National Park Family Day is a FREE, family-friendly event that brings your northwest national parks to you! It has been said that the National Park System, which includes many of our nation’s most precious, revered and significant treasures, reflects who we are as a people and as a nation—that America’s spirit is reflected in the National Park System.

This year’s event on Saturday, May 19th 10am–4pm hosted by NPCA will be even bigger and better than before with a multitude of hands-on, kid-friendly activities. Park Rangers from Olympic, North Cascades, and Mt. Rainier National Parks will be on-hand for demos and to answer all your park questions. Local organizations will be on-site teaching families about the wonders, culture and history of our national and local parks, conservation, and wildlife. Kids will also have the opportunity to become Family Day Jr. Rangers and enter the Raffle Drawing to Win Fabulous Prizes including an America the Beautiful—Annual Park Pass!

Family Fun Activities:
11am to Noon—Live Wildlife Encounter with the Woodland Park Zoo

12:15 to 2:15pm—Camping 101 Demonstrations
How to Make Delicious Camp Treats, Identifying Animal Tracks, Learn to Set up a Tent, while covering the Ten Essentials for Safe Hiking & Camping, Stay Safe with the Lost But Found, Safe & Sound Program

2:30 to 3pm—What Are You Trying To Tell Me?
Wolf Body Language by Wolf Haven International

Participating Organizations Include:
National Parks Conservation Association, National Park Service, Seattle Parks & Recreation, Puget Sound Energy, Seattle Tilth, Mt Rainier National Park, Washington’s National Park Fund, Woodland Park Zoo, Student Conservation Association, Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park, National Wildlife Federation, Green Trails Maps/NW Link, Mercer Slough Environmental Education Center, Ebey’s Landing National Historical Reserve, EarthCorps, Wolf Haven, Washington Wild, Outdoor Recreation Interagency Center, Red Tricycle, Mountain to Sound Greenway Trust, North Cascades Institute, Seward Park Audubon Center, Bike Works, Washington Native Plant Society, YMCA/B.O.L.D, Oregon Caves National Monument, NatureBridge, Olympic National Park, Talking Rain, and Snoqualmie Tribes.

View the 2012 Family Day event graphics project page. See previous years family day event graphics from Fort Vancouver NHS and Seattle.

Clans of the notoriously skittish Northwest Homo-Sapien are invited to shake off their cabin fever and roam wild for an afternoon at the Fort Vancouver National Historic Site. Luring people in with free admission and inventive graphics influenced by the region’s topography, the Northwest National Parks provide a few moments with each unit’s Alpha. Environmental groups such as the National Park Conservation Association know that with each smile and friendly exchange vitality of our country’s irreplaceable national parks is ensured for future generations. Educational activities for the children and guided tours foster a communal atmosphere, turning new patrons into park regulars.

Seattle’s National Park Family Day Event will be on Saturday, June 25th.