Yosemite celebrates Earth Day | Sierra Star

Yosemite National Park will celebrate National Park Week and Earth Day from Saturday, April 19, through Sunday, April 27, 2014. Special events and activities are being sponsored and organized by the National Park Service (NPS), DNC Parks & Resorts at Yosemite, Inc., Yosemite Conservancy, and the Ansel Adams Gallery.

Park entrance fees will be waived for Yosemite National Park from Saturday, April 19, through Sunday, April 20, 2013. Camping fees and all other fees will still be applicable.

This year, the focus of National Park Week is “Go Wild!”, which provides a fun way to discover the wonders of America’s national parks. From diverse wildlife and iconic landscapes to vibrant culture and rich history, our National Park System has something for everyone. The “Go Wild!” focus inspires visitors to go wild for different aspects of the National Park Service such as "Go Wild for history," or "Go Wild for nature." It also helps encourage the public to visit a nearby national park to camp, hike, watch wildlife, and enjoy being in nature.

This year’s annual celebration will include events and activities throughout the whole week. Events and activities include:

Saturday, April 19 (National Junior Ranger Day)10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.: Junior Ranger Exploration Fair10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.: Junior Ranger Walk12:00 p.m. – 12:30 p.m.: Wee Wild Ones1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.: Junior Ranger Day Trash Pick Up1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.: Junior Ranger Walk2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.: Earth Day Bike Ride7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.: Earth Day Family Night

Sunday, April 208:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.: Yosemite: A Gathering of Spirit

Monday, April 218:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.: Visiting Yosemite: A Journey Through Time

Tuesday, April 22 (Earth Day)9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.: Photo Walk: Ansel Adams and the Yosemite Landscape10:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.: Earth-Friendly Product Faire11:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.: Children’s Yoga11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.: Sustainable Salad Bar Tasting11:45 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.: Wee Wild Ones12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.: Universal Waste Collection12:30 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.: Live Earth Music for Kids1:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.: Earth Day Cupcakes and Lemonade1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.: Earth Day Trash Pick Up1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.: Photography Class: In the Footsteps of Ansel Adams1:15 p.m. – 1:45 p.m.: Children’s Storytelling4:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.: Yosemite Journal Reflections8:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.: A glimpse into Yosemite’s Early Chinese History

Wednesday, April 238:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.: American Indians and National Parks

Thursday, April 248:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.: Wild Wanderings

Friday, April 257:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.: Fate of Heaven: A Discussion About the Future of National Parks

Saturday, April 268:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.: Yosemite Sesquicentennial: 150 Years of Stories

Sunday, April 278:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.: Yosemite: A Gathering of Spirit

For more information and a description of all events, please visit: www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/guide.htm and click on the current “Yosemite Guide” link, or call 209-372-0200.

-NPS