When was the last time you took your kids to a County park? Come celebrate National Kids to Parks Day Saturday at special events in Bonita, Campo, Julian, Pala and Ramona — or just enjoy one of the County’s 30-plus parks and preserves!
County parks are always a great place to play and enjoy the outdoors. But agencies all across the country — led by the National Park Trust and including America’s State Parks, the American Academy of Pediatrics, Boy Scouts of America and the National Environmental Education Foundation — are teaming up May 19 to remind families just how much fun parks are on the second annual Kids to Parks Day. And you can be a part of that celebration!
“National Kids to Parks Day is a great opportunity to explore one of our parks or preserves,” said San Diego County Board of Supervisors Chairman Ron Roberts. “The truth is there is something for everybody at County parks, and a County park for just about everybody.”
At Ramona’s Dos Picos Park, kids and families can see and feel the skins of living and non-living animals during “Snakes ‘n Skins with Ranger Ron,” explore rocks, plants and critters during “Jr. Rangers,” or play with the biggest beach ball they’ve ever seen during “Earth Ball!” (See below for program times.)
At Campo’s Lake Morena County Park, you can take a nature hike and learn how the Kumeyaay Indians used native plants to live!
And there’s more! There are ranger walks and an aquatic park (for a nominal fee) at Sweetwater Regional Park in Campo; “Look Back In Time” history lessons at Wilderness Gardens Preserve in Pala; and nature hikes at William Heise County Park in Julian.
Recognizing that young people spend far too much time indoors and far too little time appreciating and preserving America's magnificent national, state and local parks, National Kids to Parks Day encourages children across America to get out and play. This simple idea of playing in a park can potentially give millions of kids the reason to get active and get outside just as families prepare for summer.
Check here to see the National Park Trust’s list of events taking place at state and San Diego County parks. Check here at the County Department of Parks and Recreation’s website to find listings for all of the County’s parks, maps to help you get there and more!
So don’t just sit there — come celebrate National Kids to Parks Day May 19 at a County park near you!
County Park Events
DOS PICOS REGIONAL PARK
17953 Dos Picos Park Rd., Ramona 760-789-2220
- SNAKES ‘N SKINS WITH RANGER RON , 11–11:30 am
- JR. RANGERS , 1–2 p.m.
- CRAFT TIME, 2–3 p.m.
- EARTH BALL, 4– 4:30 p.m.
- TEXTURE SCAVENGER HUNT, 5–6:30 p.m.
Note: Free Saturday programs meet at the Amphitheater at the scheduled time. Programs may change or cancel without notice depending upon the weather and Ranger availability. The Ranger needs to have at least 10 people for each program to begin, so bring a friend!
LAKE MORENA COUNTY PARK
2550 Lake Morena Dr., Campo (619) 579-4101
- NATURE HIKE, 2:30 pm
- SWEETWATER SUMMIT REGIONAL PARK AND CAMPGROUND
3218 Summit Meadow Rd., Bonita 619-472-7572 - RED HILL PROGRAM PARK RANGER LED WALK, 10 a.m.–noon
WILDERNESS GARDENS PRESERVE
14209 Highway 76, Pala 760-742-1631
- A LOOK BACK IN TIME, 10 a.m.–2 p.m.
- Note: Parking is $3.
WILLIAM HEISE COUNTY PARK
4945 Heise Park Rd., Julian 760-765-0650
- NATURE HIKE AT HEISE, 10:30 am
Taken from a San Diego County news release.
