During its second annual run, SCA’s Parks Pandemonium Tournament proved once again how much people love public lands.
While there were several Cinderella runs like Maine Coastal Islands National Wildlife Refuge and Valley Forge National Historical Park, it all boiled down to Glacier National Park vs Yosemite National Park and Yellowstone National Park vs Grand Teton National Park in the Favorite Four.
Being an 18 seed, Glacier surprisingly secured a spot in the Final to go up against the beloved Grand Teton. Fans of the Montana park were relentless and swiftly crowned Glacier National Park as the new champion!
The nation’s favorite state parks, national parks, national forests, and wildlife refuges were all nominated as competitors though SCA’s social media channels to battle it out for the coveted title of America’s Favorite Outdoor Playground. Brackets with predictions of which parks would advance were submitted and votes were tallied each day through polls on SCA’s Instagram stories.
Glacier National Park is one of several sites that SCA members have served at throughout the years. From national crews to individual internships, this park has provided many opportunities for the next generation of conservation leaders to serve the planet.
As for the winning bracket, it would be fitting that one of SCA’s own alums, Thomas Atella, would come out on top! Thomas served at the NPS Sonoran Desert Network in 2021.
Glacier National Park National Crew
This fun contest serves as a reminder that each park is wonderfully unique and how important it is for us to protect public lands for future generations to enjoy!
