National Park Service Fee-Free Days

National Park Service Fee-Free Days 2020

The National Park Service will have five entrance fee-free days in 2020, with the first happening on Monday, January 20th so start planning now which park you'll head to.

Since their inception almost 150 years ago, the 400 plus national parks have protected resources and provided places for public health and enjoyment with at least one site in every state.


Plan your National Park visit

Grand Prismatic Spring, Yellowstone NP

Helptoberfest and Yellowstone Forever

Helptoberfest and Yellowstone Forever

Helptoberfest kicks off with Yellowstone Forever as the first featured organization. Now through October 10th, Aina will donate 15% of sales to Yellowstone Forever.
Yellowstone Forever—formerly the Yellowstone Association and Yellowstone Park Foundation—is the official nonprofit partner of Yellowstone National Park.
We partner with Yellowstone National Park to create opportunities for all people to experience, enhance, and preserve Yellowstone forever.
Our educational programming, products, and services help people enjoy, understand, and appreciate the wildlife, geology, and cultural history of the park. The opportunities Yellowstone Forever provides for volunteerism and community relations develop and engage new stewards for the park. Through thoughtful cultivation and stewardship of people who love the park, Yellowstone Forever is building a broad network of philanthropic supporters dedicated to preserving the park.
 
Yellowstone Forever is the official nonprofit partner of Yellowstone National Park.  

Shop now to help support Yellowstone Forever

Helptoberfest

Helptoberfest

A few years ago I was having a crappy day when I received an email that lifted my spirits. Someone that I know took a minute of their time to do something that probably would seem small and trivial to most, but could result in a positive outcome. It got me thinking about an article that an old high school friend had wrote; “Stand Up For Something, Staying Good At Life”. The major part of the article is “Assistance comes in many forms. Volunteer in your community. Help by giving someone a good referral. Put in a good word for someone. Hold open a door for someone. Make a donation. Be active in your community. Smile at someone.” 

So I came up with this idea, Helptoberfest, and for the month of October I posted about different charities, events and inspirational quotes. Last year I expanded upon this idea. For the month of October I will donate 15% of sales to charities and organizations that are environmentally and/or outdoor focused. I’ll donate to four different groups, one will be highlighted for a seven day period. If you are involved with or know of one that you would like to see featured let me know. Aina is a very small business, it won’t be a lot of coin, but every bit helps. 

Hopefully this reminds you to “Stay Good At Life”.

“Great American Road Trip”

Summer of the “Great American Road Trip”

Goodbye summer! As much as I love autumn, it is my favorite season, I am slightly bummed that this summer is over. I am sure I’m not the only one that is not happy with summer coming to an end, but I am positive that for most it has more to do with the end of warm weather and the cold and long dark nights that are on the way.

This summer was a crazy busy one for sure. I had friends and family visiting from mid-June through early August, with the turn over being as quick as four days. It was great seeing everyone and showing them around as the area is still pretty new for me too. Did a short road trip along the Mighty Mississippi, some nice hikes, new and old, also checked out a few breweries and a local winery.

As fun as it was seen everyone, the highlight of the summer was what I’m calling “The Great American Road Trip”. Drove 3415 miles in ten days covering six states and six National Parks, Monuments and Historical Sites plus a few National Forests and one total solar eclipse from Devils Tower. It was a fantastic adventure but only scratched the surface of most places really and that’s okay because now I have a better idea of where to spend more time when I go back.

Hope your summer was a good one!

Aina Clothing and Reclaimed Woodworking

Lately I've been trying my hand at some woodworking and in keeping with Aina Clothing's principles of being eco-friendly, have been doing the same with these items as much as possible. The signs, bottle openers and tea light candle holders are all hand made by myself using reclaimed barnwood and trees, reclaimed barbed wire and water based clear satin polycrylic.

These items are available on my Etsy account
Please take a look and let me know what you think. If there is something special that you would like, let me know and I'll see what I can do for you.

Mahalo

National Park Week

National Park Week

April 16 to 24, 2016

The fee-free days provide a great opportunity to visit a new place or an old favorite, especially one of the 127 national parks that normally charge an entrance fee. 

Get out and explore! 

National Park Service Plan Your Visit 

Looking for something to do this weekend?
Then go check out one of America's 405 National Parks or a National Wildlife Refuge for free this weekend. (February 14-16)

National Park Service
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service