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Park Pumpkin Carvings Challenge

Carved jack o' lantern with a bear image

NPS / Matt Turner


Orange you excited for autumn? Get ahead of the carve by creating a gourd-geous park pumpkin this fall season and give ‘em pumpkin to talk about. Find more templates, including printer-friendly options to create your park pumpkin art.

Directions

Follow these simple steps to create festive park pumpkin art to celebrate the fall season.

Step 1: Pick your favorite template below and print it to match the size of your pumpkin’s surface area. Or create your own pumpkin park artwork!

Step 2: Cut out the dark area of the template.

Step 3: Use the template to trace the image on your pumpkin.

Step 4: Carefully carve out the design (or close enough) with a knife. Kids—Grab an adult to help with this step.

Share your pumpkin park art on social media using #FindYourPark or #EncuentraTuParque to add it to the growing parks pumpkin patch.

The Batty One

Go batty this season. National parks are roosting grounds or migratory stops for millions of bats. Learn how you can go to bat protecting bats in your neighborhood.

Art project for carving pumpkins with a bat stencil and example of it on a jack o' lantern. Text reads The Batty One. National Park Service."

Image designed by National Park Service

The Close Encounter

Few things are more terrifying than people getting too close to wildlife. National parks are packed with creatures of all shapes and tooth sizes. Follow these tips to watch wildlife safely, including from an unscary distance.

Graphic for pumpkin carving projects with an stencil of a person being thrown by a bison and an example of the image on a jack o' lantern. Text reads "The Close Encounter. National Park Service."

Image designed by National Park Service

The Autumn Leaves

The autumn leaves us with spectacular splashes of color. Head to parks for leaf peeping excursions as parks become nature’s palette with the changing of the leaves and grasses.

A graphic for a pumpkin carving project with a stencil of 3 fall leaves and an example of it used on a jack o' lantern. Text reads "The Autumn. National Park Service."

Image designed by National Park Service

The Full Moon

This full moon design will eclipse all others. Trick or treat yourself to exploring the night skies at national parks or in your own neighborhood.

Graphic for pumpkin carving project with a stencil of a coyote howling and tree silhouette against the moon with an example of it used on a jack o' lantern. Text reads "The Full Moon. National Park Service."

Image designed by National Park Service

The Camper

Gather ‘round the campfire to tell spook-tacular stories. Plan your camping adventure at a national park or a little closer to home.

Graphic for a pumpkin carving activity with a stencil of a trailer in the woods under the moon and an example of it on a jack o' lantern. Text reads "The Camper. National Park Service."

Image designed by National Park Service

The Fat Bear

Are you prepared for winter? These chunky champs are. Bears are busy this time of year so be bear-y careful in parks around them with these safety tips.

Graphic for a pumpkin carving activity with a stencil of a bear and example of it used on a jack o' lantern. Text reads "The Fat Bear. National Park Service."

Image designed by National Park Service

The Web Designer

Creepin’ it real with this spin. Not only are all living things in parks connected in a web, but are also part of a global network of ecosystems. Check out how you can get involved in connected conservation to protect habitats and ecosystems within and outside of park boundaries.

Graphic for pumpkin carving with a template shaped like a spider and a web with an example of it used on a jack o' lantern. Text reads "The Web Designer. National Park Service."

Image designed by National Park Service

Design Your Own Challenge

Create your own template for park pumpkin carvings. Not good with knives? Try coloring or painting a park image onto a pumpkin instead. Share your original park pumpkin art on social media using #FindYourPark or #EncuentraTuParque.

A jack o' lantern carved with a bison on a hill and another carved as an owl

Images courtesy of Matt Turner (left) and Alex Lindeman (right)

Templates to Download

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Last updated: October 19, 2021