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.
| Day | Theme | Hashtag |
| Saturday, April 16 | sPark Discovery | #sParkDiscovery |
| Sunday, April 17 | sPark Creativity | #sParkCreativity |
| Monday, April 18 | sPark Collaboration | #sParkCollaboration |
| Tuesday, April 19 | sPark Innovation | #sParkInnovation |
| Wednesday, April 20 | sPark Opportunities | #sParkOpportunities |
| Thursday, April 21 | sPark Preservation | #sParkPreservation |
| Friday, April 22 | sPark Action | #sParkAction |
| Saturday, April 23 | sPark Curiosity | #sParkCuriosity |
| Sunday, April 24 | sPark Memories | #sParkMemories |
How can you celebrate National Park Week 2022
You can use the daily themes to guide how you can celebrate!
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
