Celebrate Earth Day All Week During National Park Week

Date: April 21, 2011
Contact: Alexandra Picavet, [phone]

No Entrance Fees through April 24!

(GGNRA)—Join in the fun of National Park Week 2011 as national parks across the country waive entrance fees. In the Bay Area, Muir Woods National Monument—the only local national park with an official NPS entrance fee—will do the same. Dozens of other national park sites remain free year-round.

With his America's Great Outdoors Initiative, President Barack Obama, who visits the Bay Area this week, stated in his National Park Week proclamation, "During National Park Week, we reaffirm our need to maintain connections to the natural world."

Healthy Parks, Healthy People—the theme of this year's National Park Week highlights the connection between human and environmental health, and the vital role America's national parks play in both. Earlier this month, National Park Service Director Jonathan B. Jarvis was a keynote speaker at the Healthy Parks, Healthy People Conference at Fort Baker's Cavallo Lodge in Sausalito. Jarvis states, "National Park Week is a great time to visit and celebrate these places owned by all Americans. There is no better place than a national park to exercise, have fun, or learn something."

During National Park Week, children's programs take center stage on Saturday, April 23, for the fifth annual National Junior Ranger Day. Fun, healthy, family-friendly activities will encourage kids to "Let's Move Outside!"

As part of this year's Earth Day celebration, Crissy Field Center marks the 10th anniversary of the revival of Crissy Field with Earth Stroll. Everyone is invited to be a part of this historic celebration and enjoy adventurous activities and games, live music, live animal demonstrations, discovery walks, and ranger-led hikes, such as bilingual Story Time Flower Fables with Ranger Fatima Colindres. Earth Stroll continues rain or shine!

When: Saturday, April 23, 2011. 10:00 am to 3:00 pm.

Where: Crissy Field Center's new facility at 1199 East Beach Drive, in the Presidio, near the Marina Boulevard entrance to the park.

Please note: event parking will be limited so walking, biking and public transport is encouraged. Crissy Field Center is accessible via MUNI 28, 30 and 43 lines and you can visit www.crissyfieldcenter.org for transportation details. Overflow parking will be available along Gorgas Avenue from Halleck Street toward and behind the Presidio Community YMCA Letterman Gym and pool.

For a complete list of beaches, trails, historic sites, and wilderness areas where you may hike, bike, run, fly, ride horses, surf, paddle, play, have fun, learn, relax, or volunteer, visit www.nps.gov/goga. A searchable calendar of events, activities, and volunteer opportunities throughout National Park sites in San Francisco, Marin and San Mateo counties can be found at www.parksconservancy.org/calendar.

Other 2011 fee-free days are June 21 (the first day of summer), September 24 (National Public Lands Day), and November 11-13 (Veterans Day Weekend).

# # #