FLORIDA STATE PARKS CELEBRATE NATIONAL KIDS TO PARKS DAY ON MAY 18

~State Parks to host a variety of family friendly events and activities ~

A family enjoys a day at the beach at Little Talbot Island State Park in Jacksonville.

TALLAHASSEE –The Florida Department of Environmental Protection's Florida Park Service will celebrate National Kids to Parks Day on Saturday, May 18. Parents are encouraged to celebrate by bringing their children to a state park for a picnic, a hike in the woods or a refreshing swim.

"National Kids to Parks Day provides a wonderful opportunity for families to experience Florida's natural beauty with a fun day outside," said Florida Park Service Director Donald V. Forgione. "This Saturday, gather your kids and friends and head to a Florida state park to explore nature and enjoy our famous sunshine."

Many of Florida's state parks have organized special events appropriate for children and families for Saturday, May 18:

Northwest Florida

Civil War Weekend

9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Orman House Historic State Park

Apalachicola

Topsail Nature Hike

3 p.m.

Topsail Hill Preserve State Park

Santa Rosa Beach

Northeast Florida

Nature Hike

2 p.m.

Fort George Island Cultural State Park

Jacksonville

Turtles and Reptiles Program

10 a.m.

O'Leno State Park

High Springs

Central Florida

Discovery Hike

10 a.m.

Gamble Rogers Memorial State Recreation Area

Flagler Beach

Nature Fest

10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Lake Louisa State Park

Clermont

Disasters & Dreams Powerpoint Program

1 p.m.

Sebastian Inlet State Park

Melbourne Beach

Stargazing Event

7:30 p.m.

Silver River State Park

Ocala

Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt

10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Tomoka State Park

Ormond Beach

Third Saturday Photo Challenge

Washington Oaks Gardens State Park

Palm Coast

Southwest Florida

Music in the Park

7 p.m.

Highlands Hammock State Park

Sebring

Cayo Costa Heritage Day

9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Cayo Costa State Park

Boca Grande

Eagle Hike

8 a.m.

Werner-Boyce Salt Springs State Park

Port Richey

South Florida

Introduction to Kayak Fishing

1 p.m.

John D. MacArthur Beach State Park

North Palm Beach

Scavenger Hunt

10 a.m.

Jonathan Dickinson State Park

Hobe Sound

National Kids to Parks Day is a nationwide grassroots movement which was established as part of the National Park Trust’s ongoing efforts to connect youth across the country with nature and encourage them to explore outdoors – especially at parks in their communities. National Kids to Parks Day is held on the third Saturday every May and is responsible for bringing more than 100,000 kids and families to parks