From left, 8-year-old Jack Halligan and 6-year-old brother Ryan play on the rocks at an outlook at Great Falls Park.
“We’re here with family to get exercise and see the wonders of the park.”
-- Faye Halligan, visiting Great Falls Park Saturday
The National Park Service wants everyone to “go wild” for nature this week.
National Park Week will be celebrated with treks and children’s events at all 401 parks - including Great Falls Park - every day through Sunday.
Several thousand people headed out to Great Falls Park over the weekend, but many did not know the reason they got in free was because of the event, which is themed “go wild!”
The parks only had free admission on the 19th and 20th.
Faye Halligan came all the way from Edgewater, N. J., to visit friends in the greater D.C. metropolitan region. She visited Great Falls Park on Saturday, spending much of her time chasing after her sons.
“We’re here with family to get exercise and see the wonders of the park,” she said.
Jack Halligan, 8, said he enjoyed being at the park.
“The favorite part, so far, is that I learned the river is 383 miles,” he said.
Falls Walks and Ranger Rendezvous will take place this upcoming weekend just like the past weekend, according to National Capital Region NPS spokesperson Jenny Anzelmo-Sarles in an email.
The park is open every day except federal holidays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For the exact times for the events, call the park visitor center at 703-285-2965.
Children can also take part in Junior Ranger Day on Saturday. Program booklets are located in the visitor center. The rangers at the visitor center declined to comment about the week’s programs.
Belle Haven Park’s Junior Ranger Day on Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday will give children the opportunity to meet live hawks and owls.
“Rangers will also host wetland wildlife games and provide explorer packs with binoculars, field guides, and magnifying glasses for anyone who wants to take a hike in Dyke Marsh,” said Anzelmo-Sarles in an email.
Theodore Roosevelt Island will hold their Junior Ranger Day from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday.
Like Halligan, Jennifer Rengachary a Great Falls Park out-of-state visitor. The St. Louis, Mo., resident was following her 4-year-old son, Jay, as he scrambled up and down the rocks by an outlook.
“We’re visiting friends in D.C. and wanted to get out and see some nature,” she said. “We saw the museums yesterday and wanted to see the natural side of D.C. as well.”
Although the cars in the parking lot bore license plates from states as far away as New York and Texas, some visitors traveled a much shorter distance to take advantage of the radiant sunshine and balmy temperatures at the falls over the weekend.
Jason and Kelly Clark, from Burke, were visiting the park for the first time. They were surprised to hear that it was National Park Week.
“What a great time to do it,” said Jason Clark. “We love the parks all over. It’s great seeing spring and the river so high.”