Virginia State Parks to offer special programs, volunteer opportunities for National Trails Day

All 36 Virginia State Parks will mark National Trails Day, June 7, with programs or volunteer opportunities to promote and celebrate the more than 200,000 miles of trails in the United States, according to a news release from the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation.

The 21 Virginia State Parks in the Chesapeake Bay watershed will also host volunteer efforts for Clean the Bay Day.

Virginia State Parks offer more than 450 miles of trails, including hiking, biking, equestrian and multi-use trails.

National Trails Day, created by the American Hiking Society, also helps draw attention to the work of thousands of volunteers who construct and maintain trails.

Clean the Bay Day is the Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s annual stream and shoreline cleanup.

Among the National Trails Day or Clean the Bay Day events offered:

The National Trails Day Run for Your Life 5K Race is an annual event at High Bridge Trail State Park in Farmville. The park also hosts a river cleanup along the Appomattox River bank below the trail.

Learn what makes a watershed and participate in the Clean the Creek Scene Investigation (CCSI) to appreciate what impacts the quality of our streams, rivers and bay at Lake Anna State Park in Spotsylvania County.

Sailor’s Creek Battlefield State Park, in Rice, will host Bark in the Park for four-legged friends. And Staunton River Battlefield State Park in Randolph offers the opportunity to bring your dog and learn how dogs were used during the Civil War.

Volunteers are invited to Shenandoah River State Park in Bentonville to help clean along water access points and down the Bluebell Trail adjacent to the river. The four participants who pick up the most trash will win their choice of a free kayak or tube trip.

James River State Park in Gladstone will offer a free wagon ride to everyone who collects at least 15 pieces of trash during the park cleanup.

Chippokes Plantation State Park in Surry will host an adults-only canoe cleanup along lower Chippokes Creek and also offer children’s activities like a fishing tournament, a hike and a fossil walk.

Some events require pre-registration or fees.

A complete list of the programs and volunteer opportunities can be found at http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/park-events-list-info.shtml?srchloc=all&eventtype=115&bdate=06/07/2014&edate=06/07/2014

National Trails Day and Clean the Bay Day are part of the Virginia State Parks month-long celebration of National Great Outdoors Month.

For more information on all of Virginia’s award-winning state parks, visit http://www.virginiastateparks.gov or call toll-free, 1-800-933-PARK (7275).