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DNR Invites Families To Join Park Quest Adventures
Governor O’Malley Encourages Citizens to Explore Maryland State Parks
ANNAPOLIS, MD — The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) invites families to sign up for Park Quest, a new Maryland Park Service outdoor adventure-based program to encourage families to spend more time enjoying the great outdoors.
“We are fortunate to be blessed with quality public lands in diverse settings throughout our state,” said Governor O’Malley. “As Maryland families begin to plan for summer activities and vacations, we hope they will consider the outstanding destinations right here at home.”
Park Quest is a free 8-week competition, beginning on May 24 and continuing through July 20, which challenges families to complete designated tasks at six specific state parks on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. Participants who complete the challenge activities will qualify to win prizes at a final competition event.
“Maryland State Parks and our new Park Quest adventures offer a conduit through which citizens of every age can experience the outdoors, and connect with our natural world,” said DNR Secretary John Griffin. “An invaluable bond with nature is strengthened when adult mentors inspire and motivate children to become stewards of our environment.”
Up to 250 teams, made up of at least one team member under 16 years of age and one adult, may visit six state parks on Maryland’s Eastern Shore and take part in a variety of activities. Upon completing assigned activities, such as paddling quiet streams, hiking trails in search of letter boxes, finding items on a scavenger hunt and fishing, the team will receive a sticker to affix to their Park Quest passport.
At the conclusion of the 8-week period, all teams with a fully completed Park Quest passport will be invited to attend a day of competition and fun at Pocomoke River State Park. Prizes at the final competition are made possible by Friends of Assateague State Park and corporate sponsors.
Interested participants must register online at http://www.dnr.maryland.gov/publiclands/parkquest/ or by contacting Tuckahoe State Park at 410-820-1668, Monday through Friday.
In addition to encouraging Maryland families and children to enjoy Maryland’s great outdoors through the ParkQuest program, last month, Governor O’Malley signed an Executive Order establishing the Maryland Partnership for Children in Nature, a coalition of state, local, private and non-profit partners charged with promoting the well-being of youth by accelerating environmental learning and expanding opportunities for outdoor experiences. The Partnership is tasked with creating an environmental literacy plan for Maryland students, increasing opportunities for structured outdoor learning through programming on state parks and other conservation lands, enhancing school and community natural areas to provide for structured and unstructured play, and tracking program progress.
May 13, 2008 Contact: Olivia Campbell
410-260-8016 office I 410-507-7525 cell
ocampbell@dnr.state.md.usMaryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is the state agency responsible for providing natural and living resource-related services to citizens and visitors. DNR manages more than 449,000 acres of public lands and 17,000 miles of waterways, along with Maryland's forests, fisheries and wildlife for maximum environmental, economic and quality of life benefits. A national leader in land conservation, DNR-managed parks and natural, historic and cultural resources attract 12 million visitors annually. DNR is the lead agency in Maryland's effort to restore the Chesapeake Bay, the state's number one environmental priority. Learn more at www.dnr.maryland.gov.