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Retired National Park Ranger Travis White to present
Exploritas "National Parks" program at Laurel Lake - April 10

March 29, 2010 – Laurel Lake will host an Exploritas Day of Discovery® program, "The National Park Service: An American Legacy," on Saturday, April 10 from 9:15 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. 

Northeast Ohio’s own Travis White, a National Park Ranger who retired from the Cuyahoga Valley National Park after more than 32 years of service, will be the presenter for the day.

Travis graduated from San Diego State University in 1977 with a BA in Recreation Administration with an emphasis on Outdoor Recreation. Over his remarkable 32-year career as a ranger he has worked at Cabrillo National Monument in San Diego CA; Fort Clatsop National Memorial in Astoria OR; Lincoln Home National Historic Park in Springfield IL; Mammoth Cave National Park in Mammoth Cave KY; Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Cherokee NC; Saguaro National Park in Tucson AZ; and Cuyahoga Valley National Park in Brecksville.

Travis currently works at Hale Farm & Village as a historical interpreter, gives tours of Cuyahoga Valley and the Akron area for Northeast Ohio Tours, and teaches Outdoor Recreation at Kent State University.

TO REGISTER - Call Exploritas toll free at 1-877-426-8056 or visit www.exploritas.org to register online (Program #19107RJ). Cost: $46 per person, includes lunch.

COURSE DESCRIPTION - America’s land has been a wellspring of its identity. Many have spent their lifetimes – and drained their fortunes – to save a favorite place. Explore "America’s best idea" with clips from the Ken Burns documentary, The National Parks. Survey the system’s history from conception to creation and its impact on Americans through a curriculum designed by Al Runte, conservationist, author of several books on the NPS and on-screen contributor to the documentary.

Session 1. The American Invention of National Parks. America’s answer to the achievements of Europe was the glory of a monumental landscape. How relevant is that perspective today?

Session 2. Park Heroes and Defenders. The national parks have always depended on individuals. Two philosophers stand out for all the parks — Frederick Law Olmsted and John Muir. Who led the fight for parks in your part of the country?

Session 3. National Parks for the Future. At last count, the United Nations listed 188 countries with national parks and "equivalent reserves" – all told, more than 4,000 sites. The point of history is the lack of permanence. Should current trends be of concern, or is change a natural evolution of public parks?

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Laurel Lake Retirement Community offers a remarkable lifestyle choice for adults who wish to continue leading active lives filled with travel, fitness, volunteer, work, cultural and lifelong learning pursuits. To learn more about this not-for-profit continuing care retirement community offering multiple home styles within a 150-acre campus in historic Hudson, call 1-866-650-2100 or visit www.laurellake.org . Laurel Lake is a member of Catholic Healthcare Partners.