Contributed photoCALAIS — The National Park Service invites visitors of all ages to join in the celebration of its 100th birthday throughout the month of August. With special events across the country, and free admission to all 412 national parks from August 25-28, the NPS is encouraging everyone to #FindYourPark / #EncuentraTuParque for the centennial.
Saint Croix Island International Historic Site, located eight miles south of downtown Calais on U.S. Route 1, is planning a birthday party to raise awareness of the National Park Service’s presence in Washington County.
“Everyone is invited to join us at the site on Saturday, August 27,” said Meg Scheid, park ranger at the site. “We’ll gather as many people as possible to sing happy birthday at 2 p.m. and enjoy a piece of cake!”
Throughout the day, park staff will offer short talks on the history of the National Park Service, the story of the Saint Croix Island 1604 settlement, and a variety of other programs including the Junior Ranger Program for children and their families.
“All programs are free of charge, and as always, there is no entrance fee to Saint Croix Island International Historic Site,” Scheid said. The visitor center is open daily from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. through October 10.
In addition to the Aug. 27 celebration in the park, Scheid encourages everyone to keep an eye on their local news to learn about community partners who are helping celebrate the centennial.
“Local artists will paint canvases in the park, bakeries will create cookies in the shape of the National Park Service arrowhead logo, ham radio operators will share observations across airwaves, the Calais Free Library will show the Ken Burn’s film series, ‘The National Parks: America’s Best Idea’, and local book stores will feature related National Park Service books and literature,” said Scheid.
“We hope you’ll join us or one of our partners this month to help celebrate one hundred years of the National Park Service preserving America’s national treasures,” she added.
