The report, written following a nationwide series of "listening sessions" that drew about 4,500 people, went to the president. Laura Bush is the honorary chairperson of the National Park Foundation.

The report is not, however, a list of specific projects, but some broad goals??"like preserving and restoring treasured resources and demonstrating environmental leadership. It does speak of restoring native habitats by controlling invasive species, reintroducing key plant and animal species and doing an inventory of all wildlife in the parks. NPS also seeks to double the amount of volunteer hours and enroll two million more junior rangers.

Superintendents of the 391 national parks are outlining specific actions for their own parks. On August 25, 2007, the 91st anniversary of the NPS, Kempthorne will report on each park's centennial strategy as well as projects and programs that should be funded in 2008. As proposed in the president's FY 2008 budget, the Centennial Initiative is a potential $3 billion infusion for the NPS. The president has proposed an additional $1 billion over 10 years for park operations and has called on Americans to donate $1 billion over 10 years to the National Park Service to be matched by up to $1 billion from a special centennial account.