RV Industry Association Staff Shares National Park Week Stories

It's National Park Week! Hosted by the National Park Service, this weeklong event, taking place this year from April 22-April 30, celebrates the joy of national parks and the great outdoors. 

This year's theme for National Park Week is "park stories" that highlight a special connection with a place in a national park or a community. In honor of this amazing week, the RV Industry Association is sharing staff's personal park stories today and those of industry members later in the week. Check out the Association's team members' park stories experiences below!

Catherine Barsanti, RV Industry Association: 
“One of my favorite park experiences was when my fiancé and I visited the Great Smoky Mountains a few years ago. On our last day as we were exiting the park, sad our grand adventure was over, a herd of wild elk suddenly appeared alongside the road near the exit.

We had really wanted to see elk before the trip was over and they appeared at the last minute to escort us out. We hopped out of the car to take a few pictures and (with a ranger's supervision) they started to move even closer to us. We took some really incredible photos! The herd even had a few calves present and they were so cute grazing alongside their mothers. It was a truly magical experience and the best way to end the trip!”

Jenna Tomovich, Go RVing: 
“The Delaware Water Gap in the Pocono Mountains has been the backbone of my camping experience. Not only did I grow up camping there with my father, but his father took him camping there when he was a kid as well. The Dingmans Falls Campground is where we camped every year and made so many memories with friends, family, and nature. The Dingmans Falls itself is also a special place to me. As a little kid, staring up at the giant waterfalls always made me feel like I was in another world. These memories instilled in me a love of nature and the outdoors which I hope to share with my kids someday.”

Tracy Anglemeyer, RV Technical Institute:
"Working in the RV industry, my children used to be able to travel with us when they were younger and not in school or playing sports. I started out taking them to historical national parks like Gettysburg and Appomattox Court House. They would come home from school saying how much easier it was to understand their history class, since they had visited the locations that their teacher was discussing. 

As they grew older and we went on family spring breaks, we visited the geological parks out west like Zion National Park and the Grand Canyon.  We were very fortunate to be at the opening of the Glass Walk on the west side of the Grand Canyon. It was a unique experience to see the Hualapai tribe in their ceremonial dress blessing the Skywalk Glass Bridge. My children have experiences from national parks that have helped to shape their knowledge of our country that are irreplaceable.”

Greg Wischmeyer, RV Technical Institute:
"I've been to Gulf Island National Seashore several times with my truck camper. The most memorable part of that park is the unbelievable white sand beaches, especially sitting out there with a thermos of coffee in the morning. I also never get bored of exploring the old fort that has been there through multiple conflicts, domestic and foreign. The National Park Service has done a wonderful job with the visitor center, available tours, officers' quarters, the enlisted soldiers' quarters, and the various outbuildings. I've even gone scuba diving during slack tide with my daughter!"

Jason Rano, RV Industry Association:
"In 2017 my wife and I had the opportunity to visit Denali National Park and really lucked out in our couple of days in the park. Though only about 30% of visitors get to see Denali itself, the weather cleared enough on our last day so that we could see the full grandeur of the mountain. We also saw a wolf on the park road, which was tremendous.

But the best moment was when we hiked down to a semi-dry river bed at the Eielson Visitor Center and laid down on rocks in the middle of river bed and just took in the beauty and wonder around us.”

Laura Baird, RV Industry Association: 
"I visited Catoctin Mountain Park on a solo hiking expedition in July 2021. The rugged trek up the mountain felt endless, but the view from Chimney Rock made the entire climb worth it. I still have the trail map that I picked up from the visitor’s center and I plan on going back to Catoctin this summer for another fulfilling adventure. The park’s extended loop trail— which encompasses Wolf Rock, Chimney Rock, Blue Ridge Summit, Cunningham Falls, and so much more— was a perfect challenge and I look back on it as a day well spent. Catoctin, in all its formidable glory, was inspirational and this summer I’m returning to my goal of hiking more National Park trails in the area. I’m looking forward to it!"

View the RV Industry Association members' park stories here.