Uncle Sam is jumping on the Earth Day bandwagon by encouraging you to head outside this week. It may just be coincidence, but National Park Week is taking place from April 17-25, just in time for Thursday’s Earth Day celebrations.
From now through next Sunday entrance fees will be waived at 392 national parks. In addition, many parks have organized events, talks, demonstrations and volunteer clean-ups to encourage visitors to check out what Mother Nature has to offer at our nation’s most spectacular natural treasures.
Some of the more interesting events include:
April 18th-Get ready to cheer while you watch a recreation of Paul Revere’s row across Boston Harbor to Charleston, Massachusetts, beginning at 7 p.m. at Boston National Historic Park.
April 22nd—You and your family can help plant a demonstration garden at Cane River Creole National Historic Park in Louisiana.
April 24th—Pack up the kids and head out to number of parks, which are hosting special events for kids on Saturday, April 24, which is National Junior Ranger Day. Kids who participate in walks, trash pick-ups, and other activities can earn a junior ranger patch.
All week—Most national parks will be hosting hikes, wildlife programs and heritage celebrations in honor of Earth Day. Keep in mind that some park areas and roads are still off-limits to the public this early in the season, and not all services and concessions are open.
If you can’t make it to a national park this week, but you are still interested in making a difference to preserve the environment, you might consider attending the Climate Rally on April 25 on the National Mall in Washington, DC. Environmental activists from all walks of life are planning to travel to Washington to demand that Congress enact comprehensive climate reform in 2010.