This is an ongoing series where we share ideas, big and small, for getting outside. Did you read our first post about getting outside? Are you ready to step it up a notch?

This post’s suggestion is simple : take advantage of park programs! Most state and national parks offer educational programs for kids and adults of all ages and abilities.

The programs are customized to the features of each park and to the seasons and natural phenomena. For example, many parks, especially those in dark regions, hosted Perseid viewing parties last weekend. Assateague Island National Seashore is located along a popular bird migratory pathway and visitors can take advantage of this location by going on the weekly bird-watching walk with a ranger.  At Rocky Mountain National Park, you can attend a talk about bighorn sheep, a year-round resident within the park. And that’s just the tip of the proverbial iceberg.

Many parks list their program schedule online, but each park’s NPS.gov website is slightly different and navigation isn’t the most intuitive. Don’t be deterred, you can call the park office or stop in when you arrive.

While there are programs for all ages, we particularly love the Junior Ranger programs offered throughout the national park system and geared towards elementary to middle-school aged kids. In addition to describing the program, this link provides a few junior ranger badges that you can earn at home and lists the junior ranger programs at all of the national parks.

No matter your age or interests, there’s bound to be a program that interests you. I’ve learned about the pharmaceutical benefits from ocean-dwelling animals, I’ve taken a guided tour through the cliff dwellings at Mesa Verde, and I’ve enjoyed the luxury of sitting around a bonfire without having to actually collect the wood or light the fire!

Have you attended any programs? Are there ones that you love and would recommend to others? We’d love to hear about it in the comments!

Treat yourself to a park visit and take a moment to learn more about the natural and cultural resources that make these places so special.