On this day in 1916, President Woodrow Wilson signed what is now called the Organic Act. It established the National Park Service.

Kids can also earn Junior Ranger badges by completing a workbook and attending programs at each of the three parks. Just go to the visitor center and pick up a Junior Ranger booklet to get started.Children who cannot visit a national park site in person are invited to take part in the national "WebRangers" activities at www.nps.gov/webrangers.

For a fun and free way to learn more about the National Park Service on Founders Day, you can take a free on-line course titled Introduction to the National Park Service: Its History and Mission.This 30-40 minute course is designed for anyone who has an interest in the agency and can be accessed at http://eppley.org/elearning/free. Completion of this course can provide teachers with 0.12 Continuing Education Unit (CEU) credits.

The National Park System has been described as "the best idea America ever had."National parks preserve majestic natural wonders.They keep watch over valued sites and artifacts of our American culture.National park sites offer recreation and discovery in some of the most unique areas of our country's landscape.

The National Park Service is preparing for its 100th anniversary to take place in 2016, as the nation will celebrate a century of preservation of these special places and look towards another century of stewardship and relevance.