Kids in Parks is inviting families to the grand opening of a new TRACK Trail at 11 a.m., Saturday, August 24, at Rocky Knob Picnic Area, milepost 169 on the Blue Ridge Parkway. The event is one of many across the country hosted in celebration of National TRACK Trails Day, which marks the 10th anniversary of the Kids in Parks program. Children can enjoy a ribbon cutting ceremony, a guided hike, and additional outdoor activities.
The day at Rocky Knob Picnic Area also marks the opening of the program’s 200th TRACK Trail in the country.
“We are so thrilled to celebrate our 10-year anniversary and the opening of our 200th trail with an event on the Blue Ridge Parkway,” said Jason Urroz, Director of Kids in Parks. “Our first trail opened on the Parkway in 2009, so it’s only fitting that we mark this milestone in the national park that germinated the program.”
Kids in Parks is comprised of a nationwide network of TRACK Trails that feature printed guides designed to turn an ordinary hike into a fun-filled, discovery-packed adventure. Families can hike, bike, canoe, play disc golf, and more, all while learning about the natural, cultural, and historical resources located at each site. The Rocky Knob TRACK Trail will be the seventh on the Blue Ridge Parkway.
TRACK Trails allow children to truly engage with the outdoors by inspiring them to identify trees and birds, view the forest from the perspective of animals, and search for natural features, among other fun activities. The ease of the hikes and educational materials provide a positive introduction to outdoor activities. As a bonus, participants can earn free prizes in the mail for registering their TRACK Trail adventures online.
“Over the last 10 years, more than one million kids and families have gotten unplugged and active outdoors on TRACK Trails,” Urroz said. “Through TRACK Trails, Kids in Parks is helping generate future stewards for our parks, public lands, and the Blue Ridge Parkway.”
Kids in Parks works to encourage children and parents to improve their health by venturing outdoors and “unplugging” from the distractions of modern life. In a time when children have become increasingly disconnected with nature, the benefits of outdoor play can be dramatic and long-lasting. And not only do people benefit from being outdoors, but parks also benefit when people use them. Stronger connections between children and parks cultivate stewards who will understand the value of public lands.
Kids in Parks launched with the installation of a TRACK Trail on the Blue Ridge Parkway in Asheville, N.C., and was developed by the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation in partnership with the National Park Service and the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation. Today, there are TRACK Trails in 12 states, and Washington, D.C.
To learn more about Kids in Parks, get driving directions to the event, or find other National TRACK Trails Day celebrations, visit KidsinParks.com.