All 36 Virginia State Parks will celebrate Kids to Parks Day, this Saturday, May 17, with a wide variety of programs and activities for children and families. Kids to Parks Day, sponsored by the National Park Trust, is designed to get kids outdoors and into parks and to promote environmental stewardship and a healthy lifestyle.

Pocahontas State Park is the nearest state park to most Central Virginians. A day of activities at Pocahontas, in Chesterfield, will include a float fishing school led by the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, a guided children’s bicycle trail ride conducted by the Friends of Pocahontas State Park and a program on birds of prey presented by Maymont Park. Most programs and activities are free (parking fees apply), but some activities may have fees. Each of the above activities has limited participation, so please call (804) 796-4255 to register.

At Powhatan State Park, there will be a number of ranger-led programs to participate in: Wildlife Encounters — 10:30 a.m. at the shelter between the park office and the playground; Guided Hike — noon. Meet at the E. Floyd Yates Conservation Area parking lot; Wild Exploration — 1:30 p.m. Meet at the Trailhead Parking area (follow state park road to where the paved road ends and turn left); Astronomy Night — 9 p.m. Meet at the Trailhead Parking area
(follow state park road to where the paved road ends and turn left). There are no fees for these programs, but parking fees apply. Please register by calling (804) 598-7148.

For the complete schedule of state park programs and events, visit: http://1.usa.gov/1ikHSfG. Some activities require pre-registration or additional fees.