20% For Parks // Sharing Profits for a Great Cause

STATE PARKS: AMERICA'S BACKYARD!

The following state parks distribute the Park Visitor Welcome Kits to visitors at no charge to visitors or taxpayers — as a result, they receive 20% of net profits from the Kit and hence participate in the 20% For Parks program . Through this partnership, they receive valuable funding that’s used to preserve their natural resources and recreation programs. If you work with a state park system and would like to get your state involved, click on the Join The Cause link.

California State Parks
With more than 270 park units statewide, California State Parks is one of the largest, most diverse park systems in the nation. No matter where you are in the state, you don’t have to travel far to find a recreation playground, historical site, or cultural center. Walk among the last remaining stands of primeval redwood forests. Gaze out upon the vast, otherworldly deserts. Explore the pristine, awe-inspiring High Sierra. Visit the stomping grounds of Gold Rush pioneers. Relax on the beaches. Observe rare wildlife species in their natural habitats. Or, simply be amazed by the opulence of historical estates such as Hearst Castle. For more information, visit www.parks.ca.gov.

California State Parks Foundation
California State Parks Foundation is a statewide non-profit organization dedicated to protecting, enhancing, and advocating for California's magnificent state parks. The Foundation uses donated funds to improve and expand park programs and facilities. It also promotes environmental education, diversity, volunteerism, and stewardship. Through advocacy, the Foundation educates the public, media and elected officials of the great contributions of California’s 278 state park properties. They raise awareness about how critical parklands are in serving the needs of an increasingly urbanized population. For more information, visit www.calparks.org.

Colorado State Parks
Colorado boasts state parks that offer majestic mountain panoramas, quiet grassland vistas and beautiful lakes teeming with fish. Mention "Colorado", and most people instantly think of relaxation – either underneath towering evergreen trees, alongside a babbling mountain stream, or in a tranquil prairie meadow. You can marvel at bighorn sheep and burly black bears. On any given day you might encounter beavers, martens, ptarmigans and the rare bald eagle. And don't forget – the lakes and streams abound with brown trout, rainbow trout, Kokanee salmon and Arctic grayling. In the winter, some state parks even stage ice fishing tournaments for your enjoyment. Enjoy a Colorado state park ... for a day or a long vacation! For more information, visit http://parks.state.co.us/.

Delaware State Parks
Delaware State Parks have exceptional trails, ponds, beaches, forests and fields, but there's so much more! Delaware State Parks bring you exotic animals at the Brandywine Zoo, resort cottages and a state-of-the-art marina at Indian River, folk art at the Blue Ball Barn, and history in the Mt. Pleasant Meeting House, Indian River Life-Saving Station, Fort Miles Historical Area and many, many more special places. Come see what your Delaware State Parks have for you. For more information, visit www.destateparks.com.

Florida State Parks
The first two-time Gold Medal winner honoring the nation’s best state park service, Florida’s state park system is one of the largest in the country with 160 parks, which are open 365 days a year. Florida’s state parks, which span more than 700,000 acres and include 100 miles of sandy white beach, provide an affordable outing for people of all ages. The variety offered by Florida's state parks is astounding. And few states are associated with "fun" more than Florida. Perhaps you're planning to play in Florida's Panhandle or bask along one of its Atlantic or Gulf beaches. Or, maybe you intend to lounge near one of the state's many lakes or natural springs. Whatever you plan to do, a state park is ready to help you achieve your outdoor objective. Just be sure to take some sun screen and be prepared to encounter glorious ghost orchids, sensational sparkleberries, towering turkey oaks or shady spruce pines. Florida state parks have something for everyone! For more information, visit www.floridastateparks.org.

Georgia Department of Natural Resources
Georgia is one of the most naturally diverse states in the country, ranging from the ridges and valleys of northwest Georgia to thousands of acres of farmlands in the south to marshlands along the coast. The Georgia Department of Natural Resources is charged with conserving and managing the state’s natural resources including the conservation and management of Georgia’s wildlife. Outstanding wildlife management programs result in quality hunting, fishing and wildlife viewing opportunities throughout the state. Other recreational opportunities as camping, hiking, fishing, boating, picnicking, golf, mountain biking, horseback riding and birding are abundant in our state parks. Our culture and history is preserved in the presidential homes, ancient Indian mounds, battlefields and plantations that mix fun entertainment with education. For more information, visit www.gadnr.org.

Maryland State Parks
Maryland's diverse geography provides many different opportunities to enjoy its rich landscape. The Department of Natural Resources' Maryland Park Service strives to provide a safe and enjoyable environment for your recreational pleasure. In doing so, we must balance user needs with environmental demands to meet our stewardship obligations. You are an important part of the stewardship team. It is your responsibility to have the necessary skills, knowledge and equipment for a safe and environmentally-sensitive visit. We hope you enjoy your visit to Maryland's state parks and forests. For more information, visit www.dnr.state.md.us/PUBLICLAND S/.

Michigan State Parks
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is committed to the conservation, protection, management, use and enjoyment of the state's natural resources for current and future generations. In Michigan, you are never more than an hour's drive from a state park or recreation area. The Parks and Recreation Division manages 97 state parks and recreation areas, 829 developed boating access sites, 10 lighthouses, 16 harbors and six scenic sites. Together these facilities provide recreation opportunities for more than 23 million state park visitors each year, including more than 4 million campers and Michigan's nearly one million registered boaters. For more information, visit www.michigan.gov/dnr.

New York State Parks
From the shores of Lake Erie to the golf courses and beaches of Long Island, New York State Parks offer recreation and sightseeing opportunities visitors never forget. Hike the sky-scraping Adirondacks or the rolling Catskills. Stand in awe at the rim of a deep gorge full of waterfalls. Go boating on the Finger Lakes. See mighty Niagara Falls. Visit the sites once frequented by Revolutionary War heroes. Spend a day relaxing and playing on the beach. Whether you visit for an afternoon, camp overnight at one of more than 8,000 campsites, or rent a comfortable full-service cottage, you can’t go wrong. New York’s nearly 200 state parks have it all! For more information, visit http://nyspar ks.state.ny.us/.

Ohio State Parks
The Division of Parks was created as a division of ODNR in 1949 with the statutory obligation to create, supervise, operate and maintain a system of state parks and to promote their use by the public. Through land acquisition and transfer, the park system has grown from the original 30 parks to 74 state parks in 60 counties with over 174,000 acres of land and water resources. Facilities include nine resort lodges, three dining lodges, six golf courses, more than 9,000 campsites in 57 family campgrounds, 518 cottages, 36 visitor/nature centers, 80 swimming beaches and 19 swimming pools, 188 boat ramps and 7,583 boat docks, 463 picnic areas, and 1,167 miles of trails. Whether your goal is to go camping under the stars or to go hiking alongside a scenic lake, Ohio has a state park for you! For more information, visit http://ohiodnr.com/parks.

Pennsylvania State Parks
The DCNR maintains and preserves the 116 state parks; managing the 2.1 million acres of state forest land; providing information on the state's ecological and geologic resources; and establishing community conservation partnerships with grants and technical assistance to benefit rivers, trails, greenways, local parks and recreation, regional heritage parks, open space and natural areas. A trip to a Pennsylvania state park is absolutely free. Visitors only pay for such activities as renting cabins and pavilions, camping, boating and swimming in pools. For more information, visit www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks.

Texas State Parks
Few states can match the breadth of activities offered by Texas state parks. From horseback riding and aerial tram rides to world-class fishing, mountain biking and beautiful scenery, our state parks have it all. Many are located about an hour's drive of major urban centers, making them perfect day-trip getaways. Still others lie in the more remote, scenic reaches of the state, beckoning travelers to stay a while. If you're a history buff, be sure to explore some of the state's more significant historic sites that document Texas' unique heritage through dinosaur tracks and ancient Native American rock art, Spanish colonial missions, Republic of Texas revolutionary sites, frontier forts and 19th-century landmarks that provide a connection to days gone by. Texas state parks reflect the natural and cultural diversity of the state taking you from the soaring mountain vistas, red rock canyons and wide-open desert spaces of North and West Texas to the verdant, wooded and water-rich environs of East Texas and the wetlands, marshes and beaches of the South Texas Gulf Coast. For more information, visit www.tpwd.state.tx.us.

Utah State Parks
With treasures that date back to the dinosaurs and beyond, Utah State Parks are brimming with history and adventure. Lakes, rivers, mountains, archaeological ruins, sand dunes, rock arches, and petrified forests are just a few of the wonders you’ll discover here. Learn about pioneer history at one of the many museums, see a real dinosaur footprint, paddle a gentle river, explore the many OHV trails, fish in one of the many lakes, tour a preserved Anasazi village, photograph magnificent rock formations and arches, and more! For more information, visit www.stateparks.utah.gov.

Virginia State Parks
You’ll find plenty of programs, events and activities at Virginia State Parks. Our 35 parks have thousands of campsites, hundreds of cabins, more than 500 miles of trails and convenient access to Virginia’s major waterways. We have beaches, picnic shelters, family lodges, meeting facilities, festivals, concerts, nature programs, cultural happenings… the list goes on and on. From Cumberland Gap to the Atlantic Ocean, there’s something for everyone at Virginia State Parks. Whether you’re after a relaxing picnic or a two-week vacation, leave life’s daily pressures behind and reconnect with nature and your family at a nearby state park. For more information, visit http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/.