Yosemite National Park Celebrates National Park Week and Earth Day with Special Programs and Activities

Date: April 14, 2011

National Park Week April 16 – April 24
Earth Day April 22

Yosemite National Park will celebrate National Park Week and Earth Day beginning Saturday, April 16 through Sunday, April 24. Many special events and activities are being sponsored by the National Park Service (NPS) and DNC Parks and Resorts at Yosemite, Inc. (the park’s primary concessioner).

To help celebrate National Park Week and Earth Day, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar, has announced entrance fees will be waived for Yosemite, and all other national parks for the entire week. Camping fees, and all other fees will still be applicable.

This year, the focus of National Park Week will be on Healthy Parks, Healthy People. Many of the programs and events during this week will encourage visitors to participate in fun physical activity such as hiking, biking, and other family outdoor activities. These activities help show how physical fitness and outdoor activities can benefit overall health.

Events and activities occurring during National Park Week include:
Saturday, April 16th

• 8:30 a.m.: Free Wawona Hotel Shuttle to Yosemite Valley Earth Day Events
• 10:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.: Earth Day Village Celebration: Yosemite Village Mall Celebration, Children’s Tent, Earth-Friendly Product Fair
• 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.: National Volunteer Day Trash Pick-Up
• 5:30 p.m. – 6:45 p.m.: Spring Twilight Stroll: Poetry and Parks, A Walk and Reading
• 8:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.: Earth Day Theater Live! “The Spirit of John Muir”
  

Sunday, April 17th

• 8:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.: Evening Program: John Muir in the New World

Monday, April 18th

• 8:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.: Green Fire: Aldo Leopold and a Land Ethic for Our time

Tuesday, April 19th

• 8:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.: The Thin Green Line

Wednesday, April 20th

• 8:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.: Nature Notes and Beyond

Thursday, April 21st

• 8:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.: John Muir in the New World

Friday, April 22nd Earth Day

• 9:00 a.m.: Stewardship Project
• 2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.: Earth Day Bike Ride
• 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.: Earth Dance Film Festival

Saturday, April 23rd

• 8:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.: National Parks in the Sky

• Junior Ranger Day!

• 10:00 a.m.: National Junior Ranger Day Walk
• 12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.: Exploration Fair at Happy Isles
• 2:00 p.m.: Wee Wild Ones
• 3:00 p.m.: Junior Ranger Walk
• Children must be accompanied by an adult

Sunday, April 24th

• 8:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.: The National Parks: This is America

For more information please visit http http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/guide.htm or call 209-372-0200. For information on DNC events please visit yosemitepark.com