This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
National Park Week begins Saturday and runs through April 24, offering a number of special events as the agency celebrates its 100th birthday.
All entry fees are being waived at each of the 410 units the National Park Service manages.
"We have an amazing variety of special events taking place during the centennial," said National Park Service Director Jonathan B. Jarvis. "Some commemorate our first hundred years, but many others look to the future, to the next 100 years, and will help connect with and create the next generation of park visitors, supporters and advocates. It is through them that America's lands and stories will be preserved and passed on to future generations."
The week will begin with National Junior Ranger Day Saturday. Parks will host kid oriented activities and distribute the new Centennial Junior Ranger booklet and badge. Throughout the week, many parks will also host Every Kid in a Park events, which offer fourth graders a free annual pass.
The week will also include an education summit on April 20, Earth Day events on April 221, a national park InstaMeet on April 23, and Park Rx Day on April 24. Park Rx is community health initiative where medical doctors "prescribe" time in parks to promote wellness and help prevent and treat chronic disease. More than a dozen national parks will offer health screenings and recreational activities.
For more information, log on to http://www.FindYourPark.com.