7th Annual 'Kids to Parks Day' Saturday, May 20, 2017

Nearly One Million Participants Expected to Attend 1000+ Park Events Nationwide

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May 08, 2017, 08:23 ET

WASHINGTON, May 8, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Children, families and schools in communities across America will celebrate their local, state and national parks and public lands on Saturday, May 20^th in commemoration of the 7^th Annual Kids to Parks Day. National Park Trust estimates that nearly one million people will attend 1,000 park events across the country in what is fast becoming America's national day of outdoor play.

NPT’s Buddy Bison School Program students canoeing along Anacostia River. Saturday, May 20 is Kids to Parks Day, nearly one million participants to attend 1000+ park events nationwide.

"Children of all ages – in unprecedented numbers – will be engaging with our local, state and national parks on May 20th," said Grace Lee, executive director, National Park Trust. "We are excited to collaborate this year with Hike it Baby, engaging our youngest park stewards and families with 200 Hike it Baby events planned across America to celebrate Kids to Parks Day."

The U.S. Senate passed a bipartisan resolution designating May 20 "Kids to Parks Day." [Co-sponsored by Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR), Lamar Alexander (R-TN), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Rob Portman (R-OH), Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI).]

Mayors from more than 350 cities and towns – including Chicago (IL), Boston (MA), Philadelphia (PA), Orlando (FL), Dallas (TX), San Diego (CA), Atlanta (GA), Tucson (AZ), Chattanooga (TN), Portland (OR), Vineland (NJ), Denver (CO), and Youngstown (OH) have signed resolutions of support and are planning Kids to Parks Day events on May 20th.

Visit www.kidstoparks.org for a complete list of park events by state and downloadable tips and activity guides to help children, families and teachers plan park adventures. Those who pledge to participate will also have a chance to win a camping package from The North Face, including a tent, 4 sleeping bags and a duffel bag.

Kids to Parks Day national sponsors include:

Northside
FirstEnergy Foundation
Guest Services, Inc.
Boy Scouts of America
M&T Bank
PBS Kids' Nature Cat
CamelBak
The North Face
Eastern National

National Park Trust's Kids to Parks Day has the support of the National Park Service and America's State Parks. Other NPT collaborators include: the National League of Cities' Institute for Youth, Education, and Families; American Academy of Pediatrics; National Recreation and Park Association; U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; National Geographic Kids; American Hiking Society; Children & Nature Network; National Wildlife Federation; Sierra Club; Outdoors Alliance for Kids; National Environmental Education Foundation; American Recreation Coalition; National Parks Conservation Association; The Wilderness Society; Girl Scouts Nation's Capital; and Outdoor Families Magazine.

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!" More than 60 elementary and middle Title I schools in 15 states and Washington, D.C. participate in the Buddy Bison School Program, which provides classroom resources 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 park grants to 70 Title I schools in 28 states and Washington, D.C. benefiting nearly 4,000 children, grades pre-K through 12. The grants 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.

www.parktrust.org

Join the conversation on Twitter: @natparktrust #kidstoparks #buddybison

Share your park experience on Facebook and Instagram: @nationalparktrust #kidstoparks #buddybison

SOURCE National Park Trust