Apple puts its money into US parks, upgrades Maps

Apple celebrates US national parks every year and has done so again this year with an Apple Pay donation campaign and unique features in Apple Maps.

What Apple is doing for US parks

To mark the 108^th birthday of the US National Park Service, Apple will donate $10 to the National Park Foundation for each purchase made through Apple using Apple Pay until August 25. That’s payments made on Apple’s US site, the app, or at an Apple Store.

On August 25, Apple Watch users around the world can earn a limited-edition award and animated stickers for Messages by recording any workout of 20 minutes or more.

Additionally, this fall, Apple Maps will make it even easier for users to explore national parks with details for thousands of hikes. This joins a host of other resources, including music playlists and Apple Maps Guides curated by the National Park Foundation.

What Tim Cook says

“Every time I visit a national park, I’m struck by their extraordinary beauty and incredibly rich history,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO.

“We’re proud to partner with the National Park Foundation to help preserve these natural treasures that inspire so many people. Their important work helps ensure that future generations will be able to experience that same sense of awe, wonder, and reverence for the planet we call home.”

About the National Park Foundation

The National Park Foundation (NPF) funds programs across the country that ensure America’s national parks remain a place where nature can thrive and visitors can learn and explore. For example, Apple’s support has helped fund the EcoLogik Institute’s important work to foster the next generation of park champions.

“By investing in the interest and passion of young women and girls who want to explore careers in STEM, we can empower them to become the next generation of environmental stewards,” said Will Shafroth, the National Park Foundation’s president and CEO.

This summer, NPF is working in collaboration with Cabrillo National Monument in San Diego, California to support young explorers and scientists ages 10 to 16. Through apprenticeships and other work experiences, participants gain valuable on-the-ground experience in natural resources science career fields.

More features coming to Maps

This fall, Apple Maps will introduce new features to help users explore the world. Across U.S. national parks, users will be able to browse thousands of hikes in Maps, all filtered by length, elevation, and route type, and follow along with turn-by-turn guidance.

In addition, users across the U.S. can explore topographic maps on iPhone with contour lines, trail details, and more. They can also build custom walking routes and national park hikes and custom routes can be saved and accessed offline.

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