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National Park Week Offers Free Admission
Need some fresh air to clear your mind? How about a stroll through a garden to mellow out the stress of a busy day? Or maybe winter has packed on a few extra pounds, and it's time to hit the bike trails again.
America's 394 national parks offer many close-to-home opportunities for outdoor recreation. A growing number of doctors even write "Park Prescriptions" to get patients outside and active. The growing connection between public lands and public health is the focus of National Park Week, April 16–24, 2011. Entrance to all national parks is free throughout the week.
"National parks have always been great places to go on vacation, have fun, and learn something, but for millions of Americans national parks are also a daily part of a healthy lifestyle," said National Park Service Director Jonathan B. Jarvis. "If you've never thought of your national parks that way, we'd like to invite you to come out to see how parks can help you meet your fitness goals. Getting outside and moving is the first step."
This year's focus, Healthy Parks, Healthy People, highlights the connection between human and environmental health and the vital role America's national parks play in both. The National Parks provide the perfect opportunity to add some superlatives to your life list: the world's tallest trees (sequoias), longest cave (Mammoth Cave), largest carnivore (Alaskan Brown Bear), or the United States' highest peak (Mount McKinley), lowest point (Death Valley), or deepest lake (Crater Lake).
In addition to waiving entrance fees throughout the week, national parks and park partners are offering programs as part of National Park Week festivities. On Saturday, April 16, many parks will be looking for volunteers to help with projects and on Saturday, April 23, kids will be the special guests for the fifth annual Junior Ranger Day. Find more details at www.nps.gov/npweek.
Additional fee-free days scheduled for 2011 are June 21 (the first day of summer), September 24 (National Public Lands Day), and November 11–13 (Veterans Day Weekend).
Plan your National Park visit at www.nps.gov.