Department of Parks
Earth Day Events At Kentucky State Parks
FRANKFORT, Ky. – The Kentucky State Parks invite everyone to help celebrate Earth Day 2012 by visiting a state park to learn about nature, enjoy a hike or clean up trash.
Earth Day is April 22, and several parks will have events on that day while others will be celebrating through other special events in late April.
For more information about Kentucky State Parks, visit www.parks.ky.gov. The parks system includes lodges, cottages, campgrounds, hiking trails, fishing, boating, wildlife viewing, historical sites and many other outdoor recreational opportunities. Listed below are events related to Earth Day 2012:
Big Bone Lick State Park, Union
Save an Endangered Species Day, April 21
Big Bone Lick State Park is one of the few places in the world where the federally endangered plant running buffalo clover can be found. Unfortunately, the loss of wild roaming bison, increase of invasive species and agricultural practices have pushed this plant to the verge of extinction. The park invites anyone who is interested in helping to save an endangered species to join the park’s naturalist staff for on-site habitat restoration for the running buffalo clover, from 9 a.m. to noon on April 21. Contact Todd Young at 859-384-3522 or todd.young@ky.gov for more information.
Buckhorn Lake State Resort Park, Buckhorn
Annual Cleanup Day, April 21
Visit Buckhorn Lake State Resort Park for its annual cleanup day April 21, which starts at 8:30 a.m. with registration at the marina. Gloves and bags will be provided, along with lunch for volunteers. This event is co-sponsored by the Buckhorn Scenic Trail Association, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Perry County Fiscal Court and PRIDE. Call 1-800-325-0058.
Carter Caves State Resort Park, Olive Hill
Wildflower Pilgrimage, April 20-22
The first Carter Caves Wildflower Pilgrimage is set for April 20-22 at Carter Caves State Resort Park. Guests will be able to experience the beauty of the hills during wildflower walks, canoe trips and van tours throughout the weekend. Other programs and walks include landscaping with native plants, beginner plant identification, invasive plant species, tree identification and tracking. Evening programs will be held. Guests can sign up for trips Friday night or Saturday morning. There is a registration fee of $10 for the weekend’s activities. A lodging package including two nights’ lodging and registration fees for two is $159.95 (plus tax). Call the park at 1-800-325-0059 to register for this inaugural event at Carter Caves State Resort Park.
Columbus-Belmont State Park, Columbus
Park Day, April 21
As part of the Civil War Trust effort to clean and restore America's priceless battlefields, cemeteries and shrines, Columbus-Belmont State Park will hold its Park Day on April 21. Park Day was created by the Trust to assist local groups with the maintenance of Civil War sites. The event will begin at 9 a.m. A light lunch will be provided. At Columbus-Belmont State Park, volunteers are needed to plant flowers; pick up branches, limbs and trash; and work on trails. Guests should bring gloves, rakes and brooms. Call 1-270-677-2327.
Cumberland Falls State Resort Park, Corbin
Nature Photography Weekend, April 20-22
Nature photography buffs will enjoy this weekend that features a 24-hour digital competition. Photographers from all skill levels can pick up tips from guest speakers. Awards will be made in different skill categories. Registration is $35 per person by April 14 ($45 per person after April 14). Call 1-800-325-0063.
Dale Hollow Lake State Resort Park, Burkesville
PRIDE Cleanup Day, April 14
Get an early start on Earth Day at Dale Hollow Lake State Resort Park on April 14. The park will hold its PRIDE Cleanup Day. The meeting location will be at Dale Hollow Lake State Resort Park’s picnic shelter. Registration is 9-10 a.m. Cleanup is from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Complimentary lunch will be provided at 12:30., along with T-shirts and door prizes. Call 1-800-325-2282.
E.P. “Tom” Sawyer State Park, Louisville
The Great Trash Bash, April 22
Come to E.P. “Tom” Sawyer State Park to sign up for the “Great Trash Bash” from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. No preregistration is required. Once you’ve signed up, get your trash bags and head out to the park to fill them up! Each group that returns with a full bag of trash will be entered into a drawing for a prize. Fill up multiple bags for multiple entries. Call 502-429-7270 for more information or email Nick.price@ky.gov
John James Audubon State Park, Henderson
Ohio Valley Birding Festival, April 21-22 and 25-29
The festival will feature seminars, workshops, hikes and crafts for all ages and all levels of interest on birds, birding and bird habitats. Events are for beginners and experienced birders. This festival is presented by John James Audubon State Park, the Evansville Audubon Society, Evansville Wild Birds Unlimited and the Wesselman Nature Society. Many of the events will be held at the park named after the famous wildlife artist. Trips will be in western Kentucky and southwestern Indiana. For more information about the festival, visit http://www.ohiovalleybirdingfestival.org. For more information, visit www.parks.ky.gov or call 1-270-826-2247.
Lake Cumberland State Resort Park, Jamestown
7th Annual Earth Day Geocache Weekend, April 20-21
Lake Cumberland State Resort Park has prepared another challenging hunt for everyone from the novice to the expert cacher. In the spirit of Earth Day, the park would like everyone to enjoy the beauty of Lake Cumberland State Resort Park while making sure we keep it clean by “cache in, trash out” and “leave no trace behind.” The weekend starts Friday evening at Lake Cumberland State Resort Park with registration from 5:30 p.m. through 8 p.m. CDT. Caching will commence at 8 a.m. Saturday and Sunday and will end at noon Sunday. Participants will meet briefly each morning to disseminate coordinates and your cache packet. You may be able to download the coordinates to your GPS if you have a USB cord with you. Otherwise, you can manually load coordinates. The registration fee is $25 per couple (any two people) and $15 per individual; children 12 and under are $10. Preregistration is not required, but would be greatly appreciated. A limited number of lodge rooms are available at a special rate for the weekend. Call 1-800-325-1709. Click on the following link to print out a registration form: http://parks.ky.gov/!userfiles/parks-calendar/lake-cumberland/lake-cumberland-geocaching-2012.pdf
Pennyrile Forest State Resort Park, Dawson Springs
Photography Weekend April 20-22
Pennyrile Forest State Resort Park’s photography weekend will present information that will help participants become better photographers. The contest boundaries are the boundaries of Pennyrile State Forest. Photographs may be taken anywhere within the state park and state forest. The categories of the contest vary, but they will always have a nature emphasis: Examples are wildlife, landscape, water. Bring your own camera. Registration is $35. Register at least one week before the event and get a $5 discount. Children 16 and under pay just $10. A 10 percent discount on lodging is available. Call 1-800-325-1711.
Wickliffe Mounds State Historic Site, Wickliffe
Woods Walk and Scout Day at Wickliffe Mounds, April 28
Scouts of all ages, boys and girls, can experience the archaeological museum exhibits, mounds, and walking trail, all day from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. At 10:30 a.m., take a guided hike of the Woods Walk Trail with a forest ranger from the Kentucky Division of Forestry, and at 1 p.m., play the American Indian game of chunkey with park staff. Discounted admission fee is $2 each for Scouts in uniform. For non-Scouts, admission is $5 adults, $4 kids. For more information call 270-335-3681 or email wickliffemounds@ky.gov.
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The Kentucky State Park System is composed of 51 state parks plus an interstate park shared with Virginia. The Department of Parks, an agency of the Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet, operates 17 resort parks with lodges -- more than any other state. For more information on Kentucky parks, visit our website at http://www.parks.ky.gov