There are many things we enjoyed on our trip over this past year.  Second only to visiting with friends and family was spending so many glorious uninterrupted hours, days, weeks in our national parks.  If you live near a national park (and most of you do), I encourage you all to go and explore our heritage and history at these fantastic institutions.  For added incentive, National Park Week is coming up from April 19th to 27th.  In celebration, parks are offering FREE admission on April 19th and 20th.  While not all parks charge admission, if a park you’ve been thinking of visiting does, this is the perfect time to check it out.  Also, April 26th is National Junior Ranger Day.  We’ll definitely have to do something with Van to celebrate.  Maybe we’ll bust out all eight of his junior ranger badges (he just earned his eighth at the Springfield, MA Armory).

Junior Ranger Van

In celebration of all things outdoors and free, KOA is offering a free night of camping on Saturday, May 10th if you stay on Friday, May 9th.  Funds raised during that weekend will support KOA Care Camps, which allow children with cancer and their siblings to attend special summer camps around the country.  Win, Win!

Even if you’re not up for a visit to a national park or camping, I hope you are all enjoying some time in the fresh air and sun.  Nothing heals better than an afternoon frolic through the woods.