Yosemite National Park Celebrates National Park Week and Earth Day with Special Programs and Activities

Yosemite National Park Celebrates National Park Week and Earth Day with Special Programs and Activities - news release
National Park Week April 20 – April 28; Earth Day April 22
Scott Gediman 209-372-0248
Kari Cobb 209-372-0529

Yosemite National Park will celebrate National Park Week and Earth Day beginning on Saturday, April 20, through Sunday, April 28, 2013. Special events and activities are being sponsored and organized by the National Park Service (NPS), DNC Parks & Resorts at Yosemite, Inc. (the park’s primary concessioner), Yosemite Conservancy, and the Ansel Adams Gallery.

Entrance fees will be waived for Yosemite National Park from Monday, April 22, through Friday, April 26, 2013 to celebrate National Park Week and Earth Day. Camping fees and all other fess will still be applicable.

This year, the focus of National Park Week is Did you know…, which provides a fun way to discover the wonders of America’s national parks. The Did you know… focus inspires visitors to ask questions about national parks that encourage learning and activities within the parks. It also helps encourage the public to visit a nearby national park to camp, hike, watch wildlife, and enjoy being in nature.

This year’s annual celebration will include events and activities throughout the whole week. Events and activities include:


Friday, April 19

2:00 p.m.: Earth Day Bike Ride
7:00 p.m.: Earth Day Family Night

Saturday, April 20 (National Junior Ranger Day and Earth Day Celebrations)

9:00 a.m.: Ansel Adams Photography Walk
9:00 a.m.: Stewardship Project
10:00 a.m.: Climbing Trails Restoration Project
10:30 a.m.: Earth Friendly Product Fair
10:30 a.m.: Earth Day & Junior Ranger Day Village Celebration
10:30 a.m.: Earth-Lovin’ Lil’ Ones
11:30 a.m.: Sustainable Salad Bar Tasting
2:00 p.m.: Universal Waste Collection
1:00 p.m.: Earth Day Cupcakes & Lemonade
1:00 p.m.: National Volunteer Day Trash Pick-up
1:00 p.m.: Photography Class
3:00 p.m.: Fine Print Tour
5:30 p.m.: Naturalist Stroll: Poetry and Parks
8:00 p.m.: The National Parks: America’s Best Idea Showing


Saturday, April 20 (Junior Ranger Children’s Stage Events)

10:00 a.m.: Junior Ranger Walk.
11:00 a.m.: Children’s Yoga
11:45 a.m.: Wee Wild Ones
12:30 p.m.: Live Earth Music for Kids
1:15 p.m.: Children’s Storytelling
3:00 p.m.: Junior Ranger Walk

Sunday, April 21

7:00 p.m.: Chasing Ice Documentary Showing


Monday, April 22

8:00 p.m.: National Parks in the Sky


Tuesday, April 23

The National Park Idea Started… Here


Wednesday, April 24

8:00 p.m.: This is America


Thursday, April 25

8:00 p.m.: What’s Wild in Yosemite


Friday, April 26

8:00 p.m.: Primeval Ponderings: A Meander Through the Wilderness


Saturday, April 27

8:00 p.m.: Yosemite by Ear


Sunday, April 28

8:00 p.m.: Untold Stories from America’s National Parks


For more information and a description of all events, please visit: http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/guide.htm and click on the current “Yosemite Guide” link, or call 209-372-0200.