The National Park Foundation: Parks, Pride, and the Purple Bandanna

The National Park Foundation: Parks, Pride, and the Purple Bandanna

Queer campers know that wild spaces aren’t just places to pitch a tent — they’re places to belong. Our national parks are stories, landscapes, and legacies woven together, and they need guardians who make sure those spaces stay open and welcoming.

That’s why we’re proud to spotlight the National Park Foundation (NPF) — the official charitable partner of the National Park Service. Since 1967, the NPF has been raising support, protecting landscapes, and making sure more people — especially underrepresented communities — can access the wonder of America’s 400+ national park sites.

And here at PurpleTents, we’ve tied our mission directly to theirs:
Every Purple Bandanna you buy for $12 fuels our queer campfire and sends $2 straight to the National Park Foundation.

💜 Why We Care (and You Should Too)

Queer folks know a thing or two about creating chosen spaces. Parks are the nation’s chosen spaces — where all of us, regardless of who we are, get to connect, heal, and belong. The National Park Foundation makes that happen through initiatives that feel very PurpleTents-approved:

  • Open Outdoors for Kids → Bringing millions of students into parks every year.
  • Women in Parks → Funding projects that celebrate women’s history and amplify their legacies.
  • African American Experience Fund → Preserving and honoring Black history in the park system.
  • Latino Heritage Fund → Protecting cultural heritage and visibility for Latino communities.
  • Service Corps → Empowering inclusive crews to restore trails, habitats, and access for everyone.

✨ Parks with Pride, Powered by People Like Us

The NPF isn’t just about big campaigns. Their work touches real places we love:

  • Preserving Martin Luther King Jr.’s historic homes.
  • Supporting the Flight 93 National Memorial.
  • Protecting over 87,000 acres at Katahdin Woods and Waters.

Every trail you hike, every overlook where you kiss your partner, every wildflower that sneaks into your selfie — the National Park Foundation is part of the reason it’s still there.

And now, with every Purple Bandanna sold, you’re part of that story too.

🌈 How You Can Help

  • Wear your Purple Bandanna → At camp, on the trail, or at Pride. Every $12 bandanna sends $2 to the National Park Foundation.
  • Spread the word → Share your bandanna pics with #CampQueerBandanna and #CampQueer4Parks.
  • Explore more → Learn about the NPF’s mission at nationalparks.org.

🔥 Our Take

At PurpleTents, visibility isn’t just about showing up — it’s about protecting the spaces where we show up. When you knot on your Purple Bandanna, you’re carrying queer pride, supporting a growing movement, and helping preserve national parks for generations of campers to come.

👉 Get Your Purple Bandanna – $12 Free Shipping ($2 goes to the National Park Foundation)

Because campfires burn brighter when the parks around them thrive.