National Park Service Celebrate 96 Years

mountainsOn August 25, 2012, the National Park Service turns 96 years old and the service is encouraging everyone to join in the festivities taking place coast-to-coast. The NPS says anyone who wants to share birthday wishes or stories, pictures, or video from trips to a park can visit a new National Park Foundation birthday website www.NPSbirthday.org to get the celebration going.

“National parks belong to all Americans and we invite everyone to join us on this special day,” said National Park Service Director Jonathan B. Jarvis, who says there are hundreds of events planned, including Rocky Mountain National Park’s big BioBlitz.

The 6th annual BioBlitz, presented by the National Park Service and National Geographic, is a 24-hour event where teams of volunteer scientists, families, students, teachers, and others explore the park and identify species of plants, animals, microbes, fungi, and other organisms. Kids can go on discovery expeditions, take fun, hands-on “classes” at the Biodiversity University, and enjoy music, live animals, and science demonstrations at the Biodiversity Festival, the NPS reports.

The National Park Service offers 397 national parks to choose from.

Visitors can choose the park they would like to visit by location or by event at www.nps.gov. NPS also notes it works with partners to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities that revitalize neighborhoods and enhance the quality of life.

Visit www.nps.gov/communities/states.htm and visit www.nps.gov