There are few American institutions that belong to all of us quite like our national parks.

From the towering mountains of Yosemite to the rugged coastline of Acadia, the sweeping landscapes of Rocky Mountain and the historic sites that preserve the stories of generations of Americans, the National Park System is one of the country’s greatest achievements.

That is why National Park Week, being celebrated Aug. 22-30, is about much more than finding a beautiful place to spend a summer day.

This year’s theme, “Celebrate America’s Story,” is particularly appropriate as the nation prepares to mark its 250th anniversary. Our national parks preserve pieces of that story — the inspiring, complicated, beautiful and sometimes difficult history that has shaped the United States.

They also give us the opportunity to make our own stories.

A family hiking a trail together, a child earning a Junior Ranger badge, a visitor seeing wildlife in its natural habitat for the first time or a veteran visiting a historic battlefield are all experiencing America in ways that cannot be duplicated in a classroom or a textbook.

National parks are living classrooms, recreational destinations, wildlife sanctuaries and places of remembrance all at once.

This year’s National Park Week schedule reinforces that variety. Theme days include Safety Sunday, America in Motion Monday, Watch Wildlife Wednesday, Thankful Thursday, Freedom Friday, Staff Saturday and Junior Ranger Day on Aug. 30.

And Aug. 25 is especially significant. It marks the 110th anniversary of the National Park Service, and entrance fees will be waived for U.S. citizens and residents. It is an excellent opportunity to visit a park and perhaps discover one that you have never explored before.

But this anniversary should also prompt us to think about what it takes to keep these places available for future generations.

Aug. 25 was designated as a nationwide day of action for America’s national parks, with supporters calling for stronger protection of public lands, greater investment in the parks and support for the employees who keep them operating.

Events are planned at parks and communities around the country, including Yosemite, Muir Woods, Rocky Mountain, Acadia, Big Bend, Great Falls, New River Gorge and Kenai Fjords. The activities aren’t limited to traditional demonstrations. Advocacy events, public presentations, conservation projects and park celebrations are also planned.

The concern behind these efforts is worth considering.

National parks don’t maintain themselves. Trails need to be cleared. Roads and bridges need to be maintained. Historic buildings need to be preserved. Wildlife needs to be monitored. Visitors need information and assistance. Emergencies need to be handled. Scientists and educators need to do the work that helps us understand and protect these remarkable places.

And all of that requires people.

Advocates have raised concerns about staffing losses across the National Park Service, warning that fewer rangers, maintenance workers, educators, scientists and emergency personnel could eventually mean reduced visitor services, delayed conservation projects and greater risks to both visitors and protected resources.

The Trump administration disputes those criticisms, arguing that its policies are designed to expand recreational opportunities, reduce unnecessary regulations and increase investment in park infrastructure.

There is room for legitimate debate over how best to manage the National Park System. But there should be little debate over the importance of maintaining the people and resources necessary to protect it.

A new road or visitor center may improve access. A renovated facility may make a park more welcoming. But buildings and infrastructure alone cannot preserve the national parks.

People do.

That means rangers who explain the history of a battlefield to a school group. It means maintenance crews keeping trails safe. It means scientists studying ecosystems and wildlife. It means educators inspiring the next generation of conservationists. It means emergency personnel prepared to help a visitor when something goes wrong.

And it means all of us recognizing that these places are a national inheritance — not merely attractions to be visited.

National Park Week gives us a chance to celebrate that inheritance.

If you have never visited a national park, this is a good time to start. If you haven’t been to one in years, go back. Take a hike. Visit a historic site. Attend a ranger program. Bring the children and let them earn a Junior Ranger badge.

As we celebrate 250 years of the American story, our national parks remain among the best places to experience that story firsthand.

They belong to all of us.

And it is our responsibility to make sure they remain there for generations who have yet to discover them.