Guided: Tom Kiernan, National Parks Conservation Association

by: Justin Gural

The National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) has had a busy month ever since they released their highly anticipated 10-year research report on the conditions and resources within America's national parks.

Titled "The State of America's National Parks," the report has highlighted numerous protection and restoration success stories, as well as cited many concerns and examples of serious threats to park resources. Some of the existing distress signals come in the form of land issues, wildlife species, air quality, insufficient stewardship, and a general lack of sufficient funding.

According to Tom Kiernan, NPCA President, while the success stories are absolutely warranted and should be celebrated, there's still a lot of work to be done. He's no stranger to the parks by profession, and his dedication to the post is infectious. He's also an active outdoorsman with a deep connection to America's parks, a connection that he remembers from his first experiences in the outdoors as a child.

Click through these images to read our interview with Tom Kiernan. We explored some of the success stories and issues at hand for NPCA, discussed visitation tips for future park visitors, and even learned about his top bucket-list climbing destination.

Visit NPCA.org to learn how you can help get involved with protecting our national parks.

VentureThere.com is a member of USA TODAY's Travel Alliance, covering adventure sports, active travel and the outdoor lifestyle. 'Guided' is our industry profile on the brands, people and products that help make our adventures possible.