DOINews: NPS: Everything's Coming up Roses for 2016 Centennial

A band marches in this year's Rose Parade. Photo courtesy of the Tournament of Roses Association.

The theme for the Jan. 1, 2016, Rose Parade is "Find Your Adventure." Image is the theme poster for the parade.

The National Park Service and Tournament of Roses Association are partnering to kick off the centennial with the 2016 Rose Parade in Pasadena, Calif.

The theme for the Jan. 1 parade, “Find Your Adventure,” is a nod to “Find Your Park,” the upcoming two-year public-engagement campaign aimed to increase awareness and excitement about the National Park Service centennial.

This collaboration showcases the common interests of the National Park Service and the Tournament of Roses Association – to engage America's youth, support an ethic of volunteerism, and embrace the diversity of American culture.

The Rose Parade is a great opportunity to introduce the National Park Service and its programs to a broad, and large audience of participants, attendees, and viewers (80 million watched on television internationally and 700,000 watched in person in 2014).

Parade entrants (floats, marching bands, and equestrian units) will take inspiration for “Find Your Adventure” from the work and mission (i.e., parks and programs) of the National Park Service. But, the opportunities extend well beyond the two-hour parade.

Over the course of 2015, the National Park Service and the Tournament of Roses Association will create opportunities for parks and programs to engage with communities across the country to help achieve the centennial goal.

A few examples of these ideas include:

• Connect each of the marching bands representing high schools across the nation with their nearest national park units and/or programs.
• Work with the Royal Court to help them become national park ambassadors.
• Collaborate with Pasadena Community College interns, Los Angeles-area Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, and other volunteer organizations that contribute to the success of the Rose Parade.

For additional information and to submit your own ideas, please check out the Frequently Asked Questions. The planning team comprises staff from the Centennial Office, Pacific West Regional Office, and Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area.

Submitted by Nana Efua Embil, Centennial Office, NPS

Jan. 27, 2015

Related Link:

NPS-The Morning Report