Everglades and Dry Tortugas National Parks announce a Fee Free Weekend September 27 and 28 2008

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Date: September 22, 2008
Contact: Linda Friar, 305-242-7714

Homestead and Key West Florida - Superintendent Dan Kimball is pleased to announce a "fee free weekend" at Everglades and Dry Tortugas National Parks September 27 and 28. "We are proud to participate in National Public Lands Day," says Kimball, "and encourage everyone, especially newly naturalized citizens, to take this opportunity to come enjoy the beauty, culture, and history of our country exemplified in these two unique and beautiful national parks."

Everglades and Dry Tortugas National Parks entrance fees will be waived for the weekend. During this free weekend the park will also celebrate National Hispanic Heritage month with special programs conducted in Spanish at the Homestead (Royal Palm) and Shark Valley areas of the park. Spanish language interpreters will be available at the Ernest F. Coe, Royal Palm, and Shark Valley Visitor Centers, Spanish programs will be available at 10 a.m. 1p.m and 3 p.m. along with a 2 p.m. tram tour at Shark Valley, and a 10:30 guided walk at Anhinga Trail. Other entrances will have regularly scheduled ranger guided activities in English and a myriad of self guided options to select from the park brochure.

National Public Lands Day

National Public Lands Day began in 1994 with three federal agencies and 700 volunteers. Last year 110,000 volunteers worked in 1,300 locations and in every state. Now, 8 federal agencies and many state and local lands participate in this annual day of caring for shared lands. Everglades and Dry Tortugas National Parks rely on the hundreds of volunteer hours that are donated each year by a broad range of volunteers. This annual national recognition helps highlight the importance of volunteer support of national parks.

National Public Lands Day

Educates Americans about critical environmental and natural resources issues and the need for shared stewardship of these valued, irreplaceable lands;

Builds partnerships between the public sector and the local community based upon mutual interests in the enhancement and restoration of America's public lands;

Improves public lands for outdoor recreation, with volunteers assisting land managers in hands-on work.

Everglades National Park has a volunteer project to remove invasive exotic plants at Shark Valley. If you are interested in being part of this project contact Jackie Dostourian at e-mail us , Volunteer Coordinator.

Everglades and Dry Tortugas National Park has an active volunteer program. Often there are more than 200 volunteers participating in a variety of positions. The types of volunteer positions vary greatly and may include clerical, skilled and unskilled maintenance, trail trimming, beach clean-up, biology and hydrology data collection, exotic plant removal, visitor contact on walking trails or at visitor centers, and environmental education assistance. Many people have found the Volunteer-In-Parks program very rewarding. For additional information or to apply, you can contact our Volunteer Coordinator Jackie Doustourian at either her email address or to Everglades National Park 40001 State Road 9336, Homestead, Florida 33034.

Everglades and Dry Tortugas National Parks look forward to providing this opportunity for all citizens to experience these special natural resources during this fee free weekend.

-NPS-

 



Last updated: April 14, 2015

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40001 SR-9336
Homestead, FL 33034

Phone:

305 242-7700

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