Date: Saturday, May 18, 2024

Time: 10:00am – 2:00pm

Location: Mills Park located at, 1111 E. William St. Carson City, NV 89701

Who is it for: Kids and families of all ages

What is it: “Kids to Parks Day is a national day of outdoor play celebrated annually on the third Saturday of May. The day connects kids and families with their local, state, and national parks and public lands through thousands of park events that promote discovery and exploration in the great outdoors.” – National Park Trust

2024 is the 6^th annual Kids to Parks Day in Carson City, Nevada (no event was held in 2020). The day celebrates our many parks, trails, and recreational opportunities that Carson City has to offer for kids of all ages. This year, we are bringing more activities and fun to the event with double the amount of local organizations participating. Originally held at Silver Saddle Ranch, the Carson City Park Rangers moved the event to Mills Park in 2022 for a more centralized location. The park also has a larger space to host more activities for kids.

Hosted by: The event at Mills Park is hosted by the Carson City Parks, Recreation & Open Space Department. The national day was created by the National Park Trust.

10:00am - Mayor Lori Bagwell will proclaim official Kids to Parks Day 2024 in Carson City and begin the event

10:30am - JR Park Ranger Olympics Official Start

1:30pm - Jr Park Ranger Olympics ends

2:00pm - Kids to Parks Day event ends, kids encouraged to visit other parks and keep celebrating the day

4:00pm - WheelHouse Best Trick Competition ends

Bone Appetit Bar-B-Que Grill - Will be offering food and drink lunch options

Scoups Ice Cream & Soup Bar - Will be offering Ice Cream

This obstacle course is open to kids between grades 1st - 3rd and 4th - 6th. It is designed to test the skills Park Rangers use on a daily basis. The course consists of 5 stages and will be a racing event testing 5 Jr Rangers at a time. The top three participants from each time slot with the fast time will be awarded a prize within their grade groups. Prizes will be awarded at the Jr. Ranger Olympics booth.

1st Stage: Kids will be asked to pack their provided backpack as fast as they can with all the items given to them. There is no specific way to pack it. Some items will be used further along in the course. Once the pack is packed, kids will need to put it on and move onto the next stage. 

2nd Stage: This stage will test a Jr. Ranger's ability to clean up the trails of trash. They will use the mutt mitt provided to them in their backpack to collect a piece of trash. Once they successfully made the trash into the can, they can move onto the next stage.

3rd Stage (4th-6th graders only): As a Jr. Ranger, it's an important ability to sort brochures to properly hand them out to visitors. Participants will use 3 of the 4 brochures provided to them from their backpack and place them in the correct location on a table. Once brochures are sorted, they must crawl under the table and move onto the next stage.

4th Stage (Parents Assist with 1st-3rd graders): This stage will test the first aide ability of Jr. Rangers. They must locate their alien, find the injuries and bandage them up. Participants will need to remember to put on their gloves before using the band aids on the aliens.

Final Stage: The final stage will test a Jr Ranger's navigation ability. Jr Rangers must make their way through a maze in order to get to the finish line. As Jr Rangers cross the finish line, their time will be noted and written on their bib.

Rules

The course is open to kids in grades 1st-6th. All Participants must have a parent/guardian sign the waiver in order to compete.

Participants will be required to sign up for a time slot in their age groups. Sign ups are on a first come first serve basis.

Sign up slots:

10:30am 1st - 3rd graders 5 kids

10:45am 4th - 6th graders 5 kids

11:00am 1st - 3rd graders 5 kids

11:15am 4th - 6th graders 5 kids

11:30am 1st - 3rd graders 5 kids

11:45am 4th - 6th graders 5 kids

12:00pm - 1:00pm Break 

1:00pm 1st - 3rd graders 5 kids

1:15pm 4th - 6th graders 5 kids

Prizes will be awarded to the top 3 fastest times of each grade group. All others will receive a sticker.

Grade Groups: 1st - 3rd and 4th - 6th

Only a Park Ranger can be the timekeeper of the race for official course times to count.

The Following will result in immediate disqualification:

• Pushing, shoving, or any other type of aggression.
• Name calling, foul language, and bullying.
• Intentionally sabotaging another participant.

Park Rangers have the final say. Keep the competition fun and enjoyable for everyone.

The Arts and Crafts Area will be the location for several organizations that are focused on arts for the event. This area will be complete with a few tables and Junior Park Ranger Adventure Guides for kids to work on.

Carson City Library

The Carson City Library will be hosting a Kite Making Station. Kids will be able to test their kite skills in the large grassy area to the West of the event outlined in Yellow on the Event Map.   

Messy Kids Art School

The Messy Kids Art School will be hosting some art activities to get kids all messy and ready for the other activities.

The Wheel House will be hosting the third annual Kids to Parks Day Best Trick Competition. Registration for the event will begin at 10:00 AM and ends at 4:00 PM. They will be awarding prizes to beginner, intermediate and advanced levels in the Skate, BMX and Scooter categories. There is $7 competition entry fee and a $3 best trick entry fee, sign-ups will be available beginning at 10:00 AM. 

Wheelhouse will also be providing music for the entire Kids to Parks Day Event.

You can find out more about their competition by contacting WheelHouse directly.

The following organizations will be hosting a variety of fun fill kid activities. 

America First Credit Union

America First Credit Union will be hosting a variety of Toss Games.

Bee City

Bee City will be hosting a bee pollinator game, coloring and honey tasting.

Carson City Health and Human Services - Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion

The Carson City Health and Human Services will be focusing on a variety of topics such as outdoor summer safety including: Mosquitos, Pools, and Outdoor Gatherings. Kids can participate in a fun trivia game involving an exciting water activity. They will also be handing out prizes to their trivia winners.

Carson City Railroad Association

The Carson City Railroad Association will be running the Carson & Mills Park Railroad throughout the event. The train station is located near the entrance to Marv Taxiera Pavilion on Seely loop. 

Computer Corps

The Carson City Computer Corps will have a booth set up and hosting the second annual “mouse hole” game. Much like corn hole, this game features a unique set up using old computer parts. Kids can family members can also learn more about the Computer Corps organization.  

Friends of Silver Saddle Ranch

Kids will have the opportunity to take photos with the horses and mules from Friends of Silver Saddle Ranch. 

Girl Scouts of the Sierra Nevada

The Girl Scouts of the Sierra Nevada will have a spin the wheel with prizes and goodies. Kids and families will be able to stop by, spin the wheel, and learn everything they wanted to know about the Girl Scouts.

GNCU

TBD

The Greenhouse Project

The Greenhouse Project will have some wriggly friends for kids to watch. The Vermicompost station will be set up and kids can learn all about Earth Worms and environmental health. They will also be offering seed starting supplies so kids can take home flowers ready to sprout.

Grocery Outlet

The Grocery Outlet will have a bubble blowing station for all attendees’ bubble blowing needs.

Muscle Power

TBD

Nevada State Parks

Nevada State Parks will be hosting tent setup demonstrations and competitions. 

Nevada Department of Wildlife

Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) will bring a variety of wildlife pelts and skulls for a hands on experience. They will also be handing out NDOW swag. 

River Wranglers

River Wranglers will be hosting an interactive "Guess This" of the watershed. Kids will have the opportunity to check out their pelts, scat, skulls and tracks. 

Salvation Army

The Salvation Army - Carson City, will be offering face painting to kids. They will also have various giant yard games.

Western NV Safe Routes to School

TBD

W.O.L.F.

Wild Oddities and Local Fauna (WOLF) will have a tent set up featuring our local wild fauna in taxidermy form. Kids will also be able to learn how to tract paw prints.

Aces

Author: Jennifer Benito-Kowalski

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