Apple Supports National Parks With Apple Watch Activity Challenge and Apple Pay Donations - MacRumors
Skip to Content

Apple Supports National Parks With Apple Watch Activity Challenge and Apple Pay Donations

Apple today introduced an Apple Pay donation program and a new Activity Challenge on the Apple Watch in support of U.S. national parks.

apple watch activity challenge national parks
From August 24 through August 31, Apple said it will donate $1 to the National Park Foundation, the official charity of the U.S. National Park Service, for every purchase made with Apple Pay at any Apple Store, on Apple.com, or through the Apple Store app for iPhone and iPad in the United States.

Proceeds will support the National Park Foundation's mission to protect national parks through projects like habitat restoration and historic preservation, and support programs like Open OutDoors for Kids, according to Apple.

Apple CEO Tim Cook:

America's national parks are treasures everyone should experience, and we're proud to support them again this month by donating a dollar for every purchase made with Apple Pay at one of our stores. These awe-inspiring places are our national inheritance, and Apple is doing our part to pass them on to future generations — just as extraordinary, beautiful and wild as we found them.

On September 1, Apple Watch users around the world who complete a walk, run, or wheelchair workout of 50 minutes of more will earn an Activity app award and animated iMessage stickers, inspired by national parks. The challenge pays homage to Redwood National Park's 50th anniversary celebration this year.

The App Store will also highlight a collection of some of the best apps to help users easily navigate and explore U.S. national parks.

Apple supported U.S. national parks in these same ways in July 2017.

Related Roundups: Apple Watch 12, Apple Pay
Buyer's Guide: Apple Watch (Buy Now)

Popular Stories

Surprise and Shine Live Coverage Article

Apple Event Live Blog: iPhone Duo, iPhone 18 Pro, and More

Wednesday September 9, 2026 9:10 am PDT by
Apple's "Surprise and Shine" event kicks off today at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time, where we're expecting to see the foldable iPhone Duo, the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 models, new AirPods 5 earphones, and perhaps some other announcements. Apple is providing a live video stream on its website, on YouTube, and in the company's TV app across various platforms. We...
Apple Watch Ultra 2 Black Titanium

New Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4 Features Revealed

Sunday August 30, 2026 7:54 am PDT by
Bloomberg's Mark Gurman today further outlined what to expect from the Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4 set to be unveiled on September 9. While it was initially rumored that Touch ID may be coming to the Apple Watch this year, Gurman reiterated that he does not expect the Series 12 or Ultra 4 to have any major design changes compared to the current Series 11 and Ultra 3 models. ...
apple surprise and shine event

Apple Event Today: iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Duo Cheat Sheet

Tuesday September 8, 2026 10:24 am PDT by
Apple's biggest event of the year is almost here, and all eyes are on Cupertino. With the first foldable iPhone expected to headline Apple's "Surprise and Shine" event on Wednesday, September 9, at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time, the rumor mill has been running full throttle, fuelled by the biggest single design change in the life of the iPhone. To get you up to speed, here's a quick reference...

Top Rated Comments

AngerDanger Avatar
105 months ago
I think they should have a "product Green" line to support the environment, just like they have product Red for AIDS charity.
And if you wanna support both simultaneously…



Attachment Image
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
105 months ago
I think they should have a "product Green" line to support the environment, just like they have product Red for AIDS charity.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Fozziebear71 Avatar
105 months ago
Wow - how generous. If you buy any Apple product, which range in price from $20 charging cables where they likely make $18 profit to $15K computers where they likely make $12K profit, they'll donate a whole $1.

This week only. Oh, and only if you use Apple Pay, because they really want to get you using that.
They are a company that exists to make money.

Exactly what was your point?
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
105 months ago
I love parks so this is great. I do the fetish on "restoration" is a little funny such natural areas have no "true" form (what are we restoring them to). The American Indians used to burn whole forests so they could chase buffalo but most of those areas are being replaced by trees now. Things change, there is no correct state for nature, but I do love hiking, biking, and camping in the parks and hope they continue to thrive.

I like when they do specialty badges. They need to do more and up their game with the activity app.

Also people giving Tim Cook a hard time for donating 5 million is the height of pettiness and envy.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
TaviDuprix Avatar
105 months ago
Wow - how generous. If you buy any Apple product, which range in price from $20 charging cables where they likely make $18 profit to $15K computers where they likely make $12K profit, they'll donate a whole $1.

This week only. Oh, and only if you use Apple Pay, because they really want to get you using that.
Unless you are donating money, save your disdain for something else.
[doublepost=1535055635][/doublepost]
Yes, but how much did it save him in taxes? Sure, it's great he donated 5 million, way more than I ever could, but every time I see things like this it ends up being some huge benefit in taxes to the giver, to the point where it was something they were required to do to keep more money than to pay it out in taxes.
You do not understand the tax code if you even for a second believe that when rich people give money to charity they somehow make out better than if they had not donated at all.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Fozziebear71 Avatar
105 months ago
This ever increasing view in our society that corporations that make a lot of money is an awful thing is getting so tiresome.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)