My Park. My Passion. My Story

European day of parks launches

My Park. My Passion. My Story is the 2013 motto for the European Day of Parks. This commemorative event day was launched in 1999 by the EUROPARC Federation to celebrate protected areas throughout Europe, on and around May 24th.

My Park. My Passion. My Story – what comes to your mind? What was the most exciting or wonderful experience you had when spending time in a protected area?

Did you

• see a special animal?
• discover a protected flower?
• smell the scent of blossoming weeds or the wet forest after a rain fall?
• listen to birds calling each other?
• or just enjoy a long walk with a friends or by yourself, a bike ride or any other "soft" sports activity that connected you back to nature?

This years European Day of Parks invites everybody who loves to be out in nature to share her/his story:

Europarcs 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 can plan, promote and organize activities that allow people creatively express their passion, emotions, and experiences. How? Well, here are a few ideas:

You 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 if you invite visitors and park rangers to spend time together, the outcome will be even more exciting!

The European Day of Parks 2013 is for people of all ages: children, youngsters, young adults, adults and the silver aged. Any one has her/his own way to experience nature and feels PASSION about it.

Maybe with some reflections on current changes and problems? Maybe with some reflections on the wonders nature in protected areas shows?

The European Day of Parks 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. EUROPARC Federation has a 40 year history of supporting protected areas staff to sustainably manage the landscape, fauna and flora. We celebrate our growing network and achievements since 1973 this year under the theme "40 years Working for Nature"

For inquiries and more information, please contact Europarcs at [email protected].

Valere Tjolle

See amazing new 2012 sustainable tourism report 90% off offer HERE