Apple is not a stranger to celebrating the natural wonders of the world, especially the national parks in the United States. That trend continues this year.
Apple has just announced that it will be celebrating the national parks in the United States through the rest of August. This is to celebrate the 103rd anniversary of the U.S. National Park Service, and Apple is introducing a variety of ways that customers can help.
From August 17 through August 25, Apple will make a $10 donation to the National Park Foundation for each purchase made with Apple Pay at an Apple Store, apple.com or the Apple Store app in the US. Apple’s donation will support programs across the country that help to connect young people who wouldn’t otherwise have the means with transformative park experiences. These programs range from elementary classroom field trips to immersive multi-day experiences in parks, plus multi-week services corps for young adults that help foster skills and leadership, while providing capacity to critical parks projects.
Within the Apple TV app, customers will include the documentary Free Solo, the National Parks Exploration Series from The Smithsonian channel, and more TV shows and movies. For Apple Music subscribers, there is a new playlist entitled “Nature Awaits”, which is inspired by the “extraordinary beauty of the country’s parks”. If you prefer listening to podcasts, there will be a collection of shows that focus on the national parks, which will be hosted by hikers and rangers alike.
Some more, for Apple Books:
Apple Books will feature “Our National Parks,” a themed collection that will guide readers through notable national parks in the United States. The App Store will highlight a collection of some of the essential apps to help customers plan for and enjoy their next national park visit.
And finally, the Apple Watch Activity Challenge that helps celebrate the Grand Canyon. That challenge goes live on Sunday, August 25:
On August 25, Apple Watch users around the world can earn an Activity award and animated stickers for Messages inspired by Grand Canyon National Park’s 100th anniversary. To participate, just record a walk, run, hike or wheelchair workout of at least three miles — the distance of the park’s popular South Kaibab Trail to Cedar Ridge and back.
What do you think of this year’s celebration of the U.S. national parks? Do you plan on achieving this month’s Activity Challenge?