Still searching for a way to celebrate National Park Week later this month? Here's a checklist, courtesy of the National Park Service, of things to do around the country.
April 20, 2010 -
Parkman Mountain Parking Area
Join a park ranger on Tuesday, April 20, at 9 a.m. for a 2 1/2 hour, moderate walk on one of Acadia`s historic carriage roads. Follow a tree-lined road to beautiful stone bridges. Meet at Parkman Mountain parking area on Route 3/198, north of Northest Harbor.
Fees: Free
April 24
Sieur de Monts Nature Center
The park`s National Junior Ranger Day celebration, co-sponsored by Friends of Acadia and Acadia Wild Gardens, will take place on Saturday, April 24, from 12:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. Hands-on activities will guide exploration of animals, plants, and history for children 12 and under as they discover how to protect the park.
Fees: Free
Amistad National Recreation Area
April 24, 2010 - 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM
Diablo East
Children will work towards becoming a Junior Ranger. They will be given a booklet which includes questions, drawings, puzzles, etc. We will check the booklets after they complete them, sign off and your child will receive their Junior Ranger badge, patch and certificate.
Activities:
* Guided Nature Hike on Diablo East nature trail
* Water safety talk
* Archeology activity (replica artifacts)
* Backyard bass casting activity
* Compass orienteering
Fees: Free
Arkansas Post National Memorial
April 24 - 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM
Join us at the National Park Visitor Center from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. for a special presentation of films from many of the six National Park Sites in Arknasas. A short Q & A will accompany each film. There is no registration required.
Fees: Free
April 24 - 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Sundew Trail: Celebrate Junior Ranger Day in the Big Thicket by joining a ranger for a hike and activities along the Sundew Trail. This trail makes an easy 1-mile loop through a longleaf pine forest interspersed with bogs of insect-eating plants. Kids will have the opportunity to make their own insect-eating pitcher plants to take home.
Fees: Free
Booker T. Washington National Monument
April 25 - 2:00 p.m.
Visitor Center: Learn about the history of Booker T. Washington National Monument as this National Park celebrates National Park Week.
Fees: free
Boston National Historical Park
April 18 - 7:00 p.m.
Charlestown Navy Yard Visitor Center: Boston National Historical Park will sponsor a dramatic recreation of Paul Revere's historic row across Boston Harbor to Charlestown where he began his famous midnight ride 235 years ago. The event will coincide with the annual Old North Church lantern service festivities on Sunday April 18, 2010 and take place during National Park Week. The family-friendly festivities begin at 7 o’clock at the Charlestown Navy Yard Visitor Center in Building 5 of the Charlestown Navy Yard with original dramatic performances and fife and drum music provided by costumed players. There will also be a lively reading of poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow`s Paul Revere`s Ride , written 150 years ago. The event is free, open to the public, and handicapped accessible. For further information please call (617) 242-5601
Fees: Free
Cane River Creole National Historical Park
April 17 - 8:30 a.m. to noon
Oakland Plantation: Join Park Rangers and the Natchitoches Parish Sherrif Office Community Service Division for a clean-up day at Oakland Plantation.
Fees: Free
April 22 - 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Oakland Plantation: Join Park Rangers and assist with planting our demonstration garden. The garden is a representation of the vegetables and crops that historically would have been grown at Oakland Plantation.
Fees: Free
Canyon de Chelly National Monument
National Park Week: Join us to celebrate National Park Week from April 17 to 25. Entrance fees at all NPS units will be waived during this time to provide a wonderful opportunity for all Americans to visit a park.
Canyon de Chelly National Monument will offer free Rock Art hikes during these days from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. for the first 15 visitors to sign up at the Visitor Center. Be prepared to walk through sand, mud and even water.
Fees: Free event
April 24 - 10:00 a.m. to noon, 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Junior Ranger Day: Earn a junior ranger patch and certificate when you join the two-hour Nature Walk on Saturday, April 24. Nature Walk will be offered twice at 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. for the first 20 kids ages 6-12.
Walk will begin at the Tunnel Overlook and descend down about 200 feet on uneven rocky trail. Wear comfortable shoes, dress warmly and bring drinking water.
Fees: Free event
Carlsbad Caverns National Park
April 24 - 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Begin by collecting pledges that will be used to sponsor a classroom fieldtrip or help update the 8th street park. On April 24th, bring your pledges and register at the back of the NMSU-C parking lot. Then begin your walk up the Ocotillo trail to the Living Desert State Park. There will be activities, refreshments, and awards given out at the Living Desert. We look forward to seeing you there!
Carter G. Woodson Home National Historic Site
April 24 - 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Mary McLeod Bethune Council House National Historic Site
Join the Mary McLeod Bethune Council House NHS and Carter G. Woodson NHS in celebrating National Park Week and Junior Ranger Day with a day of fun, child oriented, activities.
The Mary McLeod Bethune Council House NHS will be showing segments from Ken Burn`s film National Parks: America`s Best Idea. There will be opportunities for kids to earn Junior Ranger badges after watching the "Yosemite`s Buffalo Soldiers" segment, as well as listening to a ranger talk about Mary McLeod Bethune.
Casa Grande Ruins National Historic Monument
National Park Week - 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Two special family friendly Junior Ranger programs will be held on National Junior Ranger Day, Saturday, April 24, at 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. Participants will earn both a Junior Ranger badge and an embroidered patch. Children who participate in either Junior Ranger programs on that day may also enter a drawing for a set of Junior Ranger hiking gear that includes a hand carved walking stick with a Casa Grande Ruins medallion and a Junior Ranger backpack, water bottle, and safety tool. In addition, a separate drawing for hiking gear will be held for all children who participate in Casa Grande Ruins’ Junior Ranger Program activities and earn badges from April 17-25.
Charles Pinckney National Historic Site
April 23, April 24 -- 10 a.m. -- 2 p.m.
Outdoors or Visitor Center: Celebrate National Park Week with two days of Lowcountry living history. Charles Pinckney National Historic Site presents "Colonial Days" from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, April 23 and 24, 2010. Watch craftsmen in period dress demonstrate rice-pounding, indigo-dyeing, iron-smithing and brick masonry. Visitors can participate in a game of historic cricket. Also included are Revolutionary War soldiers, 18th century music, sweet-grass basket sewing, quilting, African drumming, Gullah story-telling and dramatic presentations on Eliza Lucas Pinckney and Charles Pinckney. All programs are free and the park charges no admission. Large groups should call (843) 881-5516 for reservations.
Charles Pinckney National Historic Site preserves a 28-acre remnant of Snee Farm, the Lowcountry plantation of Charles Pinckney, a founding father and framer of the United States Constitution. Located at 1254 Long Point Road in Mount Pleasant, the park is open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. except for Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year`s Days. For more information, call (843) 881-5516.
Chattahootchee River National Recreation Area
April 24 - 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Palisades - Paces Mill: Hey kids, join in the fun! Learn about:
* Water Safety
* Tiny Water Critters
* Fighting Wildland Fires
Help close out National Park Week by attending our First Annual Junior Ranger Day! Bring your completed Junior Ranger booklet to the celebration and take home your official Junior Ranger Badge and Certificate.
April 24 - 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Riverbend Park, Palisade, Colorado: This free event is designed to introduce kids and their families to all of the great outdoor opportunities that Mesa County has to offer, and to provide them with the information they need to pursue those activities on their own. There are a variety of outdoor activities that youth can participate in including nature hikes, rock climbing, fishing, archery, and much more. 700 plus youth and families are expected to attend.
Fees: Free
April 24 - 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Lower Monument Canyon Trailhead: Travel to the monument's well known icon, 450-foot tall Independence Monument, with park ranger geologist Don Regan. On this moderate 4.5 mile round-trip hike, Regan will point out geological features, regale you with stories of the legendary John Otto, and watch for wildlife. Dress for the weather, wear sturdy walking shoes, bring water, sunscreen, sunglasses, a sun protection hat, and a snack. Hike will take approximately 2.5 hours and is not recommended for children under age 12.
Meet at the Lower Monument Canyon Trailhead along HWY 340 (Broadway).
Fees: Free
April 25 - 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Saddlehorn Visitor Center: Kids of all ages! Sharpen your wildlife viewing skills and become a wildlife detective! Learn basic wildlife sighting skills by using binoculars, spotting scopes, and a trained eye to scavenger hunt for wild things. Create a special critter craft to take home. Meet at the Saddlehorn Visitor Center.
Fees: Free
April 20 -- 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Weston Lake Overlook: Rendezvous with a ranger at the Cedar Creek Canoe Access. The ranger may have exciting things to show you and youll have the opportunity to ask the expert questions!
Fees: Free
April 21 - 10:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Scruggs Cabin: The Chesnee Children’s Librarian and a park ranger will read colonial stories, and the children will make sachets to take home.
Fees: Free
April 25 - 1:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Scruggs Cabin: Mark Anthony, a member of the Sons of the American Revolution, will present the “History of the American Revolution as Told by its Flags.”
Fees: Free
Cumberland Gap National Historical Park
National Park Week -- 2 p.m. daily
Meet at the Daniel Boone Parking Area: Join park rangers in exploring Gap Cave, a majestic, underground cathedral. With flashlights in hand, discover glistening stalagmites and sparkling stalactites or catch a glimpse of a bat. Listen to tales of exploration and discovery. This adventure in the underground takes approximately two hours.
This tour involves a 1.5 mile walk and involves 183 steps that must be negotiated within the cave. For the safety reasons no children under the age of 5 are permitted on the cave tour. Comfortable walking shoes and appropriate clothing is a must.
Reservations are recommended and can be made up to one month in advance by calling 9606)248-2817.
Fees: $8.00 for adults, $4.00 for Seniors with a Senior Pass, $4.00 for children under 12
April 24 - 10:00 a.m.
Wilderness Road Campground Amphitheater: Nature once again spreads a rainbow of color throughout the mountains. The vibrant orange of the azaleas, the deep purple of the violet and the pearly luster of bloodroot are but a few of the mountain jewels on display. Walk with a ranger along the trail and enjoy nature`s beauty pageant.
Fees: Free
April 24 - 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Ledges Shelter: In honor of Junior Rangers across the nation, we are celebrating with a day of free programming. Enjoy cake, ice cream, and lots of fun activities with park rangers. Don`t have a badge yet? Earn one today by attending a program and/or completing your Junior Ranger handbook or Junior Ranger, Jr. activity cards. Growing Up Feathered and After the Chores are offered from 10 a.m. - noon. (See April 24 Schedule of Events for descriptions of these programs.) If you`ve earned badges from other parks, wear them, too. Prizes will be awarded for the most badges and patches, the youngest and oldest Junior Rangers, and more! Ledges Shelter, 12:30 - 2:30 p.m. The swearing-in ceremony is at 1 p.m. To register call (800) 642-3297 ext. 100.
Fees: Free
April 24 - 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Columbia Run Picnic Area: Explore the lesser-seen side of CVNP on these rambling walks off the beaten path. Dress for the weather, wear sturdy waterproof shoes, and bring drinking water. Explore parts of the Columbia Run watershed as we ramble on and off the beaten path in this 3.5-mile strenuous hike. Columbia Run Picnic Area, 9 - 11 a.m.
Fees: Free
Devils Tower National Monument
April 24
Join Devils Tower Rangers for special kids walks on the Tower Trail and a kids hike on the Red Beds Trail.
Tower Trail walks at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Walk lasts about 1 1/2 hours on a paved trail.
Red Beds Trail Hike is at noon. The hike is 2.8 miles on an unpaved trail and will last 2-2 1/2 Hours. This hike is not recommended for very young children. Good hiking shoes or boots and water are required-hats and sunscreen are strongly recommended.
Fees: Free
April 24 -- 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Kids ages 8 and up can participate in three distinct ranger-guided programs: Discovering the Ocean; Nature Photography: Learning the Basics; and Animal Tracking. Throughout the day, park staff will demonstrate how to take saltwater fish surveys and help kids learn more about the Great South Bay.
Children can also make their own arts & crafts, and work on one ore more of Fire Island National Seashore`s four Junior Ranger Activity Booklets: Getting to Know Fire Island National Seashore, Fire Island Advanced Junior Ranger, Oh, Deer: Tracks to Facts, and Bernie the Boater.
Sagamore Hill National Historic Site staff is also available to share their junior ranger activity booklets with children.
By participating in this event on April 24, participants also earn a special National Junior Ranger Day patch.
There's no food service at the Fire Island Lighthouse, so pack your own snacks or lunch. Dress for the weather (event is rain or shine). Parking is available at Robert Moses State Park Field 5 (fee charged), with a 3/4 mile stroll down the boardwalk to the tent.
Fees: Free program
April 20 -- 9:00 a.m.
National parks protect valuable habitat for a variety of plants and animals, including birds. How many species of birds can you find on Fire Island? Meet at the northeastern end of Field #5 at Robert Moses State Park for a naturalist-guided bird walk, conducted by Larry Merryman of the Great South Bay Audubon Society. Learn about the migratory and resident avian species that rely on the seasonal rhythms of a barrier island, and can be seen at Fire Island National Seashore.
Fees: Free
April 17 -- 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.
Fire Island Lighthouse: Join us for a guided 2½-mile walk around the grounds of the historic Fire Island Light Station, and beyond. Visit the site of the former Surf Hotel (later the site of Fire Island State Park, New York`s first state park) and the site of a Western Union observation tower. Dress for the weather! Meet at the eastern end of Field 5 in Robert Moses State Park. (Fee for parking after 8:00 a.m.)
Program fee includes tee shirt, souvenir mug and light refreshments. Reservations required.
Fees: $15/person
Contact:
Fire Island Lighthouse Preservation Society
631-661-4876Fort Donelson National Battlefield
National Park Week -- 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Civil War artillery talks and ranger programs will highlight the week-long events National Park Week celebrates our natural landscapes and our diverse national heritage. Parks can provide recreational experiences, opportunities to learn and grow, and places of quiet refuge. For specific programs, check www.nps.gov/fodo or contact the ranger staff at 931-232-5706 x 101.
Fees: Free
April 22 -- 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Fort Dupont Activity Center: Are you interested in a career with the National Park Service? Come to our Career Day fair at Fort Dupont Park and talk with employees of local National Park units, ranging from park rangers, law enforcement and visitor protection, maintenance, cultural and natural resource managers, biologists, historians, geologists, archaeologists, engineers, informational technology specialists, financial analysts, administrators, and many others. We will also have representatives from some local universities, as well. Find out about the various youth intake programs and other programs offered by our park partners. The focus is on middle school through high school students. College students and career-changers are welcome to attend.
April 24 -- 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Fort Mahan: Continue the spirit of Earth Day. Come help the park service and associated partners by planting trees on park land, or help with the cleanup in the local community to restore the natural beauty of this area.
Contact:
Dennis Chestnut
202-426-7723
[email protected]Fort Necessity National Battlefield
April 24 -- 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Interpretive and Education Center: The National Park Service invites youth ages 6-12 to explore Fort Necessity during the National Junior Ranger Day. Fort Necessity`s Junior Ranger program guides children age on their explorations of history at Fort Necessity, complementing the exhibits in the Fort Necessity/National Road Interpretive and Education Center.
Children completing the program on Jr. Ranger day will receive a National Park Service Jr. Ranger patch. They will also earn a Fort Necessity Jr. Ranger certificate which will allow them to purchase the Fort Necessity Jr. Ranger patch. Youth groups are encouraged to participate. Please call for group reservations.
Fees: No charge
Friendship Hill National Historic Site
April 24 - 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Historic Gallatin House: The newly published Junior Ranger Adventure book will be unveiled at Friendship Hill National Historic Site during the National Park Service`s third annual National Junior Ranger Day. The booklet's puzzles, games, and activities guide children age 6-12 on their explorations of Friendship Hill, helping them learn about Albert Gallatin's contribution to our nation in a fun and engaging way.
The booklet and participation in the program is free. Children completing the program on Jr. Ranger day will receive a National Park Service Junior Ranger patch. They will also earn a Friendship Hill Junior Ranger patch and certificate which allow them to purchase the Friendship Hill Junior Ranger patch.
Youth groups are welcome to participate. Young children will receive National Junior Ranger coloring books.
Fees: Free.
Gateway National Recreation Area
April 17 - 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge: Kick off National Park Week by taking a walk with a park ranger along the East Pond Trail. Discover what makes this National Park special. Bring binoculars.
Fees: Free
April 17 - 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Jacob Riis Park Beach 169th Street: Join us as we unveil David Ostro's sculpture of Jacob Riis, which will replace the sculpture that has been missing since 1964.
Fees: Free
Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve
April 17 - 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Gustavus Public Library: Hey Kids! Celebrate National Park Day and learn about Glacier Bay`s bears. Will they be walking through YOUR yard? Are YOU bear aware? All ages welcome!
* Learn about black and brown bears
* Tips to stay safe
* Touch a bear skull and feel their fur
* Create your own stuffed bear to take home.Fees: Free
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area
April 24 - 1:00 p.m.to 4:00 p.m.
Carl Hayden Visitor Center: The Glen Canyon National Recreation Area invites the public to help celebrate National Park Service’s Junior Ranger Day on Saturday, April 24, 2010. Please join the National Park interpretive staff at the Carl Hayden Visitor Center on Saturday April 24, 2010 from 1:00PM to 4:00PM. Junior Rangers will be able to earn a Junior Ranger Badge and special Junior Ranger Day Certificate by completing a free Junior Ranger Booklet and participating in a fun and creative activity. Junior Rangers will explore the world of ancient Native American symbols, historical inscriptions, and learn how they can “Explore, Learn, and Protect” the remarkable natural and cultural features of Glen Canyon and all our National Parks.
Fees: Free
Golden Gate National Recreation Area
April 17
Crissy Field Center: Join us for an Earth Day celebration for a healthy planet—and a healthy you. Bring the whole family for a fun, interactive adventure at the many activitiy stations around East Beach and Crissy Field. Guided by your very own Eco-Passport, play eco-games, visit with live animals, and engage in fun activities that are designed to help you connect with this little corner of our planet.
All ages. $5 per family of five. Free
Let's Go Chipper: Let's Stroll to Crissy Field story for the first 500 children ages 6 and under registering online at www.nps.gov/goga
Fees: $5 per family of five.
Great Smokey Mountains National Park
April 24 -- 6:00 AM
Cades Cove Loop Road: Great Smoky Mountains National Park is organizing a Cades Cove Field Day during which time visitors can enjoy the popular 11-mile-long Loop Road on foot, by bike or by stroller from dawn until 12 noon. Motor vehicles will be allowed on the road beginning at noon. The road, which typically hosts over 1.5 million visitors annually, has been closed since March 1 for its first reconstruction since 1978.
On Sunday, April 25 the Park and the Friends of the Smokies are organizing a one-time-only Cades Cove Loop Lope road race. The park expects interest to be very high because no such event has been held previously inside the Smokies. While the Smokies has fielded numerous requests to allow road races under Special Use Permits, managers have never permitted them, because of the high level of public use of that area and the expectation that the requests would be frequent once they allowed them. This event is a park-sponsored activity being conducted in recognition of the Road`s major facelift. Pre-registration for the race is required. The starting area has limited parking, so participants will be required to form carpools. Pre-register on-line at: www.FriendsoftheSmokies.org/events.html for the 8:00 a.m. event. The Cades Cove Loop Road will open to vehicular traffic at noon both days.
Herbert Hoover National Historic Site
April 17 -- 8:30 a.m. to noon
Visitor Center: Herbert Hoover National Historic Site will kick off National Park Week with a spring restoration project in the 81-acre tallgrass prairie. Volunteers are needed to help remove weeds from a recent planting of native prairie grasses and flowers.
Fees: Free
Homestead National Monument of America
National Park Week
On Saturday, April 17 from 10 to 11:30 at the Education Center join in an outdoor excursion "Spring Nature Detectives" to look for signs of spring. Find animals that are once again active at the monument and learn valuable investigative tools, too! Put your knowledge to the test during an outdoor hike; what changes can you find?
On Sunday, April 18 at 2 p.m. at the Education Center join a program designed to explore what homesteaders did when they first arrived. Learn what the prairie was like, how homesteaders built homes, what food they ate, what they did for fun and much more!
Show your support for your National Park on Saturday, April 24 from 9-3 by participating in the "Homestead Prairie Walk: A March for Parks" event. Walk a little or walk a lot. Just register at the Education Center. Join the efforts of Planned Approach to Community Health (PATCH) volunteers as they try to log enough hours to walk to and from Nicodemus National Historic Site. At 3 p.m. Nicodemus National Historic Site Superintendent Mark Weaver will address the group.
Fitness is so important today. Half as many kids get outside as they did 10 years ago, 60 percent of Americans do not get the recommended amount of exercise, and one-third of adults are not physically active at all. "Exploring the tallgrass prairie and the woodlands through the trails at Homestead National Monument of America is a great way to have fun and get fit at the same time." States Superintendent Mark Engler.
Homestead National Monument of America is located 4 miles west of Beatrice on Nebraska Highway 4. Hours of operation are from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. For more information, visit our website at www.nps.gov/home or call Homestead National Monument of America at 402-223-3514. Admission is always free of charge.
Fees: Free
April 21 - 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Arlington Lawn: At 10:30 a.m. join Ms. Tiffany of the Garland County Library as she shares stories, songs, and rhymes about bugs of all kinds. Meet Sugar, her friendly tarantula puppet, and learn the song, "There`s a Spider on the Floor."
After a snack, join Ranger Mac for a short hike along the Grand Promenade at 11 a.m.
Fees: Free
April 18 - 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Arlington Lawn: Meet at Arlington Lawn for this 1.5 mile hike on Hot Springs Mountain Trails. Elevation difference on hike is 400 feet.
Hikes are expected to last between 1 and 3 hours. Participants should wear sturdy walking shoes or hiking boots. It is also recommended that participants carry a container of drinking water and consider using insect repellent. A new season brings new sights and sounds. Join us for a little exercise in the beautiful park environment. Children are invited, too, and can earn a park Junior Ranger patch for participating. Contact the park two weeks prior to this event if you would like American Sign Language interpretation.
Fees: Free
Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore
April 24 - 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Paul H. Douglas Center: In celebration of National Park Week and Earth Day, join in the family fun while learning about the natural resources of the national lakeshore and the City of Gary. Kids can earn a special Junior Ranger button, too.
Fees: Free
Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve
April 25 - 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Barataria Preserve, Marrero: Paddle through moonlit waterways with a park ranger as frogs call, coyotes howl, and alligator watch from bayou banks. Free but reservations required; call the preserve visitor center at 504-689-3690 ext. 10 for reservations and canoe rental information. The Barataria Preserve is located at 6588 Barataria Blvd. in Marrero near Crown Point.
Fees: Free
April 24 - 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Acadian Cultural Center, Lafayette: Explore the Acadian Cultural Center with a scavenger hunt and earn a Junior Ranger badge and certificate. The center is located at 501 Fisher Road in Lafayette.
Fees: Free
April 24 - 10:00 a.m. to noon
Wetlands Acadian Cultural Center, Thibodaux: Junior Rangers can earn a badge and certificate and discover Louisiana`s wetlands with special hands-on activities at the Wetlands Acadian Cultural Center. The Sugar Cane Leage, the Martha Sowell Utley Memorial Library, and Nicholls State University will join the fun with stories, water hyacinth dissections, and more! The center is located at 314 Saint Mary Street in Thibodaux.
Fees: Free
John F. Kennedy National Historic Site
April 24 - 1:00 p.m. to 3:15 p.m.
Great leaders are not born as such, they are made. John Fitzgerald Kennedy National Historic Site invites you to explore the formative years of America's 35th president through an interactive walking tour of his birthplace and boyhood neighborhood. Program highlights include stops at Coolidge Corner, JFK's first school, a tour of JFK's birthplace and a stop at the Kennedy family's second Brookline home. Using historic photographs and Kennedy family stories, Park Rangers will guide visitor discovery of the landscape, challenges and triumphs that defined JFK's childhood. Walking tour covers approximately (1) mile of flat, paved sidewalks.
Fees: Free
Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park
April 18 - 9:30 a.m. to noon.
Kaloko Fishpond: Tongan-born Sopolemamalma Filipe Tohi of Aotearoa (New Zealand), the world-renowed artist known for his mastery of the ancient Tongan art of lalava and his interpretations of that art form, is firmly established as one of the leading contemporary Pacific visual artists. Working across a range of media, including stone, wood, steel and digital imagery, he seeks to expand upon and delve deeper into the mysteries of the art of lalava. His work transforms this technology of the past into modern representations of identity and experience.
Tohi has dedicated the last twenty years of his life to studying the intricate, complex design patterns of these lashings, which create a cultural language hidden within the layers upon layers of black and brown coconut sennit wrapped around the beams of fales and sailing canoes. Lalava was our computer, he says. Knowledge about astronomy and navigation, mathematics and physics, the environment and history is all recorded here, within the patterns of the lalava.
Tohi demonstrates how these geometric patterns, formed by the layers of wrapped coconut sennit, were a well-established part of daily life, and he describes how the lalava patterns were a mnemonic device for representing a life philosophy. Lalava patterns, says Tohi, advocated balance in daily living and were metaphorical and physical ties to cultural knowledge.
April 18, April 19 - 9:00 a.m. to noon
Visitor Center Parking Lot Area: To celebrate National Park Week, Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park and Amy Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden will be hosting two plant dye workshops with Bernice Akamine.
On Sunday, April 18th, the workshop will be at Amy Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden in Captain Cook from 9 a.m.-noon. The main focus will be on native plant dyes as well as instruction in the use of invasive species for dye making. The workshop will include a walk around the garden to identify native plants used traditionally for dye making. This is a hands-on class, be prepared to work and get dirty while having fun!
The second day of the workshop will be on Monday, April 19th at the Kaloko-Honokohau National Park Historical Park visitor center from 9 a.m.-noon. Dyes will be made using native plants and a couple of ochres (colors from rock) found on the island-- red, yellow and grey. There may be an afternoon excursion mauka to identify sites of the invasive blackberry, which makes a beautiful deep pink dye, similar to the native akala.
The workshop is free and all supplies will be provided. The class size is limited to 15 participants each day. You may sign up for one or both of the days. Please call Jon Jokiel at (808)329-6881 ext.1329 to reserve your spot.
April 22 -- 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
AVTEC Auditorium: The Far North Conservation Film Festival presents a diverse group of outstanding films about the conservation and sustainability of wildlife, wild places, and cultures around the world.
On April 22nd, the public is cordially invited to attend the National Park Week showing of the Far North Conservation Film Festival featuring three hours of films about conservation. This event will take place in Seward`s AVTEC auditorium and is co-sponsored by Resurrection Bay Conservation Alliance. Times to be announced.
Fees: Free
April 17-18, April 24-25 - 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Kohm Yah-mah-nee Visitor Center: In celebration of National Park Week the $10 entrance fee is waived and snowshoes are available for the walk free of charge. The Kohm Yah-mah-nee Visitor Center is located near the Southwest Entrance of the park near the intersection of State Highways 36 and 89, 8 miles northeast of Mineral.
Fees: Free
Contact: Kohm Yah-mah-nee Visitor Center
530-595-4480Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail
April 23 - 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail Interpretive Center, Great Falls, Montana: Come and learn more about Earth’s closest stellar neighbor and view the sun with special telescopic equipment. Indoor projects and activities for children and special presentations in the theater. Outside experience star-gazing and view the sun with large telescopes set up for public viewing with interesting explanations of the features being viewed. Free hot chocolate, coffee, and cookies. 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Fees: Free
Lowell National Historical Park
April 18 - 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
220 Aiken Street: Lowell Community Gardens Greenhouse has family hands-on fun from noon until 4pm. You can tour the green house, participate in educational workshops, create arts and crafts from the earth. You can also find out about improving our environment through community gardening, organic agriculture, recycling, composting and more.
Fees: Free
April 17 - 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Wildflower Day 2010 offers several guided walks, talks and special programs that celebrate the wildflowers, wildlife and human history of Mammoth Cave National Park.
Mammoth Cave National Park is a beautiful place, below and above ground. The cave itself gets most of our attention through the year, but in the spring we raise our sights above ground. The park's rugged ridges and valleys are home to a host of plants and animals just waiting for you to enjoy.
National Park Week At Mammoth Cave
Mammoth Passage cave tours will be offered free of charge during National Park Week, April 17-25, 2010. Visitors must pick up their free tickets at the visitor center ticket office prior to tour times. The tours will depart from the visitor center at 9:00, 10:00, 11:00, 12:15, 1:15, 2:45, and 4:30. The Mammoth Passage tour is limited to 40 per tour.
The 3/4-mile, 1-hour Mammoth Passage tour enters the cave at the Historic Entrance and follows a route along Houchins Narrows, the Rotunda, the nitre mining artifacts, Audubon Avenue, and Rafinesque Hall. These are some of the mammoth passages for which the cave was named.
Fees: Free
Manzanar National Historic Site
April 24 - 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
The Manzanar Committee`s 41st annual Pilgrimage begins at noon Saturday at the Manzanar Cemetery. The Pilgrimage includes guest speakers, an interfaith memorial service, and taiko drumming. The afternoon program concludes with the traditional interfaith service and Ondo dancing. Program details will be posted on the Manzanar Committee`s website at www.manzanarcommittee.org.
The "Manzanar At Dusk" (MAD) program begins at 5:00 p.m. at Lone Pine High School located at 538 South Main Street (Hwy. 395) in Lone Pine. Participants will have the opportunity to interact with former internees and each other. The MAD program is sponsored by the Manzanar Committee, Friends of Manzanar, the Paul I. and Hisako Terasaki Community Outreach Program Fund and Lone Pine High School.
Fees: Free
Mary McLeod Bethune Council House National Historic Site
April 22 -- 7:00 p.m.
DC Historical Society: The Historical Society of Washington, D.C., and the Mary McLeod Bethune Council House National Historic Site, will hold a discussion on the struggle of Black women entitled: "Lifting the Double Burden: A Critical Review of Race and Gender: A Conversation on the Struggle of Black Women." This event will be held at The Historical Society of DC, located at 801 K St. NW.
Fees: Free
Minute Man National Historical Park
April 22, April 24 -- 2:00 p.m.--noon
Concord Train Station, 90 Thoreau St. Concord, Massachusetts: Did you know that there are 12 National Parks in the greater Boston area that can be reached via the MBTA? Between April 12 - 25, 2010 these sites are offering special programs that start at the train station or trolley stop with a ranger to guide you to each one. Discord in Concord is one of the special tours offered in conjunction with this program. This walking tour will compare and contrast how the residents of Concord, Massachusetts chose to defy the laws of the land on April 19, 1775 and through their participation in the Underground Railroad after the Revolution. For more programs and locations, visit www.nps.gov/t2nps.htm
Fees: Free
April 17 - 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
North Bridge, Concord, and Hartwell Tavern/Captain William Smith House, Lincoln
Minute Man National Historical Park, in partnership with hundreds of Colonial and British reenactors, celebrate the openning battle of the American Revolution with a day full of exciting living history activities.
At Hartwell Tavern, Lincoln, open 9:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m., you will have the chance to talk with reenactors and park rangers, see a historic home and tavern that stood witness to the events of April, 19, 1775, and enjoy a variety of 18th century activities including drill and musket demonstrations, 18th century artillery demonstrations, crafts, games and more! The Captain William Smith House (British Headquarters) will also be open from 9:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
The day`s events also feature two key military engagements:
Commemoration of the North Bridge Fight
North Bridge, Concord
8:30 a.m.
British and Colonial reenactors stage a battle demonstration of the fateful North Bridge Fight, April 19, 1775, when the shot heard round the world was fired.Parking for North Bridge events is on Monument St. NPS staff will direct you.
Bloody Angle Battle Demonstration
Hartwell Tavern, Lincoln
12:30 p.m.
Bloody Angle Tactical Demonstration features hundreds of British and Colonial Reenactors encamped at the Hartwell Tavern and Captain William Smith house. They will stage a running tactical weapons demonstration along a half-mile of the original Battle Road.Hartwell Tavern is located on Rt 2A in Lincoln. NPS staff will direct you to parking.
Fees: Free
Montezuma Castle National Monument
April 24 - 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
For Junior Ranger Day 2010, Montezuma Castle National Monument will be conducting a special Junior Ranger Detective Program. Children will earn their Junior Ranger badge by learning about the animals that inhabit the environment surrounding Montezuma Castle. Junior Rangers will be introduced to common animal tracks and signs to prepare them for their own landscape investigation. By observing a scene constructed by Park Rangers, the Junior Rangers will investigate tracks and other clues in order to figure out what happened at the scene and who was involved in the crime. This activity will encourage children to use their observational skills and creative thinking to engage with their natural environment and the resources within the park
Morristown National Historical Park
April 17, April 18 - 10:00 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The 2nd annual Revolutionary Times Weekend offers a variety of activities throughout the park and nearby towns that celebrate the area`s important contributions to the American Revolution. Highlights include an encampment at Jockey Hollow on Saturday & Sunday, April 17 and 18. Co-sponsored with the Crossroads of the American Revolution Association and the Washington Association of New Jersey.
Please visit: www.morristourism.org
April 17 -- 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Various Coastal Areas
Bring your friends and family as we clean the Pacific Coast beaches from the Makah Reservation all the way south to Cape Disappointment State Park and the Columbia River. Volunteers can learn more by checking out our partner website, www.coastsavers.org.
Entrance, camping, and wilderness use fees will be waived for volunteers in our NPS coastal areas during this volunteer event. Volunteers must register in at a designated check in location to get bags, information, and supplies. Appreciation lunches are held in the afternoon at registration areas.
Fees: Free
April 18 - 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Petroglyph National Monument Visitor Center: Chautauqua speaker Jack Loeffler will address the life of his late best friend and environmental anarchist Edward Abbey. Together, Abbey and Loeffler ranged the American Southwest engaged in a conversation that lasted for decades. Loeffler recalls some adventures and speaks of the complex points of view that led Abbey to launch the radical environmental movement.
This lecture will take place in the visitor center conference room. Seating is limited to 25. First-come, first-seated. This presentation is made possible through the New Mexico Humanities Council and the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs.
Fees: Free
April 24 - 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Join thousands of kids across the country and celebrate National Junior Ranger Day. Petroglyph is one of 392 National Parks nationwide that is sponsoring special events and activities just for kids & families. So pack lunch, bring the kids and grandma & grandpa too, for a day of fun and excitement.
10:00 a.m. -The Wild Spirit Wolf Sanctuary presentation with a live wolf
11:30 a.m. -Archaeology Detectives: presented by the Maxwell Museum of Anthroplogy
1:00 p.m. -The Wild Spirit Wolf Sanctuary presentation with a live wolf
2:00 p.m. -Shell necklace stringing and hands-on experience with the ancient tools of the Ancestral Puebloans, such as the pump-drill and the fire bow.
All participating children will receive Junior Ranger awards. No reservations required and all the events are free and open to the public.
Fees: Free
Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
April 24 - 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Miners Castle: To celebrate National Park Week, please join National Park Service Ranger David Kronk for guided hike from Miners Castle to Miners Beach and back on Saturday, April 24. Meet at Miners Castle at 9 a.m. to begin this two hour program as Ranger Kronk interprets the geology and natural history along the way.
Fees: Free
April 22 - 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Estero Trailhead
Join us for a six-mile round trip hike to see one of the largest harbor seal colonies in Point Reyes National Seashore. The hike will be along the Estero Trail. The trail may be muddy, so be prepared with appropriate footwear. Bring a lunch, drinking water, and sun and/or rain protection. Bring cameras, binoculars, and spotting scopes, if you have them.
RSVP to Sarah Codde at 415-464-5210 or by email.
Fees: Free
April 24 - 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Bear Valley Visitor Center: Join us to protect and restore endangered plant and wildlife habitat at a 300-acre restoration site south of Abbott`s Lagoon. Come see spring wildflowers in the dunes and learn about local plant ecology while you work alongside park staff to restore additional habitat for native and rare species.
Meet at the Bear Valley Visitor Center at 9 a.m. We encourage volunteers of all backgrounds, ages and experience levels. Tools, gloves and training are provided. Participants are advised to wear long pants, sturdy shoes and other seasonally appropriate clothing, as well as bring lunch and water. Get involved, meet new people, and make a positive impact on your environment!
Please contact Sarah Minnick at 415-464-5226 or by email to RSVP and for more information.
April 24 - 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Pine Grove Picnic Area: Celebrate responsible pet ownership and have a ball with your four legged friends at Paws in the Park! Enjoy working dog demonstrations, information booths, rescue groups, a "faux" dog show, and activities for the kids. On this day only, four legged visitors can romp in our designated off leash area. Bring your canine companions and take part in training workshops and listen to guest speakers in this 15,000 acre oasis.
Fees: Free
Puukohola Heiau National Historic Site
National Park Week - 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Visitor Center: Celebrate National Park Week by taking a "Wikiwiki Walking Tour"! Join park rangers for exciting walks where you`ll learn about the amazing people, places and stories of Pu`ukohola Heiau, all while getting out into the "Great Outdoors"!
Rainbow Bridge National Monument
April 17 - 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Carl Hayden Visitor Center: Ramson Lomatewama is an acclaimed poet from Hotevilla. He will be sharing some of his poetry along with some insights into Hopi life and culture.
Ramson Lomatewama was born in 1953 in Victorville, California but grew up in Flagstaff, Arizona and attended Northern Arizona University. He writes poetry about the Hopi Indians, and has guided educational hikes into the Grand Canyon discussing its significance for the Hopi people and illuminating Hopi history and philosophy. He is also an Artist on the Road with the Heard Museum in Phoenix, Arizona.
Fees: Free
April 23 - 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Carl Hayden Visitor Center: The Antiquities Act of 1906 authorizes the President of the United States "to declare by public proclamation, historic landmarks, historic and prehistoric structures, and other objects of historic or scientific interest that are situated upon [federal] lands . . . to be national monuments . . . " The law was passed during the Theodore Roosevelt administration, and Roosevelt quickly set about designating a wide range of lands and resources as national monuments, including notably, the 800,000 acre Grand Canyon National Monument. This presentation will trace the history of the Antiquities Act and its remarkable legacy. It will describe the many special places that have received protection under the law, and the many controversies that the law has sparked. It will also highlight some of the more significant legal and policy issues raised by the law and its evolution as a conservation management tool.
Mark Squillace is a professor at the University of Colorado Law School, where he teaches environmental, water, and advanced natural resources law; he is also the Director of the Natural Resources Law Center.
Fees: Free
Richmond National Battlefield Park
April 17 - 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Tredegar Iron Works: Learn what life was like during the Civil War. Union, Confederate and civilian re-enactors will present talks, drills and demonstrations. Musical groups, kids programs, as well as artillery and rifle firing demonstrations.
Fees: Free
April 22 - 9:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Rock Creek Park Horse Center: Join a park volunteer for cowboy coffee, 9:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. at the Rock Creek Horse Center then turn-out to clear the trails of those varmint weeds! Volunteers will form a posse to remove invasive plants and litter from our equestrian trails. A Barn Tour follows at 11:00am. Learn how a horse reduces stress by an Equestrian Therapist at 11:30am. What does it mean to “Eat like a Horse”? Take a look at a healthy diet for horses at 12:00 noon.
April 22 11:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Nature Center: Rock Creek Park will help you celebrate this day by offering three guided hides during the day led by park rangers. Contact the Nature Center for locations and times (202) 895-6070. Hikes may vary depending on interest and ability of participants. No preregistration necessary, but please let us know if you need any special accommodations. Hike One: 11:00am - Noon Peirce Mill; Hike Two: 2:00 – 3:00pm Nature Center; Hike Three: 4:00 – 4:30pm Nature Center (Bring the family for this one).
Fees: Free
Saratoga National Historical Park
April 24 (Rain date April 25) - 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Battlefield: Meet in the visitor center to join Park Ranger Joe Craig for a healthy, but easily paced 2-mile walk along scenic and historic paths in the park. You`ll walk the same grounds where Benedict Arnold fell in action against British forces in 1777 and hear about the climactic moments of battle that became the Revolutionary War`s key turning point in winning American independence. Ranger Craig also tells stories about the park`s early years and some famous visitors, including President Franklin Roosevelt for whom a road was built in one-day! Comfortable footwear and water are recommended.
Fees: Free
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
April 24 - 10:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Philip A. Hart Visitor Center: Children of all ages can earn a Junior Ranger badge and an official certificate by going on one Junior Ranger Adventure Hike (morning or afternoon) and completing a few activities in the free Junior Ranger booklet that will be available at the Visitor Center in Empire.
10:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.: Junior Ranger Adventure Hikes - Meet the park ranger at the Visitor Center to car caravan to the secret sites for our National Junior Ranger Day ourdoor adventures.
3:00 p.m.: Junior Ranger Ceremony - Meet at the Visitor Center to take the Junior Ranger oath and receive a badge and certificate. There will be light refreshments and prizes for all.
Fees: Free
Weir Farm National Historic Site
April 25, 2010 - 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
It is early spring, and the air is noisy with the chatter of peeping frogs in their wetland habitats. Did you know these wetland habitats make up over 510,000 acres of the state of Connecticut? Embark on a Wondrous Wetland Walk with National Park Service Horticulturist Greg Waters. This walk will explore wetland habitats of Weir Farm National Historic Site while highlighting the importance of these often misunderstood ecosystems. Come prepared with sturdy walking shoes and a water bottle. There is no fee to participate, but registration is required. To register or for more information, please call (203) 544-9829 ext. 11.
Fees: Free
Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts
April 17 - 11:00 a.m. to noon
Celebrate the beginning of National Park Week (April 17 - 25) by visiting the only National Park for the Performing Arts. A free backstage tour of the world-class Filene Center is scheduled for 11 a.m.
Fees: Free
April 24 - 11:00 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Nature Center at Happy Isles (no unattended children)
11:00 am Junior Ranger Walk, one hour. All ages welcome!
12:00 pm Exploration Fair, four hours. Drop-in –activities.
1:00 pm Kids Photography walk, one hour
2:00 pm Learn and Serve, two hours. Recommended for ages 7-13.
Wee Wild Ones one hour. Recommended for ages 6 and under.
7:30 pm Join in International Astronomy Day Activities - see Yosemite Guide for information
8:30 pm National Parks in the Sky-Ranger Slide Presentation-Yosemite Lodge
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