75 Ways To Help Celebrate Shenandoah National Park's 75th Birthday

With spring sprouting across the mountains that hold up Shenandoah National Park, officials are rolling out a game to help educate visitors to the park's 75th birthday.

Called, appropriately enough, 75 Reasons to Visit Shenandoah National Park and the Surrounding Communities contest, the game features a range of questions about the park and its surrounding communities that gives you a chance to participate in the anniversary celebration, learn more about the area, and win prizes.

“We were looking for an event that could involve all visitors during the year-long celebration and felt a game would be fun for everyone," said Donna Bedwell, who is coordinating the 75th anniversary celebration. "So we designed a brochure that challenges people to answer questions about the park and discover highlights of the surrounding counties.”

If you pick up the brochure, or go to the anniversary website, you'll find a series of questions that can be answered by visiting the area, searching the community and park websites (www.nps.gov/shen), and contacting visitor centers. Completed forms must be returned to the park headquarters by November 1, 2011.

All who submit correctly completed entry forms will receive a certificate of participation and a specially designed decal and will qualify for prize drawings in November. The grand prize will include a Shenandoah National Park Vacation Package for two at Skyland Resort, a limited edition print of the park signed and numbered by artist Kevin Adams, and a biplane ride for two over the Shenandoah Valley and Piedmont of Virginia. Sixteen additional prize packages will also be awarded.

Prizes have been made possible through generous donations by area attractions and businesses.