June 30, 2006

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:

Cyndy Chanaca, 860-424-4100 cyndy.chanaca@po.state.ct.us

DEP Announces Round Two of the “Great Park Pursuit” State Park Contest to Feature Three Events this Fall and Winter

Contest is part of No Child Left Inside℠ initiative

The Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) today announced the return of the Great Park Pursuit – the contest that took Connecticut families to state parks across Connecticut this spring.

The Fall/Winter edition of the contest – which is part of the state’s No Child Left Inside℠ initiative – will feature three state park adventures for families. The events are:

• “Outdoor Adventure,” James L. Goodwin State Forest, Hampton, Oct. 21.
• “Old Fashioned Holiday Celebration,” Gillette Castle State Park, East Haddam and Osborne Homestead Museum, Derby, Dec. 2 and 3.
• “Winter Ice Festival,” Black Rock State Park, Watertown, January 27.

All events are free and there is no registration or sign-up. All families are welcome, whether they participated in the contest last spring or not. Activities will be staffed by the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and take place rain or shine. A larger scale Great Park Pursuit is being planned for spring, 2007.

Commissioner Gina McCarthy said, “ The response to the Great Park Pursuit last spring was overwhelming. Through No Child Left Inside and the 'Great Park Pursuit,’ we helped youngsters and their families have fun in the outdoors once again by providing opportunities to visit state parks and forests to stock trout, hike, learn about the history of our state and so much more.”

McCarthy added, “Families requested more and we are responding by offering a shortened version for the fall and winter. We want families to know there are plenty of great things to do year-round at our state parks and forests. State parks are not just for the warm months of the year. We are ready to show everyone that they can even have fun in the snow with us.”

No Child Left Inside is a statewide initiative launched by Governor Rell last spring to reconnect youngsters with the outdoors, showcase Connecticut’s state parks and forests and encourage a new generation of environmental stewards. The program is administered by DEP.

The Great Park Pursuit family contest is a centerpiece of the initiative. More than 200 families participated in last spring’s contest. About 100 of those families visited all eight state parks and forests in the contest. These families competed for three grand prizes at the final event in May at Fort Trumbull State Park, New London.

For more information about Round Two of the Great Park Pursuit or No Child Left Inside, contact the DEP Office of Communications at (860) 424-4100.

Details on Great Park Pursuit Round Two Events

The Great Park Pursuit Fall/Winter edition begins Saturday, October 21 at the James L. Goodwin State Forest, Hampton, CT. Come anytime between 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. for a day full of outdoor adventure. Activities will include hiking or biking on the Air Line Trail, leaf peeping, pumpkin painting, letterboxing, sampling Connecticut grown produce, and short sessions on “Why Do Leaves Change Color?” and much more.

Great Park Pursuit continues with its “holiday edition” by inviting you to learn more about old-fashioned holidays on Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 2 and 3 from 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Visit either Gillette Castle State Park, East Haddam for their “Victorian Holiday” or Osborne Homestead Museum, Derby for their “Christmas Through the Holidays” and spend the day learning about some time-honored traditions. Participate in arts and crafts projects including designing outdoor ornaments for the birds to enjoy, or take a hike and enjoy the crispy, cold air that December brings.

The final event is a “Winter Ice Festival,” Saturday, January 27, 2007 at Black Rock State Park, Watertown from 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Dress warmly and, weather permitting, you will ice skate on the pond, try your hand at ice-fishing, watch dog sledding, go snow-shoeing or hike on their numerous trails. When finished, sit beside a warm bonfire, eat s’mores and savor a hot beverage.