RALEIGH—Children can reconnect with nature and parents can reconnect with their children in North Carolina’s state parks during Take a Child Outside Week Sept. 24-30.

Raven Rock State Park will join environmental education organizations across the globe in presenting special nature programs during the week. Last year, state parks rangers offered over 300 educational programs to reach nearly 10,000 visitors during the weeklong celebration.

State parks will make available exciting Get Outside! kits to families and small groups that prompt do-it-yourself activities to rediscover nature’s wonders. Additionally, the first 50 parents or adult leaders to use the Get Outside! kit with children will receive a gift certificate for a free night camping!

Research has shown that engaging children in nature promotes learning, creativity and healthy lifestyles. Children who learn to play in natural settings are often more physically fit, score higher on test of concentration and often can simply enjoy life more fully.

Take a Child Outside Week originated in 2007 with environmental educators at the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences and was sparked by the book, Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder by Richard Louv. The book suggests that opportunities for children to explore forests, fields and wetlands are disappearing in favor of afternoons spent playing video games. Now in its third year, the annual celebration has spread across the world with international partners in Canada, the United Kingdom and Belize.

“State parks have always been safe but exciting places for people to rediscover nature, offering miles of trails, free interpretive programs by rangers and nature museums as well as opportunities just to explore independently,” said Lewis Ledford, director of state parks.

For more information about North Carolina state parks and their environmental education programs and events, go to www.ncparks.gov or contact Raven Rock State Park at 910-893-4888.

Special programs at Raven Rock State Park include:

Friday, September 25, 4 pm: River Hike – a 1.5 mile walk that will take you 200 years into the past.

Saturday, September 26, 2 pm: Birds of Prey – a half hour presentation featuring live raptors.

Sunday, September 27, 3 pm: Hard Rock Crayola – a one hour geologic rock cycle activity.

Monday, Septmber 28, 5 pm: Hike to Raven Rock – a 2.2 mile walk to discover the park’s natural wonders.

Tuesday, September 29, 7 pm: Flying Tigers of Raven Rock – a one hour owl program with taxidermy mounts.