National Park Week: Plan-A-Trip Programs
Tuesday – Friday, April 24-27
5:30 pm each evening
St. Croix River Visitor Center
401 N. Hamilton St.
St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin
Someday, summer will arrive in the St. Croix Valley. The National Park Service is here to help you and your family enjoy it.
As the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway marks its 50th anniversary this year, the National Park Service and its partners are urging everyone to celebrate by visiting a new part of the river, or seeking out new St. Croix experiences.
A series of events during National Park Week in late April will offer information and assistance from experienced staff from the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway.
National Parks near and far
To help people explore new parts of the Riverway, two of the programs will focus on planning a trip on either the upper St. Croix (above the St. Croix Falls dam) or the Namekagon.
Summer is also the season for family vacations, especially to the nation’s other great National Parks. Most of the Park Service staff on the St. Croix have worked in other parks, as well as visited many other parks, and have great insider information about making the most of your trip.
Organizer Jean Van Tatenhove, NPS visual information specialist, said the Park Service staff are eager to share their knowledge.
We really want for the anniversary, with the spotlight on us this year, we want people to take advantage of our knowledge for trip planning,” she said. “We want to help people celebrate the anniversary by getting out on the river, maybe going somewhere they’ve never gone before, never paddled or fished an area. We commonly get questions — this river is so complicated, the logistics are so spread out, it’s hard for people the first time.”
So let your local National Park help make it easier! The events will have short presentations and then lots of time to ask questions — and staff will be happy to pick up the phone and call their colleagues at other parks to track down the information everyone needs.
Details:
Tuesday, April 24: Plan a Trip to the Upper St. Croix River
Paddle or fish a new stretch! Watch a short presentation about the St. Croix River above the hydroelectric dam. Discover “Ranger Recommended” trips. There will be a question and answer period and personalized information to help you plan your trip.
Wednesday, April 25: Plan a Trip to a National Park
Are you planning a trip in national park country this year? We can help you find maps, suggest activities, and show you online resources. Talk with park staff who have visited or worked in many of America’s parks.
Thursday, April 26: Plan a Trip to the Namekagon River
Paddle or fish a new river! Watch a short presentation about the Namekagon River. Discover “Ranger Recommended” trips on this tributary to the St. Croix. There will be a question and answer period to help you plan your trip.
Friday, April 27: Plan a Trip to a Family Friendly National Park
Do you have a fourth grader in your family? The “Every Kid in a Park” program can help you get into national parks for free. Do you know about Junior Ranger programs in parks you want to visit? We can help you plan a trip that is geared towards helping the kids discover the parks.
