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Olympic Hot Springs Road Closed
The Elwha Valley's Olympic Hot Springs Road is closed to public entry beyond the Altair Campground during removal of the Glines Canyon Dam. Olympic Hot Springs is not accessible from the Elwha.
More Action and New Rewards for Junior Rangers
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Contact: Barb Maynes, 360-565-3005 Contact: Dave Reynolds, 360-565-2985
Today Olympic National Park becomes one of 36 national parks that offer Let's Move Outside Junior Ranger activities. Let's Move Outside, led by the Department of the Interior and the Department of Agriculture, provides tools and information to parents to make it easy to enjoy the outdoors and be active and healthy. It is part of First Lady Michelle Obama's nationwide campaign to end childhood obesity within a generation. "Young people inspire us; we want to help them be healthy and curious for life. It starts with family fun. We want to help parents learn the skills they need to enjoy the outdoors with their kids," National Park Service Director Jon Jarvis said. Young people who complete at least one physical activity in pursuit of their Junior Ranger badge receive a special sticker that designates them as a Let's Move Outside Junior Ranger. The activities range from adventures like hiking with a ranger to body surfing and canoeing. "Olympic's Let's Move Outside Junior Ranger program offers kids and parents the chance to go on a guided hike with a ranger or try their hand at Nature Hike Bingo. These activities are not only great exercise, but also incredibly fun ways to see and learn about the park," Superintendent Karen Gustin said. By summer's end, 50 national parks will offer Let's Move Outside Junior Ranger programs. Young people can become Junior Rangers at more than 200 national parks nationwide. For information about being active in Olympic National Park, visitors may check the park's website or stop by any visitor center or ranger station, where they can also pick up a Junior Ranger booklet. A $1 donation is suggested and helps cover costs of Junior Ranger badges and booklets. Before heading out, families can visit www.letsmove.gov/letsmoveoutside.php for more information about activities and participating parks. This website hub will link families to the great outdoors and give tips and ideas on how to best plan and enjoy an active adventure. The National Park Service provides 84 million acres to explore, so there are many places and ways to move outside! |
Did You Know?
Olympic National Park protects the largest unmanaged herd of Roosevelt elk in the world. Olympic was almost named "Elk National Park" and was established in part to protect these stately animals.