT visited facility and met with scientists and NPS park officials in October 2012. Final transfer of property to NPS occurred in fall 2014. NPT continues to provide funding for research. Yosemite National Park (Summer 2014 to present) Partnered with The Trust for Public Land to acquire, preserve, and donate 400 acres of critical habitat (Ackerson Meadow) to Yosemite National Park. Colorado: Rocky Mountain National Park (2016 to present) NPT is working with Wilderness Land Trust and the Rocky Mountain Conservancy to protect 32 acres of wilderness within the national park. The house on this property located within the national park will be removed to restore the pristine landscape in the Wild Basin area. Indiana: Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore (Fall 2013 to Spring 2017) NPT, with the NPS and two area energy companies, completed the acquisition of 32 acres at the National Lakeshore using funds the companies committed as part of environmental settlement agreements. Maine: Appalachian National Scenic Trail (2016-present) National Park Trust (NPT) has been working with The Trust for Public Land (TPL) and National Park Foundation on the acquisition of an adjacent 1,527-acre parcel of old-growth woodland to ben”

“NPT's Board of Trustees is responsible for oversight of the audit, including selection of the independent accountant. The process has not changed from the prior year.”