National Park Week

Say hello to beautiful plants, native wildlife, natural landscapes, and unique terrains because it’s time to celebrate and enjoy National Park Week!

History of National Park Week

The first National Park Week was celebrated in 1991 when it was declared by US President George H.W. Bush to honor the 75th anniversary of the founding of the National Park Service.

This event was originally scheduled to be celebrated during the final week of August but the dates have since been changed to the last week of April, to be celebrated alongside Earth Day.

While it is technically called a ‘week’, the event runs for nine whole days, including both weekends on either side of National Park Week, giving participants plenty of time to get connected, relax, and join in on so much fun!

National Park Week offers a wide range of events and activities in parks and green spaces throughout the nation.

The National Park Service, National Park Foundation, the National Parks Conservation Association, and many other organizations have gotten on board with prompting and celebrating this important event in the life of parks.

How to Celebrate National Park Week

Have loads of fun during the nine days of National Park Week, celebrating nature and joining in with others in some of these ways:

Visit a (National) Park

Whether it comes in the form of the local green space and playground around the corner or taking a road trip to one of the country’s dozens of national parks, National Park Week is just the time to get out and explore nature!

Parks run by the National Park Service have been known to offer free admission on the first day of this event, so check out their website for more information.

Volunteer for National Park Week

Various local, state, and national park service providers rely on volunteers to help them perform tasks and keep their parks running smoothly.

From helping with administration to running kid-friendly programs, from cleaning up green spaces and beaches to helping manage volunteers, there are plenty of needs throughout the year – and perhaps especially during a busy time like National Park Week.

Plus, since the timing of this event often runs close to, or even overlaps with, National Volunteer Week this is an especially good time to make a difference!

Learn More About National Parks

Spend some time brushing up on the history of the country’s 63 National Parks and learn about how they function today.

A great way to do this might be by watching a documentary about national parks with some friends or family members.

Here are a few documentary films or television miniseries to consider watching in honor of National Park Week:

• The National Parks: America’s Best Idea (2009)
• The Great Yellowstone Thaw (2017)
• Our Great National Parks (2022)
• Into the Grand Canyon (2019)