Ian Brickey (202) 675-6270, ian.brickey@sierraclub.org
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The annual National Park Week returns from April 17–25. The event celebrates our national parks and encourages everyone to get outdoors and explore the history, culture, and landscapes of these treasured places. The event kicks off Friday, April 16 with a Twitter chat for a conversation about National Park Week, ways to recreate responsibly, connected conservation, and other outdoors topics. Highlights for the 2021 celebration include “ParkRx Day,” when admission to all national parks will be free to encourage visitors to seek recreation and restoration in the outdoors. “Military Monday” honors veterans and servicemembers and recognizes the healing they are increasingly seeking out on public lands. “National Junior Ranger Day” encourages children and youth to explore the wonders of nature through national parks.
In response, Sierra Club Outdoors for All campaign director Jackie Ostfeld released the following statement:
"National Park Week is an opportunity to celebrate not just our national parks, but the important role the outdoors play in our lives and our communities.
“These special events help make our national parks more accessible for those groups most in need of the outdoors and can help establish the lifelong connections to nature that will create the next generation of environmental advocates.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has made it clear just how vital the outdoors are for individual and community health and wellness, and that those green spaces are not equitably accessible for all. For as long as we can remember, people have sought out nature for rejuvenation. As we seek to recover from this national trauma, it is more important than ever that we seek out nature for our own restoration and work to build an outdoors that is truly for all.”
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with more than 3.5 million members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.