5th Annual 'Kids To Parks Day' Saturday, May 16, 2015; Family Park Events Planned Across U.S.

Join the conversation: @natparktrust #kidstoparks

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May 05, 2015, 11:17 ET

WASHINGTON, May 5, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Children, families and schools in communities across America will celebrate their local, state and national parks and public lands on Saturday, May 16^th in commemoration of the 5^th Annual Kids to Parks Day. National Park Trust estimates more than 500,000 people will attend park events across the country in what is fast becoming America's national day of play.

National Park Trust (NPT) launched kidstoparks.org where park events are listed by state and city, and the website features helpful downloadable tips and activity guides to help children, families and teachers plan park adventures. Those who pledge to participate at the site will also have a chance to win a grand prize, a Nikon COOLPIX L830 camera.

"Five years ago, NPT launched this grass roots movement to encourage families to discover and celebrate our country's parks and public lands and water. Families, schools, park officials and elected officials have embraced this fun event – a national day of outdoor play – and it is fast becoming America's unofficial kick off to summer," said Grace Lee, executive director, National Park Trust.

"This year's Kids to Parks Day takes on special significance as the National Park Service prepares to celebrate its milestone Centennial celebration in 2016 and recently launched its Find Your Park campaign. We hope families across America will use Kids to Parks Day as a great reason to celebrate our National Parks and connect with favorite parks and public lands," added Lee.

National Park Trust's Kids to Parks Day is in support of the First Lady's Let's Move! Initiative, which is also celebrating its 5^th year anniversary. NPT collaborators include: the National League of Cities, America's State Parks, American Academy of Pediatrics, National Park Service, National Recreation and Park Association, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Boy Scouts of America, US Play Coalition, National Geographic Kids, American Hiking Society, Children & Nature Network, National Wildlife Federation, Sierra Club, Outdoors Alliance for Kids, National Environmental Education Foundation, City Parks Alliance, and American Recreation Coalition.

Kids to Parks Day is the signature event of NPT's popular Buddy Bison® School Program which teaches environmental education. Through its woolly mascot Buddy Bison, NPT encourages children to "Explore outdoors, the parks are yours!" Sixty schools in 18 states and Washington, D.C., have participated in the Buddy Bison school program, which provides classroom resources, lesson ideas and fully funded park trips that enhance and expand school curricula.

In 2012, NPT launched the Kids to Parks Day National School Contest. This year, NPT awarded scholarships to 51 schools in 28 states benefiting 3277children, grades pre-K through 12 in Title 1 schools. The scholarships will help students put their ideas into action and visit, learn, steward and play in their local, state and national parks and public lands this month.

Families can pledge to participate at kidstoparks.org. When they visit a park on May 16th, kids and parents are encouraged to tweet #kidstoparks or send in photos to [email protected]. Pictures will be posted and shared online.

Sponsors for Kids to Parks Day include First Solar Corporate Charitable Fund of the Toledo Community Foundation, Prudential Financial, Inc., Booz Allen Hamilton, Guest Services, Inc., and CamelBak.

The U.S. Senate recently introduced a resolution in support of Kids to Parks Day.

ABOUT NATIONAL PARK TRUST
National Park Trust is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to the preservation and protection of our nation's critical parks and public lands and the engagement of our youth – especially those who are underserved – with nature. As people spend more time indoors and as successive generations grow up with less of a connection to nature, NPT wants everyone to have an American park experience. To achieve this, NPT is preserving parks today and creating park stewards for tomorrow (parktrust.org; kidstoparks.org).

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SOURCE National Park Trust