© sachindaluja via Flickr

The annual Delaware River Clean Up Day is happening this year on July 23rd, and volunteers are needed. Says Superintendent John Donahue: “The clean up day is a great opportunity to have some fun on the river and to make the river a better place for all to enjoy. The water quality of the river is outstanding; it is critical that we work together to keep it that way.”

Participants will paddle canoes and pick up trash along a section of the river. There will be five sections; each one is 6 to 10 miles in length. The Delaware River Clean Up Day begins at 8 a.m. and should end by approximately 4:30 p.m. Volunteers need to park and check-in either at Dingmans Ferry Access (PA Route 739) or Smithfield Beach (on River Road, PA). Canoes, paddles and life jackets will be provided by the canoe outfitters. Shuttle transportation and trash bags will be provided by the National Park Service. The park’s expanded amenity fees will be waived for the day.

Also, refreshments will be provided at the morning check-in. Volunteers will receive a Delaware Water Gap NRA carry sack, water bottle, first aid kit, and a whistle/key ring.

If you're interested in participating, call the park's hotline at (570) 426-2478 for more information and to make reservations.

© Lauren Himiak

You already know that visiting a national park can be a very cost-effective way to spend a vacation. The NPS has sweetened the deal this summer even more by offering three "fee-free weekends" at national parks across the country. The first has already come and gone, but you can start planning now to take advantage of the next one, which is coming up on the weekend of July 18^th and 19^th. Fees are waived not only at "lesser known" parks, but also at the big ones, such as Grand Canyon and Yellowstone. NPS.gov has a full listing of fee-free weekend parks.

Many park concessioners are also offering special deals to coincide with the free weekend. Some of the offers include a free reusable tote bag, free group picture and buy-one-get-one-free deals on organized tours. ParkPartners.org has a full listing of the special deals happening.

The fee-free weekends are a great excuse to get out and see one of America's great national parks. If you can't make this one, you have one other opportunity this summer on August 15^th and 16^th. Choose a park and start planning now!

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The NPS is offering a very cool opportunity to see Muir Woods National Monument in a different light. From the NPS:

Explore the magic of Muir Woods during a full moon, learning about the secret nightlife of an old-growth redwood forest. Dress for the weather and bring a flashlight. Children under 8 years not advised. This is an easy 1.5-mile walk on a paved trail. For reservations, phone 415-388-2596.

The event runs from 7:30 PM to 9:30 PM on July 7^th and August 5^th. The program is free, however park entrance fees still apply. Don't forget that you can your Annual Parks Pass to bypass the entrance fees!

If you go, leave a comment on this post and let us know how it was!

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Gettysburg National Military Park is commemorating the 146^th Anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg (July 1-3) with 20 different programs that follow and explain the battle in chronological order and as close as possible to the real time the events described took place. The programs range in length from a half an hour to an hour.

Gettysburg is a great park for families and history buffs. If you live in the area - or are willing to make a short drive - you shouldn't pass up this unqiue opportunity to re-live history! For more information, the NPS has released a PDF with all the information you need to know.

If you can't make it to Gettysburg for the "Real Time Programs", the park has a series of ranger programs going on all summer that focus on the highpoints of the Turning Point. Check out the official Gettysburrg National Military Park website for more info.