Colorado's natural resources have served as an important source of solace for so many people during the pandemic. Colorado Parks and Wildlife and the Colorado State Library want all Coloradans to experience everything the great outdoors has to offer.
The Check Out State Parks program is a collaboration between state agencies that can help Coloradans visit state parks at no cost and experience everything the great outdoors has to offer through hands-on learning.
"The Check Out State Parks program offers interactive backpacks that help you navigate all of our state parks,” said Debbie Lininger, marketing specialist at Colorado Parks and Wildlife. "With so many outdoor spaces to explore and different types of recreation activities to enjoy, we included educational materials in each nature backpack to help you plan your next adventure and put nature theory into real-world practice.”
Nearly 300 Colorado libraries are participating in the Check Out State Parks program, including Douglas County Libraries. Library patrons can check out the backpack and park pass for up to seven days and use it to visit any Colorado state park.
Each backpack contains:
- Annual Colorado State Park Pass for free park entry (hang tag)
- Your Guide to Colorado’s State Parks
- An activity ideas list
- Binoculars
- Leave No Trace - Outdoor Ethics Card
- Educational materials: Fishing Basics Instruction Sheet, Colorado Trees and Wildflower Guide, Colorado Wildlife Guide, Colorado Birds Guide, and Night Sky Guide.
Click here to reserve your Check Out State Parks kit from Douglas County Libraries.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife asks outdoor enthusiasts to recreate responsibly and participate in the #CareForColorado social movement to showcase how outdoor recreation can be balanced with mindful conservation in an effort to care for Colorado.
Responsible recreation includes respecting seasonal trail closures, not walking on or damaging vegetation, disposing of trash and waste, properly distinguishing campfires, not touching or feeding wildlife, and following trail etiquette to respect others.
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Learn more about the Care for Colorado – Leave No Trace principles and how to preserve Colorado for generations to come.
CPW is an enterprise agency, relying primarily on license sales, state parks fees, and registration fees to support its operations, including: 41 state parks and more than 350 wildlife areas covering approximately 900,000 acres, management of fishing and hunting, wildlife watching, camping, motorized and non-motorized trails, boating and outdoor education. CPW's work contributes approximately $6 billion in total economic impact annually throughout Colorado.
