Date: February 27, 2017
Contact: Yvonne Menard, 805-658-5725
Download the 2017 Special Events Calendar
Channel Islands National Park invites the public to celebrate the 37th anniversary of the park’s establishment at an event on March 5, from 11:00 am to 4:00 pmat the visitor center in Ventura Harbor. This free event will feature film showings, family-friendly activities, ranger-led talks, dock tours, and a special junior ranger program.
Throughout the day, segments from the 2016 documentary, West of the West: Tales from California’s Channel Islands, will be shown. Produced by Sam Tyler and written and directed by Peter Seaman and Brent Sumner, the documentary provides an in-depth look into intriguing stories of island inhabitants and history.
The short film, Offshore, created by Compass Coalition Films and featuring professional surfer Mary Osborne, will also be shown throughout the day, highlighting the many recreational opportunities available within the park.
At 11:00 am and 3:00 pm, a park ranger will discuss marine adaptations and ocean stewardship at the center’s marine life exhibit, which features species found in the prolific waters that surround the Channel Islands.
Dock tours will be available for the public to have an up-close look at the National Park Service (NPS) vessels. Biologists with the park’s kelp forest monitoring team will demonstrate the long-term monitoring techniques they use to better understand the health of the marine environment.
During the event, biologists and rangers will provide opportunities for children to learn about different careers in the NPS. Children’s activities will be available throughout the day, including a button-maker station and fox origami. A junior ranger station will allow children to complete activity booklets and a NPS career scavenger hunt, and earn a special junior ranger prize.
About Channel Islands National Park
Channel Islands National Park, America’s 40th national park, was established by Congress on March 5, 1980. The park is made up of five islands — Anacapa, Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa, San Miguel, and Santa Barbara — and the waters within one nautical mile of each island. The park bridges two major biogeographical provinces within 250,000 acres of land and sea, protecting a rich array of natural and cultural resources. The park offers the public with unparalleled opportunities for solitude, tranquility, wildlife viewing, outdoor recreation, and education
