Local champions are critical for state parks. Without the support of people in the community, parks can't exist. With over 2.5 million visitors annually, parks clearly enjoy a lot of support. But the support is often not organized into a unified voice that can champion park initiatives.

Only 6 of Montana's state parks have Friends Groups, but it's no coincidence that these are also some of our best parks. These local groups help build a vision for what their local park can be. They volunteer, and they help raise funds and advocate for parks politically.

In many ways, Friends Groups are just like us, the Montana State Parks Foundation. But rather than working statewide, they work locally on their specific park or group of parks.

If you're interested in being a local park champion, we encourage you to get involved in your local Friends Group. And if there isn't a Friends Group for your favorite park, contact us anyway.

There are many ways you can be a champion for your favorite park.