Starting this weekend, your family can celebrate National Park Week (April 21-29) by enjoying any of America’s 397 national parks for free! National parks are home to our country’s most spectacular natural and cultural landscapes – not to mention thousands of lakes, rivers, trails, and open spaces that invite families to get out and get moving!  

Moving outside is a great way for kids to get the 60 minutes of daily physical activity they need to stay healthy. Studies show that regular activity lowers stress, improves concentration, and boosts creativity.

This week, national parks across the country are inviting families to enjoy the outdoors and try new activities like hiking, biking, paddling, and horseback riding. On April 28, dozens of parks will host special events to celebrate Junior Ranger Day. Some of these will focus specifically on healthy, active lifestyles as part of the Let’s Move Outside! program. To earn a Let’s Move Outside! Junior Ranger badge, kids must participate in 60 minutes of park-based physical activity, which may include anything from an Urban Wilderness Canoe Adventure along the Mississippi River, to the Junior Secret Service Agent program at Eisenhower National Historic Site.

You won’t be able to visit all national parks in a single week, but don’t let that stop you from exploring! Kids can visit the Web Rangers, to learn about national parks and earn badges online. Parents can join the fun by sharing photos and videos as part of the National Park Foundation’s “Picture Yourself in a Park” project. 

Celebrate National Park Week with your family, April 21-29, and get moving outside! Find a park near you and take a hike, climb a tree, pitch a tent -- just make sure you get  moving. (Photo by Christine Korkalo)

So this week, take your family to a national park and get moving outside! Visit NPS.gov to find a park near you.