Celebrate National Public Lands Day and Healthy Park, Healthy People on September 24

Date: September 12, 2016
Contact: Barb Maynes, 360-565-3005

Olympic National Park invites everyone to come enjoy the park on National Public Lands Day, Saturday, September 24.

National Public Lands Day is celebrated across the country as a time to enjoy and give back to our public lands. At Olympic, it's also Healthy Parks, Healthy People Day, a day to experience and learn more about the health benefits of spending time outdoors. Special activities are planned around the park and entrance fees are waived at all park entrances.

Activities will include volunteer projects that will contribute to Olympic's health and well-being, while others will showcase how the park can contribute to people's health and well-being.

"Anyone who volunteers can earn a free entry pass for another day in the park," said Olympic National Park Acting Superintendent Rachel Spector. "And anyone who also participates in two of the 'Be Healthy' activities will receive a stainless steel Olympic National Park water bottle!"

Volunteers must sign up at the check-in stations noted below in order to participate and can volunteer for any amount of time to earn a free park pass. The pass is good for free entrance into the park for the volunteer and any accompanying passengers in a private vehicle.

Olympic National Park Visitor Center
3002 Mount Angeles Road, Port Angeles
All activities begin at the tenton the visitor center front lawn.

9am –12pm: Fall Clean-Up -- Join the Friends of Olympic National Park for their annual fall clean-up of the grounds of Olympic National Park Visitor Center. Check in at the Volunteer tent on the front lawn of the visitor center. Work gloves provided, or bring your own. Volunteer & Be Healthy

9am –12pm: Herb Robert Removal -- 'Stinky Bob' is trying to takeover the Peabody Creek forest – bring your gloves and join others in removing this invasive weed from our native forest. Check in at the Volunteer tent onthe front lawn of the visitor center. Work gloves provided, or bring your own. Volunteer & Be Healthy

9am – 4pm: Walk the Peabody Creek Loop – this half-mile trail is dog-friendly and offers a 'mini-escape' along a quiet woodland creek. Be Healthy

9am – 4pm: Paint Your Impressions – Studies show that simply looking at a forest can have positive health effects.Spend a few moments painting what you see in the forest, and then take home your watercolor image. Be Healthy

Lake Crescent
All activities begin at the StormKing Ranger Station porch.

9am – 12pm: Storm King Scots Broom Pull – check in at Storm King Ranger Station and register for this volunteer project to remove invasive plants. Work gloves will be provided, or bring your own. Volunteer & Be Healthy

9am – 4pm: Walk to Marymere Falls – Enjoy this1.8-mile walk through the forest to the 90-foot tall Marymere Falls. Be Healthy

9am – 4pm: Help a Healthy Planet – Do your part to reduce plastic and paper waste by creating your own re-usable shopping bag with the Lake Crescent Rangers. All supplies provided. Be Healthy

9am – 4pm: Salmon Run Obstacle Course – use your best moves to navigate the dams, logjams, fishing boats and other obstacles salmon encounter on their way to their spawning grounds. Be Healthy

Kalaloch
Activity begins at the Kalaloch Lodge Gazebo.

10am – 12pm: Beach Cleanup – meet the ranger for a two-hour foray onto the beach in search of marine debris. Work gloves and trash bags provided, or bring your own. Volunteer & Be Healthy

For more information about National Public Lands Day and Healthy Parks, Healthy People in Olympic National Park, visit the park's website at https://www.nps.gov/olym/healthy-parks-healthy-people.htm