Check This Out for National Park Week, April 19-27, 2014

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Check out this cool infographic I received from the National Park Foundation in honor of National Park Week April 19 – 27, 2014. I never knew black bears could eat up to 20,000 calories in a day.

Plant a Garden – It’s Earth Day!

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Happy Earth Day!
I love gardening, even though I have not been very successful with it. Our home is in the forested mountains near Sundance, Utah. Sunny space on our lot is limited so, I attempt to grow things using the Square Foot Garden method. There are lots of reasons gardening in my location is a bad idea.
1. Cold – at roughly 7,000 feet elevation and with a ski resort as a neighbor you can imagine how our winters are – long, snowy and cold. We get heavy snowstorms well into March and even through the summer the temperature drops below sixty degrees in the evenings.
2. Animals – I hear the sounds of wild turkeys on a daily basis. Deer, rabbits, blue jays, squirrels, robins, and countless other unseen creatures live in the woods around our home, and they’re all hungry.

3. Effort – Any gardener knows that growing things takes effort. My fifty percent success rate in years past, meant that after weeks of watering, weeding, and mulching, only half of what I planted actually grows to fruition.
And yet, even with this obstacles in my way, every spring I get excited to put seeds into dirt and watch them grow. The weather warms, the birds start chirping and something in my brain convinces me to get my hands dirty once again. 
I’m not the only one. Big E loves to help me plant, watch the seeds progress and water the garden. He’ll look at the indoor starts every morning and report back with glee, “Mom! The tomato seeds sprouted!” or “Look! Broccoli!”
Perhaps his joy rubs off on my as well, because in addition to the pleasure of feeling the sun on my skin, accomplishing difficult tasks, and watching plants grow, I also get to watch my son and daughter grow. Respecting the earth is one lesson I want my kids to learn and planting a garden has been a great way for them to learn it.
When I plant a garden I’m growing more than just flowers and vegetables. I’m growing a love of nature in my children, smiles on their faces and joy in the fascination of life. And suddenly all the work is worth it.

National Park Week April 19-27, 2014

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I recently received an email from the National Parks Foundation reminding me about the upcoming week celebrating our nation’s National Parks. As if I could forget. It had such great information I thought I’d post it here for all of you as well. Leave a comment and let me know how you’ll be celebrating National Park Week this year!

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE AND NATIONAL PARK FOUNDATION INVITE YOU TO “GO WILD” FOR AMERICA’S NATIONAL PARKS APRIL 19-27

Washington, D.C. (April 15, 2014) From April 19 – 27, the National Park Service and the National ParkFoundation will host National Park Week, featuring special events in parks nationwide. This year’s theme, “National Park Week: Go Wild!” invites visitors to celebrate all that America’s 401 national parks have to offer. With free admission to all parks on April 19 and 20, and exciting activities and programs scheduled throughout the week, National Park Week is the perfect time to discover the diverse wildlife, iconic landscapes, vibrant culture, and rich history found in America’s national parks.

There are countless ways to enjoy National Park Week. Below are nine great suggestions happening April 19 – 27 in national parks.  A complete list of National Park Week events taking place across the country is available at www.nationalparkweek.org.


Go wild for bears. This year the National Park Foundation has teamed with Disney on the new Disneynature film, “Bears,” premiering just in time for Earth Day and National Park Week on Friday, April 18. For every ticket sold during “Bears” opening week, April 18-24, Disneynature will make a contribution to the National Park Foundation to protect wildlife and wild places across America’s National Park System.

Go wild for Junior Ranger Day.  On April 26, young visitors can celebrate National Junior Ranger Day by taking part in special family-friendly activities.

Go wild for a walk in a park. More than 100 free, ranger-led walks are offered during National Park Week. Hike to a cloud forest, take a sunset stroll, wander through John F. Kennedy’s neighborhood, and more.

Go wild for Earth Day. Tour John Muir’s house in California and take part in a combined John Muir Birthday/Earth Day Celebration with music, food, and family-friendly events.

Go wild for Hawaiian culture. Experience first-hand the traditions of Hawaiian sailing and Hawaiian crafts! Join a sailing expert guide for a ride on a double-hulled canoe and learn interesting tidbits about Hawaiian sailing techniques, history, and culture. Immerse yourself in Hawaiian crafts such as lauhala weaving, coconut leaf weaving, and lei making.

Go wild for Patriot’s Day. Commemorate the opening battle of the American Revolutionary War with parades, reenactments, and specialceremonies in Massachusetts.

Go wild for waterfalls. Take the Whiskeytown Waterfall Challenge at Whiskeytown National Recreation Area in beautiful northern California and hike to Brandy Creek, Boulder Creek, Crystal Creek and Whiskeytown Falls!

Go wild for national park road trips. Enjoy a self-guided tour to historic places, most of which are listed in the National Register of HistoricPlaces. Each trip takes you to a variety of places significant in American history, architecture, archeology, engineering, and culture.

Go wild for wildflowers. Spring has sprung and it is the perfect time to see nature in all of its colorful glory in parks across the country. Parks including the Great Smoky Mountains in Tennessee and Cumberland Gap and Mammoth Cave in Kentucky will have wildflower walks and talks.

Using the resources on the National Park Week website, visitors can plan adventures, share national park photos, videos, and tips, and learn about all the ways to help support national parks.

National Park Week also offers many opportunities for the public to explore local parks, trails, and architectural gems sustained by National Park Service programs such as the Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance program and the National Register of Historic Places.

ABOUT THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America’s 401 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Learn more at www.nps.gov.

ABOUT THE NATIONAL PARK FOUNDATION
The National Park Foundation is the official charity of America’s national parks and nonprofit partner to the National Park Service.  Chartered by Congress in 1967, the National Park Foundation raises private funds to help PROTECT more than 84 million acres of national parks through critical conservation and preservation efforts, CONNECT all Americans with their incomparable natural landscapes, vibrant culture and rich history, and INSPIRE the next generation of park stewards.  Find out more and become a part of the national park community at www.nationalparks.org.