“Throughout the summer, there were many opportunities where I was able to experience and more fully understand the mission of ACMNP, but the more “mundane” or “commonplace” examples are the most powerful to me. “There was a big need for coffee among the employees, and I was able to make and give coffee to my … Continued
Vivian Smith – Shenandoah National Park, Summer 2024 “At the beginning of the summer, the day before I was planning to arrive in Shenandoah National Park, I became very sick. I ended up with pneumonia and was over two weeks late to the start of my season. During those two weeks, I could not do … Continued
“Let me take you to a conversation that I had with a friend in the fall of 2023. But first, I’d like to introduce myself. My name is Vivian, and I am a sophomore at the University of Alabama in Birmingham, studying to become a pediatric occupational therapist. This fall, I was discussing my summer … Continued
One of three parks within the Blue Ridge and Appalachian Mountains where ACMNP has a presence, Shenandoah is unique…
I did a lot of hiking this summer and one of my favorite hikes was called Old Rag.
This summer, I was reminded that my life is not about me executing plans that I make.
Before ACMNP I thought leadership meant “having it all together” in order to show others the “right way to go.”
ACMNP caused me to discover that it can be fulfilling to take a position that you feel you are not prepared for.
My husband Bill and I have enjoyed camping in Shenandoah National Park, mostly at Loft Mountain Campground, for many years.