National Get Outdoors Day in New Bedford

Get a head start on your summer fun with a visit to New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park this Saturday, June 9. In celebration of National Get Outdoors Day, all 397 national parks will waive entrance fees.

“Outdoor physical activity is an essential part of a healthy lifestyle and New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park is a great place to get out and enjoy a free guided tour at our park,” said New Bedford Whaling NHP Park Superintendent Jen Nersesian.

New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park will offer a free guided walking tour at 10:30 am. From 11:00 am until noon there will be games on the lawn with Abby, one of the 1850s ladies. From 9 am- 5 pm, the exhibits about the city’s fishing industry will be on display at the Wharfinger Building (the old fish auction house) on Fisherman’s Wharf. In addition, the park will have its Burn While You Learn maps available, which provide information about calories burned while walking to various locations within the historic district. Movie, tours, maps, and visits to the visitor center and Wharfinger Building are all free of charge. Both the visitor center and Wharfinger Building are open and free of charge from 9 am- 5 pm.

National Get Outdoors Day, now in its fifth year, encourages Americans, especially youth, to participate in outdoor activities while enjoying the beauty of public lands such as national parks, forests, and wildlife refuges. Nationwide, hundreds of organizations and businesses will partner with Federal, state, and local agencies to provide fun and healthy events at sites throughout the country.

President Barack Obama has proclaimed the month of June as Great Outdoors Month and encourages all Americans to share in the natural splendor of which we are all proud inheritors. Governor Deval Patrick has also proclaimed June as Great Outdoors Month.

The National Park Service will have four more entrance fee free days in 2012 – September 29 (National Public Lands Day) and November 10 to 12 (Veterans Day weekend).

If you are planning a trip that includes multiple national parks, you might consider the $80 annual pass that provides entrance to all national parks, national wildlife refuges, national forests, and many other Federal lands – more than 2,000 in all. This America the Beautiful National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass is offered free to all active duty military members and their dependents. Information on these and other pass options is available online.