August 2016 Events

NPS

News Release Date: July 26, 2016

Contact: visitor center staff, 208-527-1335

The National Park Service invites visitors of all ages to join in the celebration of its 100^th birthday throughout the month of August.With special events across the country, and free admission to all 412 national parks from August 25 through August 28, the NPS is encouraging everyone to #FindYourPark / #EncuentraTuParquefor the centennial.

“August – our birthday month – will be a nationwide celebration of national parks, and we’re inviting everyone to the party,” said National Park Service Director Jonathan B. Jarvis. “We like to think that we look pretty good for 100, and with so many events and activities to commemorate this milestone, we hope all Americans will join us to celebrate the breathtaking landscapes and inspiring history in our nation’s parks and public lands.Whether it is in a distant state or in your own community, there are hundreds of ways and places to find your park!”

Special Events

Among the hundreds of special events that will celebrate the National Park Service's Centennial are these at Craters of the Moon:

Sun Valley Center Sculptures at Craters of the Moon
Two specially commissioned sculptures by artists Jason Middlebrook and John Grade are on display at Craters of the Moon through late September. Stop by the visitor center or visit the Sun Valley Center website to find out more:
http://sunvalleycenter.org/visual-arts/exhibitions-in-ketchum/

August 23: Resource Presentations: 10 a.m. –2 p.m.;Visitor Center
Talk to Craters resource management staff about the work they do in the park. Posters and short presentations will be provided regarding current research and resource inventory, monitoring and management activities. 

August 25: Nature Photography, 1:30 p.m. –3:30 p.m.;Visitor Center
Join retired Park Ranger, Doug Owen, for a photo workshop.You will learn many easy photographic techniques and naturalist skills that can improve the quality of your photos. The presentation will be followed by a help session.

August 27: Celebrate 100 Years!
Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve will celebrate the National Park Service Centennial on Saturday, Aug. 27 with special presentations that examine our past and look to the future with explorers, park rangers, an astronaut and more! All events will take place in the visitor center theater:
 

10 a.m.Great Rift Trek:
Park Ranger Ted Stout will describe a 2014 trek across the Great Rift. Six backpackers retraced the route of famed Idaho explorer Robert Limbert along the 60-mile long Great Rift. See pictures and hear stories about this fascinating expedition of endurance and discovery through Idaho's unique wilderness at Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve.

1 p.m.    Space Science on the Moon:
Astronaut Steve Swanson will talk about his space flight experiences and on-going space science research at Craters of the Moon. Steve has flown two shuttle flights and on the Russian Soyuz rocket. He has accumulated over 195 days in space including 5 spacewalks. He is currently serving as a distinguished educator in residence at Boise State University.

3 p.m.    Destination Idaho:
Discover the best things people don't know about the 43rd state including the national parks of Idaho. This film was created with support from a variety of different organizations including the National Park Service. The director of Destination Idaho, Karen Day, will be here to introduce her new film.

6:15 p.m.  In the Spirit of Robert "Two-Gun" Limbert:
Meet the legendary explorer and adventurer Robert W. Limbert. Limbert, the first person to extensively explore and document what is now Craters of the Moon, will be portrayed by historian, Clark Heglar. Clark will recreate the exploits of the colorful showman and promoter who photographed Idaho's scenic wonders and shared his discoveries with the world in the 1920's.

Join us as we celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the National Park Service with these free presentations provided through the generous support of the Idaho Humanities Council, Idaho Space Grant Consortium and the Craters of the Moon Natural History Association.

A sampling of additional events is available on the National Park Service website, and many more can be found at FindYourPark.com and EncuentraTuParque.com.

Entrance Fees Waived for the NPS Birthday through the Weekend

Park entrance fees will be waived nationwide from August 25 through August 28 to encourage everyone to celebrate the NPS 100^th birthday.Usually, 127 of the 412 national parks charge entrance fees that range from $3 to $30.The entrance fee waiver does not cover amenity or user fees for activities such as camping, boat launches, transportation, or special tours.

To continue the national park adventure beyond these entrance fee free days, the $80 America the Beautiful National Parks and Federal Recreation Lands Pass allows unlimited entrance to more than 2,000 sites, including all national parks, throughout the year. There are also a variety of free or discounted passes available for senior citizens, current military members, fourth grade students, and disabled citizens. 

Find Your Park to Celebrate the Centennial

On August 25, 1916, President Woodrow Wilson signed the act that created the National Park Service "to conserve the scenery and the natural and historic objects and the wild life therein and to provide for the enjoyment of the same in such manner and by such means as will leave them unimpaired for future generations."

To celebrate the 100th anniversary of that moment and to look ahead to the next 100 years, in early 2015 the National Park Service and the National Park Foundation launched the Find Your Park / Encuentra Tu Parque movement.Inspiring people from all backgrounds to celebrate and support America's national parks and community-based programs, #FindYourPark / #EncuentraTuParque invites people to discover and share their own unique connections to our nation's natural landscapes, vibrant culture, and rich history.

www.nps.gov/crmo

About the National Park Service. More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America's 409 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Visit us at www.nps.gov, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/nationalparkservice, Twitter at www.twitter.com/natlparkservice, and YouTube at www.youtube.com/nationalparkservice.