Public encouraged to celebrate U.S. parks

National Park Week will be observed from April 22 to 30. This year's theme is "Connecting Children to America's National Parks."

Children of all ages are invited to discover the history, culture and "amazing places" protected by national parks.

Through the Junior Rangers program, youth may walk the paths of the Chumash and Spanish ranchers while earning a junior ranger patch. This program is free by request and offers activities including mazes, storytelling and drawing. For more information, call the National Park Service Visitors' Center in Thousand Oaks at (805) 370-2301.

For children who may have wondered what it would be like to break a secret code, be a mountain lion or mush dogs on the Alaskan tundra, there is the WebRanger program at www.nps.gov/webrangers.

On Sun., April 23, the Sierra Club will lead five "Great Rendezvous" hikes at various times in celebration of John Muir's birthday. The hikes all converge at Trippet Ranch in Topanga State Park for a birthday party from noon to 1 p.m. Participants are invited to help decorate and consume the Great Rendezvous John Muir/Sierra birthday cake in this 25th annual tradition. Hikers should bring water and lunch. For details, call (310) 559-3126.

The 25th annual Santa Monica Mountains Trail Days will be staged on Sat. and Sun., April 29 and 30 at Point Mugu State Park. Participants are needed to help improve trails. No experience is required. Free camping is available for volunteer trail maintenance workers on Fri., April 28 and Sat., April 29. Tools will be provided; workers should wear long pants, bring gloves, hat, water and lunch. For additional information, call (818) 222-4531.

In conjunction with the foregoing event, California State Parks and the California Native Plant Society will co-sponsor "Weed War at the 25th annual Trail Days" at 8:30 a.m. Sun., April 30. Participants will help to restore wildflowers and young oaks in Upper Big Sycamore Canyon in Point Mugu State Park. The work project is expected to last about six hours. For more details, call (818) 3485910.

From Fri., May 5 through Sun., May 7, the 21st California Trails and Greenways Conference will be held at the Renaissance Hotel in Agoura Hills. It will feature educational sessions highlighting trail management, planning and funding plus health benefits of trails. For more information and registration, call (888) 541-7783.

California State Parks will offer "Adventure with a Ranger" programs in May, at 10 a.m. each Saturday at Point Mugu State Park and at 10 a.m. each Sunday at Leo Carrillo State Park. Children are invited to join a ranger for an hour-long program to explore some of the many wonders of each of these parks.

Families should bring water and meet at the respective entrance stations.

More information is available by calling (805) 488-1827.