No Entrance Fees At National Parks On June 9

National parks in Utah and other locations will not charge entrance fees on June 9 in honor of GetOutdoors Day.

The Park Service has announced that there will be no entrance fees charged on these days:

• June 9 - Get Outdoors Day
• September 29 - National Public Lands Day
• November 10-12 - Veterans Day weekend

Get Outdoors is a national effort promoting healthy outdoor activity. The program provided this summary:

Participants from federal agencies, nonprofit organizations and the recreation industry are again teaming up to host the 5th annual National Get Outdoors Day (GO Day) to encourage healthy, active outdoor fun at sites across the nation. On Saturday, June 9, 2012, these diverse partners will offer opportunities for American families to experience traditional and non-traditional types of outdoor activities. Prime goals of the day are reaching currently underserved populations and first-time visitors to public lands, and reconnecting our youth to the great outdoors.

Each GO Day event will offer a mix of information centers and “active fun” areas – places where guests, and especially kids, can use a fishing pole, go geocaching, help pitch a tent and more. The sites will provide photo opportunities with characters like Smokey Bear, Woodsy Owl and other interesting creatures. Many sites also feature areas that focus on other aspects of healthy living, including sustainability and good nutrition. In addition to the GO Day events, participants will be invited to nearby follow-up activities called EchO events occurring throughout the summer, which include introductions to mountain biking and fly-fishing, hikes with rangers to see wildlife, kayaking and rafting and much more.