National Park Family Day in Seattle May 19

Join Mount Rainier's outreach program, along with many others, on Saturday, May 19 in Seattle! Here's the posting on sponsor National Parks Conservation Association's website:

Date: May 19, 2012

Location: Rainier Community Center, 4600 38th Avenue S, Seattle, WA 98118

Description:

It has been said that the National Park System, which includes many of our nation’s most precious, revered and significant treasures, reflects who we are as a people and as a nation– that America’s spirit is reflected in the National Park System.
National Park Family Day is a FREE, family-friendly event that brings your northwest national parks to you!

This year’s event will be even bigger and better than before with a multitude of hands-on, kid-friendly activities. Park Rangers from Olympic, North Cascades, and Mt. Rainier National Parks will be on-hand for demos and to answer all your park questions. Local organizations will be on-site teaching families about the wonders, culture and history of our national and local parks, conservation, and wildlife.  Kids will also have the opportunity to become Family Day Jr. Rangers and win prizes!

EVENT SCHEDULE- Saturday, May 19th:
 
10:00AM- National Park Family Day Begins- Come Join the fun!
11:00AM- Wildlife encounter presented by the Woodland Park Zoo
 
Additional demos: Camping 101 demonstration, “Family Day in the Garden” with Seattle Tilth and more!
Gather your family and friends and head to the Rainier Community Center on Saturday, May 19th from 10am-4pm for this fun-filled day celebrating our National Parks and the outdoors!

Participating Groups:

• Bike Works
• EarthCorps
• Green Trails Maps/NW Link
• Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park
• Mt. Baker- Snoqualmie National Forest
• Mt. Rainier National Park
• National Park Service
• National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA)
• National Wildlife Federation
• North Cascades National Park
• Olympic National Park
• Outdoor Recreation Interagency Center (ORIC)
• Puget Sound Energy
• San Juan Island National Historical Park
• Seattle Parks & Recreation
• Seattle Tilth
• Seward Park Audubon Center
• Snoqualmie Tribes
• Student Conservation Association
• Washington Wild
• Washington’s National Park Fund
• Woodland Park Zoo
• YMCA/BOLD/ Passages NW

Join us for National Park Family Day in Seattle (or Vancouver)

This Sunday, May 2nd, Mount Rainier National Park will be one of 30 groups participating in the first annual Northwest National Parks Family Day at Seward Park in Seattle. The event, which will run from 10am to 3pm, is sponsored by the National Parks Conservation Association and will be packed with booths, exhibits, and activities oriented to families. The theme of the day is "Bringing the Parks to the People." Our own both, for example, will have exhibits, puppets, and a demonstration campsite with information about this summer's Camping Adventure with My Parents (CAMP) program.

Mount Rainier will also be one of several groups presenting "demonstrations" in the picnic pavillion. Ours will feature campfire songs and stories as told by rangers Jim Ross (a 40+ year veteran of telling campfire stories at Mount Rainier) and Kevin Bacher (me). Other demos include a banjo performance from San Juan Island Historical Park; nature hikes; a program called "Lost but safe and sound" by Lewis & Clark National Historical Park; a live raptor demonstration by Sarvey Wildlife Center; and a Leave No Trace camping demonstration by REI. For complete details, visit the Family Day page on NPCA's website.

If Seattle's a little far for you, but you live close to Vancouver, Washington, a similar National Park Family Day will be held at Fort Vancouver on May 15. Ranger Jim Ross will be there, too, representing Mount Rainier National Park.

Bring the kids, and we'll see you all at the park!