Free City of Boulder events celebrate Let’s Move! National Kids to Parks Day on May 19

5/15/2012

The City of Boulder’s Parks and Recreation and Open Space and Mountain Parks departments will host a number of events, all free, on Saturday, May 19, as part of Let’s Move! National Kids to Parks Day. Let’s Move! is a program developed by First Lady Michelle Obama to solve the epidemic of childhood obesity within a generation. National Kids to Parks Day encourages children and their families to get outdoors and explore local parks in their communities.

Free City of Boulder events on May 19 include:

9 to 11 a.m.: “Fishin’ Fun” with Open Space and Mountain Parks (OSMP) Participants will join Ranger Arian Hampel on a two-hour fishing excursion, where they explore fishing techniques, equipment, and places to go on OSMP lands to catch bass, sunfish, bluegill and carp. The program is wheelchair and kid-friendly. Limited to 24 participants. Call 303-441-3440 for location and to sign up.

9 a.m. to 1 p.m.: OSMP’s “Walk on the Wild Side” at Walden Ponds, located on 75th Street, about half mile north of Valmont Road. During this family-friendly Walk-A-Thon, participants will enjoy a one-kilometer or three-kilometer walk with fun, interactive education stations along the route. Participants also learn about wetland habitats and local and migratory birds.

Noon to 4 p.m.: Parks and Recreation events at East Boulder Community Park, 5660 Sioux Drive

Health and fitness: activities include family yoga, family bootcamp, youth and adult tennis, a “spin and play” wheel, interactive nutrition quiz with a dietitian, healthy snacks and SNAG® (Starting New At Golf).
Conservation activities include tree planting, water wise garden tips and a park clean-up.
Hands-only CPR training: HeartSmart, Inc. will host a hands-only CPR training, and the first 100 people to complete the training will receive a free first-aid kit.
12:30 to 2 p.m.: “Hiking as a Family” with OSMP, starting at the Chautauqua Ranger Cottage, 900 Baseline Rd. Participants will join Naturalist/Early Childhood Educator Debora Martin on an easy hike, and will learn about the importance of getting kids outdoors this summer and beyond.

9 to 11 p.m. “Saturn’s Rings” with OSMP at Boulder Valley Ranch-Sage Trailhead, one mile east of Highway 36 on Longhorn Road (a dirt road). Participants will spend a clear night exploring Saturn and Mars through a telescope with Naturalist Dave Sutherland (program will be canceled if there is a 50% cloud cover).

For more information on these events, visit www.BoulderParks-Rec.org or www.NatureHikes.org.

City of Boulder Let’s Move! National Kids to Parks Day sponsors include HeartSmart Inc., Whole Foods, Right Response, City of Boulder, Lucky's Market and Rocky Mountain Sunscreen. For more information, call Dave Sutherland, OSMP, at 720-564-2057, or Summer Kennedy, Parks and Recreation, at 303-413-7264.