Posted by Janet Harriett on Jul.07, 2010

Photo Credit: Dave Gentry/ US Fish and Wildlife Service

Zoos have lots to offer parents and young nature lovers: animals for every taste, stroller-friendly pavement, plentiful (if overpriced) refreshments and convenient access to bathrooms. In July, Wildlife Wednesday looks at other venues to nurture a respectful appreciation of wildlife in kids, starting with parks.

Children’s internal definition of a park often requires some form of playground equipment. National and state parks may be light on the jungle gyms, but they still have plenty to interest young minds. By their very nature, national and state parks are situated around something unusual or significant, either natural or historical, which allows an ready-made point to get kids interested before the trip to the park.

Many parks have programs at interpretive centers geared specifically for younger audiences. Kids can learn about local ecology, natural features and the forces that shaped them. Most offer opportunities for family-centered outdoor fun like picnics, biking and nature trails.

Another benefit of national and state parks is that parents can use the park rules to reinforce the basic principles of dealing with nature:

• Stay on the trail
• Ask if something is OK to touch
• Wild animals are never OK to touch
• Leave nature as clean as you found it

The big parks like Yellowstone and Yosemite may come to mind when you first consider national parks; however, the U.S. National Park System maintains 392 sites across the country, about half of which are designated more for their historic value than their natural wonders. Even the ones primarily focused on a historical site often have good wildlife viewing options, since the existence of the park reduces development and human impact on the local area. With about 200 nature-oriented national parks and numerous state parks, there’s bound to be one nearby.

In addition to state and national parks, consider more local options. For example, Ohio has a wonderful network of metroparks that offer wildlife viewing sites along with local history lessons.

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Posted under Family, GDM Kids, Tweens, Teens.