Date: Saturday, May 20, 2023

Time: 10:00am – 2:00pm

Location: Mills Park located at, 1111 E. William St. Carson City, NV 89701

Who is it for: Kids and families of all ages

What is it: “Kids to Parks Day is a national day of outdoor play celebrated annually on the third Saturday of May. The day connects kids and families with their local, state, and national parks and public lands through thousands of park events that promote discovery and exploration in the great outdoors.” – National Park Trust

2023 is the 5^th annual Kids to Parks Day in Carson City, Nevada (no event was held in 2020). The day celebrates our many parks, trails, and recreational opportunities that Carson City has to offer for kids of all ages. This year, we are bringing more activities and fun to the event with double the amount of local organizations participating. Originally held at Silver Saddle Ranch, the Carson City Park Rangers moved the event to Mills Park in 2022 for a more centralized location. The park also has a larger space to host more activities for kids.

Hosted by: The event at Mills Park is hosted by the Carson City Parks, Recreation & Open Space Department. The national day was created by the National Park Trust.

10:00am - Mayor Lori Bagwell will proclaim official Kids to Parks Day 2023 in Carson City and begin the event

10:15am - JR Park Ranger Olympics Official Start

10:30am - Jr Park Ranger Bike Races Official Start

12:00pm - University of Nevada 4-H Dog Clug agility demonstration

1:00pm - Jr Park Ranger Bike Races final Race and winners awarded

1:30pm - Jr Park Ranger Olympics end and winners awarded

2:00pm - Kids to Parks Day event ends, kids encouraged to visit other parks and keep celebrating the day

4:00pm - WheelHouse Best Trick Competition ends

Bone Appetit Bar-B-Que Grill - Will be offering food and drink lunch options

Scoups Ice Cream & Soup Bar - Will be offering Ice Cream

This obstacle course is open to kids between grades 1st-3rd and 4th-6th. It is designed to test the skills Park Rangers use on a daily basis. The course consists of 5 stages and will be a racing event testing 5-10 Jr Rangers at a time. Kids will be timed and best times will be kept on a leader board. The top 5 kids between 1st-3rd grade and top 5 between 4th-6th grade at 1:30pm will be rewarded prizes.

1st Stage: Kids will be asked to pack their provided backpack as fast as they can with all the items given to them. There is no specific way to pack it. Some items will be used further along in the course. Once the pack is packed, kids will need to put it on and move onto the next stage. 

2nd Stage: This stage will test a Jr. Ranger's ability to clean up the trails of trash. They will use the mutt mitt provided to them in their backpack to collect a peice of trash. They must then tie up the bag and toss it into a can. Once they successfully made the trash into the can, they can move onto the next stage.

3rd Stage (4th-6th graders only): As a Jr. Ranger, it's an important ability to sort brochures to properly hand them out to visitors. Participants will use 3 of the 4 brochures provided to them from their backpack and place them in the correct location on a table. Once brochures are sorted, they must crawl under the table and move onto the next stage.

4th Stage (Parernts Assist with 1st-3rd graders): This stage will test the first aide ability of Jr. Rangers. They must locate their alien, find the injuries and bandage them up. Participants will need to remember to put on their gloves before using the band aids on the aliens.

Final Stage: The final stage will test a Jr Ranger's navigation ability. Jr Rangers must make their way through a maze in order to get to the finish line. As Jr Rangers cross the finish line, their time will be noted and written on thier bib.

Rules

The course is open to kids in grades 1-6. Anyone outside those grades can compete, but will not be placed on the leader board.

All Participants must have a parent/guardian sign the waiver in order to compete.

Participants may run the course as many times as they want if there are spots available.

Prizes will be awarded to the top 3 fastest times of each grade group at 1:30pm. All others will recieve a commemorative sticker.

Grade Groups: 1st-3rd and 4th-6th

Only a Park Ranger can be the time keeper of the race for official course times to count.

The Following will result in immediate disqualification:

• Pushing, shoving, or any other type of aggression.
• Name calling, foul language, and bullying.
• Intentionally sabotaging another participant.

Park Rangers have the final say. Keep the competition fun and enjoyable for everyone.

Beginning at 10:30am, Kids will be able to visit the Jr Ranger Bike Races station run by the Carson High School Senators Cycling Team to log the best time around the bike track. They can attempt as many times as possible to move up the leader board or keep their spot on the board. Kids may bring their own bike or check-out a bike depending on availability. The races end at 1:00pm.

The Jr Ranger with the best time of the day will be awarded a brand-new Diamondback Kids Bicycle donated by Bike Smith.

Rules:

The course is open to kids 8-12 years of age.

All Participants must have a parent/guardian sign the waiver in order to compete. Kids may check-out a bike or use thier own.

Participants must be able to bike the course without the use of training wheels or other type of assistance. (Use of adaptive bicycles are allowed)

Helmets are REQUIRED, no exceptions!

Winners will be awarded to the top 3 bikers with the fastest lap time at the end of the races around 1:00pm.

Bikers can bike the course as many times as they want. Senators Cycling must be the time keepers in order for lap times to count.

The Following will result in immediate disqualification:

• Pushing, shoving, or any other type of aggression.
• Name calling, foul language, and bullying.
• Intentionally sabotaging another participant.
• Cutting corners or other forms of cheating
• Intentionaly altering the course or damaging city property

Senators Cycling have the final say. Keep the competition fun and enjoyable for everyone.

The Arts and Crafts Area will be the location for several organizations that are focused on arts for the event. This area will be complete with a few tables and Junior Park Ranger Adventure Guides for kids to work on.

Carson City Library

The Carson City Library will be hosting a Kite Making Station. Kids will be able to test their kite skills in the large grassy area to the West of the event outlined in Yellow on the Event Map.   

Messy Kids Art School

The Messy Kids Art School will be hosting some art activities to get kids all messy and ready for the other activities.

Battle Born Home Health

Battle Born Home Health will be bringing out poster board for kids to paint on.

The University of Nevada 4-H clubs will have three tables set up to provide information on 4-H.

The poultry club will have live birds on site for kids to see. At 12:00pm the Dog Club will present an agility demo.

If you have questions about the 4-H clubs contact:

Angela Hansen

(775) 887-2252

angelahansen@unr.edu

The Wheel House will be hosting the second annual Kids to Parks Day Best Trick Competition. The comp will begin at 10am until 4pm. They will be awarding prizes to beginner, intermediate and advanced levels in the Skate, BMX and Scooter categories. There is $5 competition entry fee and sign ups will be available at the event beginning at 10am. 

Wheelhouse will also be providing music for the entire Kids to Parks Day Event.

You can find out more about their competition by contacting WheelHouse directly.

America First Credit Union

America First Credit Union will be hosting some Ladder Toss Games as well a

Backcountry Horsemen of Nevada

The Backcountry Horsemen of Nevada will be hosting Leave No Trace activities and will be offering information on their organization.

Carson City Health and Human Services

The Carson City Health and Human Services will have two booths set up at Kids to Parks Day. They will be focusing on outdoor summer safety including: Mosquitos, Pools, and Outdoor Gatherings. Kids can participate in a fun trivia game involving an exciting water activity. They will also be handing out prizes and SWAG for kids

 Carson City Railroad Assoiciation

The Carson City Railroad Association will be running the Carson & Mills Park Railroad throughout the event. The train station is located near the entrance to Marv Taxiera Pavilion on Seely loop. 

Carson High School Table Tennis Team

The Table Tennis Team from Carson High School will have two table tennis tables set up on the stage inside Marv Taxiera Pavilion. They will have a coach and several team members teaching kids how to play table tennis. They will also be advertising their upcoming tournament at Carson High School.

Click Bond

Click Bond will be demonstrating their Click Bond Fasteners and offering the chance for kids to learn how to make and repair paper airplanes. Kids can fly them and receive temporary tattoos to celebrate the day!

Computer Corps

The Carson City Computer Corps will have a booth set up and hosting the first annual “mouse hole” game. Much like corn hole, this game features a unique set up using old computer parts. Kids can family members can also learn more about the Computer Corps organization.  

Girl Scouts of the Sierra Nevada

The Girl Scouts of the Sierra Nevada will be hosting the park’s corn hole games. Kids and families will be able to stop by, play some corn hole, and learn everything they wanted to know about the Girl Scouts.

The Greenhouse Project

The Greenhouse Project will have some wriggly friends for kids to watch. The Vermicompost station will be set up and kids can learn all about Earth Worms and environmental health. They will also be offering seed starting supplies so kids can take home flowers ready to sprout.

Grocery Outlet

The Grocery Outlet will have a bubble blowing station for all attendees’ bubble blowing needs.

Nevada Department of Health and Human Services

The Aging and Disability Services Divison will have a booth set up providing information on their programs. They will also be offering games like giant jenga and ring toss. 

Salvation Army

The Salvation Army -Carson City, will be offering face painting to kids. They will also have various outdoor games that they use for their after-school program.

Tazmanian Boxing Club

The Tazmanian Boxing Club will bring out a boxing bag for kids to try. They will demonstrate boxing and hand out more information on the club.

W.O.L.F.

Wild Oddities and Local Fauna (WOLF) will have a tent set up featuring our local wild flora and fauna in taxidermy form. Kids can visit this unique booth to learn all about their backyard friends.

Bike Smith

Bike Habitat

Defy Sparks

Lisa Huffman

Nevada State Parks

Play it Again Sports

Sportsman’s Warehouse.