Vicky Sosa
by Vicky Sosa
Posted April 5, 2022

It’s that time of year again: National Park Week! Every year in April, a presidentially proclaimed 9-day celebration highlights America’s parks, history, and culture. The celebrations are put together by the National Park Service and the National Park Foundation, the official nonprofit partner of America’s national parks.

To help you celebrate, we’ll be going over the following:

  • What is National Park Week
  • When is National Park Week 2022
  • How can you celebrate National Park Week 2022
  • Where can you celebrate National Park Week 2022

Now, let’s get started!

What is National Park Week

The very first National Park Week took place in 1991. It was created to celebrate the National Park Service’s 75th anniversary. Since then, the tradition has continued. Every year parks all around the country host special programs, events, and even digital experiences. Each year the celebration also has a unique theme. The theme for National Park Week 2022 is “sPark Connections.”

When is National Park Week 2022

National Park Week 2022 takes place April 16 to 24. And although the entire week has its overall theme, there are daily themes as well. Each day even has its own special hashtag that you can use on social media, along with the weeklong hashtags #NationalParkWeek and #sParkConnections.

DayThemeHashtag
Saturday, April 16sPark Discovery#sParkDiscovery
Sunday, April 17sPark Creativity#sParkCreativity
Monday, April 18sPark Collaboration#sParkCollaboration
Tuesday, April 19sPark Innovation#sParkInnovation
Wednesday, April 20sPark Opportunities#sParkOpportunities
Thursday, April 21sPark Preservation#sParkPreservation
Friday, April 22sPark Action#sParkAction
Saturday, April 23sPark Curiosity#sParkCuriosity
Sunday, April 24sPark Memories#sParkMemories

How can you celebrate National Park Week 2022

You can use the daily themes to guide how you can celebrate!

spotting a bison in the wild
Courtesy: NPS Photos

Saturday, April 16: sPark Discovery

On the first day of National Park Week, you can get into any national park for free! It’s the perfect opportunity to explore! National parks come in all shapes and sizes. There might be a national park close to home that you didn’t realize was a national park. Or, you can explore one of the newest national parks that offer acres of newly recognized land to discover. It’s also National Junior Ranger Day, a way to spark a love of national parks with your little ones, which you can celebrate at your local national park. Finally, April 16 is also ParkRx Day, during which you are invited to enjoy the healing power of nature. The NPS encourages you to get your dose of nature at home, in the neighborhood, a nearby park or trail, or virtually, and then share your experience on social media using #PowerOfParksForHealth and #BeforeAndAfterParkRx to get a chance to be featured in their official National Park Service #BeforeandAfterParkRx photo gallery!

George Washington Carver National Monument art contest
Courtesy: NPS Photos

Sunday, April 17: sPark Creativity

National Parks have inspired many artistic works like paintings, poems, and stories. Many national parks have programs encouraging visitors to express their creative sides through essay contests, poetry slams, and art contests.

SeeBird program in Alaska
Courtesy: NPS / Jim Pfeiffenberger

Monday, April 18: sPark Collaboration

The national parks and their programs have grown thanks to the National Park Service’s many partners. You can learn more about these partnerships and even create your own collaborations that will benefit parks and their surrounding communities.

EV charging station in Petroglyph National Monument
Courtesy: NPS Photo

Tuesday, April 19: sPark Innovation

Although the national parks work to preserve history, they also strive to use the latest technology to support conservation and preservation efforts. This can be seen by the use of solar panels and adding electric vehicle charging stations to parking lots.

Hillary Robles Latino Heritage Internship Program
Courtesy: NPS Photo

Wednesday, April 20: sPark Opportunities

The National Park Service and its partner organizations employ people from a variety of career fields. You can learn about all kinds of employment opportunities and see how you can join the team of people protecting our parks.

National Park Service's Preservation Technology
Courtesy: NPS Photo

Thursday, April 21: sPark Preservation

Learn how you can get involved with preservation. The National Park Service is a leader in preserving historic, cultural, natural, and recreational resources. It also provides technical and financial support for preservation in different communities across the country.

Crew at Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve
Courtesy: NPS Photo

Friday, April 22: sPark Action

Our actions directly impact our environment. Discover what the National Park Service does to study and protect the wildlife, vegetation, and ecosystems within its parks.

Network to Freedom Program
Courtesy: NPS Photo

Saturday, April 23: sPark Curiosity

Are you eager to learn more about historic events that took place on national park land? Or maybe you’d like to know more about unique landscapes? Most parks have museums, visitor centers, ranger programs, or special events where you can learn about the area’s history, culture, nature, and even recreation.

Memories at National Parks
Courtesy: NPS Photo

Sunday, April 24: sPark Memories

Whether it’s with family, friends, or on a solo trip, you’re sure to make lasting memories while visiting national parks. What new memories or traditions will you make this year?

Where can you celebrate National Park Week 2022

There are over 400 national parks, so odds are you can find a park nearby. If, however, you’d like to visit a park from the comfort of your home, you can also take a virtual visit to a national park. Either way, you’re sure to have a great time.

Ready for National Park Week?

If you’ve been waiting for the perfect time to visit a national park, this is it! You can rent an RV today and start planning your trip. Remember to reserve a campground as soon as possible since they do fill up quickly. Then get on the road and start celebrating!

Vicky Sosa

Digital nomad and house sitter!

 

Ready to get started.

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