European Day of Parks
The European Day of Parks is a commemorative day for protected areas across Europe that was launched in 1999 by the EUROPARC Federation to celebrate protected areas throughout Europe.
The European Day of Parks takes place on and around May 24th of each year. It aims at bringing people closer to nature and raising public awareness on the importance of the natural beauty preserved in protected areas and the importance of conservation and sustainable management of those places.
In the light of EUROPARC Federation´s 40th anniversary in 2013, we celebrate the pan-European network founded in 1973 throughout the year under the theme "40 years Working for Nature". The motto of the European Day of Parks 2013 is My Park. My Passion. My Story. which creates space for individuals and protected area organizations to join the celebration and share their "story" with the EUROPARC network.
This years European Day of Parks invites everybody who loves to be out in nature to share her/his story:
We invite people who work in protected areas as well as those who visit them to reflect on the beauty of nature and share their passion, feelings and emotions in a story, a song, a picture, a film, any piece of art that expresses how you feel connected to your most favourite Protected Area.
Organizations and agencies are welcome to plan, promote and organize activities that allow people to express their passion, emotions, and experiences. How? Well, here are a few ideas: They can organize a silent walk and invite participants to exchange and paint what they felt afterwards; or make them play what they feel (can be a FastFood or conventional theatre); provide material for drawing a picture or elaborating an artistic object; inspire participants to write a poem or story about My Park. My Passion. My Story.; or compose a song and sing it with others; what about producing a film – even while hiking/biking/canoeing... or paragliding over the protected landscape?
There are endless, easy ways to get people involved and compassionate.
Inviting visitors and people who work in and around a park, such as rangers, guides etc. to spend time together will lead to an even more exciting outcome!
The European Day of Parks 2013 is for people of all ages: children, youngsters, young adults, adults and seniors. Any one can contribute her/his own idea and passion experienced in nature.
All protected areas, Natura 2000 sites, EUROPARC members and partners are invited to join the European Day of Parks - and make this day an unforgettable event!
To download POSTER or eCard templates which can be modified, click on the formats. To have your event listed in Activities and Events 2013, write to parkpassion(at)europarc.org.
For queries and information contact us at parkpassion(at)europarc.org.
