Contact: Public Affairs Office, 307.739.3431
Grand Teton National Park invites visitors to celebrate the arrival of summer and discover the wonders of the natural world during National Get Outdoors Day on Saturday, June 9th. As an added bonus, entrance fees will be waived at Grand Teton and the John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway-along with other national parks across the country-as part of an initiative to encourage people to visit, explore and enjoy America's national park areas. Fees will also be waived on September 29 (National Public Lands Day) and from November 10 through 12 (Veterans Day weekend). Other fees, such as those for camping and boat permits, will remain in effect. The concept for celebrating the great outdoors began in 1998 when President Bill Clinton proclaimed a week in June as Great Outdoors Week. President Barack Obama issued a similar proclamation urging Americans to spend time in nature as a way to connect future generations with our national legacy of public lands and the importance of conservation. The 2012 National Get Outdoors Day is a perfect time for families and friends to enjoy activities together from hiking and wildlife watching to canoeing, fishing or biking-activities that promote a healthy, active, and energized lifestyle. To further highlight National Get Outdoors Day and free entry, Grand Teton rangers encourage visitors to join them in family-oriented activities that focus on First Lady Michelle Obama's "Let's Move Outside" initiative: a national campaign to end childhood obesity within a generation. This program is underway in national parks across the United States. Several programs designed to promote physical activity in the great outdoors will take place at Grand Teton on June 9th and throughout the summer. These include:
Participants are advised to bring water, sunscreen, rain gear, insect repellant, binoculars and cameras. "With colorful wildflowers in bloom and newborn animals making their debuts, this is an ideal time to visit Grand Teton and experience the beauty and fun recreational opportunities that this park and others offer throughout all seasons of the year," said Superintendent Mary Gibson Scott. "I hope that everyone takes advantage of the free entry and visits a national park near them. What better way to celebrate summer's splendor than creating special memories with family and friends in the great outdoors?" |
Last updated: February 24, 2015