A National Parks Project T-shirt Review
Active Gear Review is supported by its audience. If you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.
A National Parks Project Tees introduction
This is a shirt review. Well, sort of?!? The fine folks at Parks Project have a bigger picture and mission in mind.
“A few years ago we signed up to volunteer in the parks, figuring a little hard work in one of our favorite places with some like-minded folks would be a good way to spend a day. When we arrived, the only other people were a few bored retirees. And it was the same when we returned the next time, and the next, until we thought, “Oh dang, has our generation forgotten about the parks?”
I think its two-fold. They really want to create awareness about our National Parks for our younger generations with some really cool shirts. Secondly, Parks Project is actually helping out with proceeds from the shirts going directly toward a National Park and/or specific project.
The crew at work
“Teach The Children Well” (by Crosby Still Nash) keeps popping into my head, and makes for some good classic background music as I dream and write of our National Parks. We have fully integrated our little ones into the outdoor adventure and National Park world, and I think more parents should do the same.
Mt. Sherman. Get your little ones out there. They are more capable than you think, and are taught a valuable lesson. ***not a national park, but another one of Colorado’s 14,000 foot peaks.
On a mission with Parks Project
There’s definitely a hierarchy in the world of parks. Undoubtedly, you have a neighborhood or city park near your home. The big bad and beautiful big boys are the National Parks that people flock to by the millions. You may have heard about a few of them like Yellowstone, Grand Canyon, Glacier, or Acadia in the great state of Maine. If you’ve had the great fortune of ever having been to one, you know how special, unique, and majestic our nation’s parks actually are.
The amazing folks at Park Project have taken this love for our national parks a big step further by reaching out to our younger generations with some cool almost hipster-like shirts.
Wheel barrow, chainsaw, shovel, pickaxe, and muscles seem to be the theme of the day. This is where the mission seems to take on some real traction. It’s about actually giving back. Not just by raising money, but putting in the sweat equity to remove invasive plant species or restoring a hiking trail.
As I found my way through their website, the “shop” tab leads you to some really creatively designed shirts, key chains, hats, etc. The shirts do lead the charge with many of our National Parks covered.
“Leave it better than you found it”, or “leave no trace” are common monikers with regard to our natural wonders.
The Parks Project Tees themselves
For the shirts themselves, they look good and the fit is right on. I have whittled my way down from my former larger self to a medium, and these fit quite comfortable. The Parks Project Tee is slightly longer which I really like. Some shirts over time seem to shrink and almost ride up to expose the belt, belly, or proverbial plumbers crack. Not the case here. They are soft, and have stood up to several washings at this point.
The Grand Canyon Sunset Tee.
The Grand Canyon is America’s second most visited park with approximately 4.5 million annual visitors. It would be fantastic if I could venture to the Grand Canyon, but that just wasn’t in the cards this year. I have been, hiked to the Colorado River, and explored its awe inspiring beauty several times. Words can’t describe the emotional connection to the vastness that nature has carved over the ages. This particular tee supports visitor programs at the Park to make your experience more in depth and memorable.
Technicals: 50% cotton // 25% Poly // 25% Rayon with a slim fit.
Taking the Tee into its natural outdoorsy element
The Rocky Mountain Ram Tee.
Rocky Mountain National Park is situated right here in Colorado. It’s about 1.5 hrs. North of Denver, and close enough for a daytrip. What may surprise you is that this is the 5th most visited park with nearly 3.5 million annual visitors. And guess what, I had a trip planned to hike/climb up Longs Peak. The magnificent mountain sit gloriously along the Northern Front Range, and is RMNP’s most iconic feature. With a height of 14,255 it is also one of the more challenging 14ers in the state. And, of course, the goats made for a fun adventure. The project that is associated with the Rocky Mountain Ram Tee supports habitat restoration which is critical as the number of visitors just keeps growing.
Technicals: 100% cotton with a crew neck.
A 9 hr. hike to conquer Longs Peak in RMNP
Final thoughts on the Parks Project Tees
I think it’s admirable that these guys have come up with a clever way to put their money where their passion is. Our National Parks are a symbol of beauty and diversity, and they’re not making any more of these. Taking care of the National Parks is priority one, so hats off to the Park Project folks. And of course, these shirts are totally cool. Folks are constantly commenting on the unique and wonderful way the parks are represented as I wear them around town.
Check out their selections for yourself at www.parksproject.com
MSRP for the shirts is $36 with dozens of styles and park logos to choose from. Do keep in mind, a good portion goes to a VERY good cause.
