News Release 12-031
Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission
1111 Israel Road S.W., P.O. Box 42650, Olympia, WA 98504-2650, (360) 902-8500
Don Hoch, Director
Media contact:
Lem Pratt, (253) 661-4955 Lem.Pratt@parks.wa.gov
Sandy Mealing, (360) 902-8559 Sandy.Mealing@parks.wa.gov
Wash. Telecommunications Relay Service: (800) 833-6388
Earth Day fair returns to Saltwater State Park
OLYMPIA –
April 6, 2012 –
The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission invites the public to attend the Fourth Annual Earth Day fair at Saltwater State Park in Des Moines.
The fair runs from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 20, at Saltwater State Park, 25205 8th Place South, Des Moines. The event focuses on the importance of cultivating an appreciation for environmental stewardship in today’s youth. Participants will discover the meaning of the 2012 fair theme, "Let Nature Inspire You," through a multitude of environmentally centered activities, including watershed education, a salmon lifecycle exhibit, touch tanks, recycling basics, water safety education, arts and crafts and guided beach walks. The U.S. Coast Guard will provide boating safety education to fair participants. Kids and teens may also explore careers in marine science, forestry, national and community service and environmental education by talking with experts who will be on hand for the event.
The event is presented in partnership with the King County Authority AmeriCorps and Federal Way Public Schools AmeriCorps teams and is open to everyone. Large groups and schools are asked to register prior to the event. For more information or to register online, visiting http://www.earthdayfair2012.co.cc/.
Saltwater State Park is a camping park featuring 1,445 feet of saltwater shoreline on Puget Sound, halfway between the cities of Tacoma and Seattle. The two cities jointly and literally buried a hatchet at the park during the 1926 park dedication as a symbol of the end of their mutual competition. The park is recreational destination nestled in the core of urban living, with forested trails and beach access. Visitors may explore marine life in tide pools at the park and the seasonal spawning of salmon in McSorley Creek. Saltwater State Park is the only state park that features an underwater, artificial reef, providing divers an opportunity to discover the diversity of sea life and marine environments of Puget Sound.
Stay connected to your state parks by following Washington State Parks at www.facebook.com/WashingtonStateParks, www.twitter.com/WaStatePks_NEWS and www.youtube.com/WashingtonStateParks.
The Commission manages a diverse system of more than 100 state parks and recreation programs, including long-distance trails, boating safety and winter recreation. The 99-year-old park system will celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2013.
Support state parks by purchasing your Discover Pass today, and enjoy a whole year of outdoor fun on Washington’s beautiful state-managed recreation lands. For more information, visit www.discoverpass.wa.gov.
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