TRACK Trails opening in Umatilla and Morrow counties
By Terry Murry on Wednesday, June 12th, 2024 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
PORTLAND – (News release from Oregon Parks Forever) Kids in Parks (www.kidsinparks.com) is pleased to announce the grand openings of four new kid- and family-friendly trails in Pendleton (on June 18), Hermiston, Boardman and the McNary Dam (on June 22nd). With funding assistance provided by the Wildhorse Foundation and Oregon Parks Forever, the new educational trails offer a series of educational activities designed to engage kids and families with the sites’ natural resources.
TRACK Trails are a type of environmental scavenger hunt for young children and their families to get unplugged and active outdoors, offering a series of self-guided activities that turn an ordinary hike into a fun-filled, discovery-packed adventure. At the TRACK Trail’s trailhead, four brochure-led activities are available that help kids learn about topics such as flowers, trees, insects, salmon, and birds.
Kids who participate in the program can register their TRACK Trail adventures at www.KidsInParks.com to earn a series of prizes designed to make their next outdoor adventure even more fun and meaningful.
These new TRACK Trails, as well as one that opens June 16th at the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, are joining a network of more than 288 TRACK Trail sites in 18 states and Washington, D.C. Collectively, these sites are working across state and agency boundaries to create a national network of trails that get kids excited about spending time in nature. Over the past decade, kids have completed more than 1-million adventures on TRACK Trails.
The trails will be located at Community Park in Pendleton, Riverfront Park in Hermiston, the Riverwalk in Boardman, and at the McNary Dam.
“With each of our TRACK Trails, we hope to engage children in the joys of outdoor exploration,” said Jason Urroz, director of Kids in Parks. “Our ultimate goal is to provide families with fun activities that help them fall in love with nature, discover the value our parks and public lands hold for their lives, and become future stewards of these magnificent places.”
These trails will bring the count of TRACK Trails in Oregon to 19 toward Oregon Parks Forever’s goal of funding 50 TRACK Trails across the state of Oregon. These sites join trails previously established in LaGrande (2), Madras (2), Prineville (3), Estacada (4), Dallas (2), and Newport (2). This statewide network will allow families to travel around the state, learning about Oregon’s amazing natural, cultural, and historic resources.
“We are very excited to add to the growing network of TRACK Trail locations in Oregon,” said Seth Miller, executive director of Oregon Parks Forever. “Our mission is to enhance the experience and accessibility of Oregon’s Parks & Forests, and this is an important project for us. We hope these trails will allow young kids and their families to get unplugged and active outdoors, and inspire them to become stewards of our public lands”
To learn more about TRACK Trails visit www.kidsinparks.com.
