Republished article from the National Park Foundation

Reason 1,568,345 that we love national parks – there are plenty of ways to enjoy the parks from the great indoors. From family friendly activities to an immersive audio experience, there are a variety of ways you can bring the wonder of our national parks into your home.  

FAMILY FRIENDLY FUN 

TAKE A TOUR WITH SESAME STREET

Join Elmo, Murray, and park rangers as they explore plants, animals, habitats, and seasons in Grand Canyon National Park and Gateway National Recreation Area. Use accompanying hands-on activities to introduce preschoolers to the natural world. 

FILL OUT AN ACTIVITY MAP

Download a free NPF Kids Activity Map and see what facts you can fill out. When you’re ready, check your answers against our answer key.  

BECOME A JUNIOR RANGER

Activity based programs in national parks across the country offer young visitors the chance to join the National Park Service “family” as a Junior Ranger. Download special interest books to do at home – some parks will even mail you a Junior Ranger badge in return!  

MAKE A VIRTUAL ESCAPE 

IMMERSE YOURSELF IN A 360 VIDEO

Take a virtual visit and tour to Channel Islands National Park with Jordan Fisher and Crater Lake National Park with Dierks Bentley. Watch these videos on a mobile device to get the full experience – move around to see the full span of these remarkable landscapes. 

TRAVEL BACK IN TIME

Discover the stories behind our national parks with the National Park Foundation blog. From the Denali National Park & Preserve’s iconic mushing dogs and the flight path through aviation history to the revolutionary battle at Moores Creek and the legacy of the Buffalo Soldiers, there are countless stories our parks preserve and share. 

FIND A LITTLE ZEN

Tune into PARKTRACKS, an innovative audio experience that lets you listen to the sounds of our parks, captured by the National Park Service’s Natural Sounds and Night Skies Division, and tap into the trends of tranquility and mindfulness. 

FALL IN LOVE WITH BABY ANIMALS

Our national parks protect critical habitats for many animal species. Meet some of the youngest, and most adorable, animals that call our parks home in this educational – and irresistibly cute – video and learn about where you can spot these animals in the wild. 

 

GET DREAMING

BASK IN PARK PHOTOGRAPHY

Feed your wanderlust with beautiful photography from our national parks. Check out photos from recent winners of our Share the Experience Photo Contest and learn about the history of photography in parks – from George Masa to Ansel Adams. Share your own beautiful photos of parks in our Share Your Park gallery. 

PLAN YOUR NEXT PARK ADVENTURE

While you have some down time, use the time to plan your next perfect national park adventure. Use our Find Your Park Quiz to pinpoint the parks that match your ideal trip. 

CREATE THE PERFECT PARKS PLAYLIST

Sometimes a song can take us back to a memory – a feeling, a place. Create a park playlist perfect for a road trip to national parks, or one that captures your favorite park memory. Check out our National Parks Road Trip Playlist on Spotify for inspiration. 

 

Make sure to keep in touch with the National Park Foundation on social media

Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, and use #FindYourPark / #EncuentraTuParque to communicate with the NPF community. We’ll post other creative ways to stay in touch with the parks while indoors. Ready to get involved now? Start a Facebook fundraiser for the National Park Foundation.