Stanton spent 31 years working for the park service before being named by President Clinton to serve as the service's director. When he was sworn in on August 4, 1997, he became the first African American to hold the park service's top post. He oversees all 378 national park sites and 20,000 park employees.

Because the parks are scattered across the country, Stanton spends much of his time traveling and meeting with park workers. He also appears before Congress to give advice on how the government should handle problems at the parks.

Protecting the Parks
One problem the park service has always faced is protecting the land for future generations to enjoy. Stanton believes the more people visit the parks, the more they will want to help protect them. "Those who experience the parks develop a sense of responsibility, that each of us has to enhance our environment," he says.

In addition to the natural parks, the National Park Service protects the country's historical sites. Those sites include Revolutionary War battlefields and civil rights memorials. "They give us an appreciation of the sacrifices and struggles that many Americans have made," says Stanton.

The lessons held within our nation's natural and historical parks have drawn millions of visitors. Stanton hopes even more people, especially kids, will visit.

"The parks are for everyone," he says. "Every American is welcome."