The St. Croix River Association was able to facilitate several youth and family outdoor experiences to engage new visitors to the park. Through the creation of 20 introductory and novice outdoor recreational programs, the park staff was able to connect with first time park visitors of all ages. Saint Croix is building long-lasting relationships with new and diverse audiences by providing inclusive lessons on paddling, camping, fishing, hiking and snowshoeing as well as general outdoor skills and outdoor ethics lessons.

The Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River developed a “Step into Recreation” summer program to raise awareness around opportunities for local families to connect with the park. With the help of local partners, families have access to free recreational learning opportunities like paddling, fly tying and fly casting, as well as programs like bird identification, Leave No Trace, and water safety, all while enjoying the beauty of the Delaware watershed.

Petroglyph National Monument created community-based camps to familiarize local Albuquerque families with outdoor settings to encourage discovery, build self-esteem, and create a setting for peer-to-peer teaching about the protection of cultural and natural resources. Through these “Fantastic Family Que-cations,” families will get to engage with all the park has to offer by learning about the petroglyphs, fishing, hiking, pitching tents, building campfires, and more. Not only is this a way for participants to have fun connecting with the park but an opportunity to inspire young kids to become caring park stewards.

The Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area created two new summer programs on Spectacle Island outside of Boston with the goal of establishing the park as a place of outdoor recreation, wellness, education and community fun. The first program, Saturdays on Spectacle, featured free all-day activities for kids of all ages, including kite flying, hikes with a ranger, yoga, swimming, stand up paddle boarding and more. The second program, Summer Nights on Spectacle, offered an evening of free outdoor activities for the whole family as well as live music, entertainment and lawn games.