From April 18 through 26, the National Park Service and the National Park Foundation will host National Park Week. This year’s theme, “Find Your Park,” invites people everywhere to be a part of the Find Your Park movement and discover their own unique connections to parks and the programs managed by the National Park Service.
There are countless ways to enjoy National Park Week. Check out www.nationalparkweek.org for ideas on how to connect with parks, where to go and what to do. Here are four suggestions to get you started:
1. Find Your Park. Have you visited a park lately or are you looking for a summer adventure? National Park Week is a great time to get up, get out there, and find your park. On FindYourPark.com there is a searchable list of ideas for ways to find your park, including in-park and digital activities. There is also a fun and interactive quiz to help people jumpstart their journey.Here are a few close by to visit.
Cuyahoga Valley National Park
Boston Store Visitor Center is where your adventure begins at 1550 Boston Mills Road, east of Riverview Road, Peninsula. The visitor center is a good place to start your visit at Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Meet park staff, get questions answered, and learn more about park scheduled events and places to visit. There is a short park video available upon request. You can pick up relevant brochures, maps. Open daily, 9:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. in April; Daily, 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. in May.
James A. Garfield National Historic Site
At James A. Garfield National Historic Site in Mentor, the grounds and visitor center is open. The visitor center has exhibits that touch on Garfield’s early life and educational pursuits, his military career and eventual political rise. Highlights include Garfield’s presidential nomination, election, and assassination. An 18-minute video is available upon request.
Operating hours for summer 2015. will begin Memorial Day weekend and continue through Labor Day. Beginning Memorial Day weekend, the site will be open to the public 10 a.m.-5 p.m. seven days per week.The site will be open on all federal holidays this summer: Memorial Day (Monday, May 25);Fourth of July (Saturday, July 4);and Labor Day (Monday, September 7).
For more information about these Ohio sites and more, visit http://www.nps.gov/state/oh/index.htm
2. Celebrate Earth Day on April 22. This year is the 45th anniversary of Earth Day and national parks are some of the best places to honor the day.
3. Be a VIP (Volunteer in Park). Lend a hand to care for your parks. Volunteer projects happening during National Park Week include a habitat restoration at Cuyahoga Valley National Park, tree planting at Flight 93 National Memorial, and a river float and clean up at Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area.
4. Share Your Story. Your story could inspire others to discover their park. The public is invited to share their story on social media using #FindYourPark and at FindYourPark.com. The website features an interactive gallery of inspirational stories from the general public, National Park Service employees, and celebrities. People can also enter The Centennial Project contest.
