Press Releases
05/05/2022
2022 No Child Left Inside Great Park Pursuit Kicks Off May 7 at Osbornedale State Park
First of Several Fun Family Events Over the Next Month Coincides With Free Fishing Day; Registration Now Open!
(HARTFORD)—The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) is thrilled to announce that the 2022 Great Park Pursuit kicks off this Saturday, May 7, from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. at Osbornedale State Park in Derby with trout stocking for the kids, fishing for all (with equipment and bait for loan), and a variety of other family friendly activities.
The Great Park Pursuit is Connecticut State Parks’ Family Adventure, a series of fun activities over the next six weeks designed to introduce families to the outdoors, build the next generation of environmental stewards, and showcase Connecticut’s State Parks and Forests. Saturday’s event coincides with Connecticut’s annual statewide Free Fishing Day. On May 7th, anyone can fish, freshwater or saltwater, without needing a fishing license. All other fishing rules and regulations remain in effect and are available to view on DEEP’s fishing web page.
“Spring is finally here, and the Great Park Pursuit is a great way for families to spend time together in the outdoors as we head into summer,” DEEP Commissioner Katie Dykes said. “The activities this year are a great opportunity to discover different ways of recreating in and engaging with nature, such as boating, birding, fishing, hiking, exploring nature centers and historic buildings/museums, and spending time with family in some of our beloved state parks. We hope you’ll join us!”
As part of the Great Park Pursuit, families are invited each of the six weeks to explore a different environmental theme through hands-on activities at specific state parks and forests. The 2022 Great Park Pursuit concludes June 11, 2022. Registered families will be emailed weekly for park location of that upcoming Saturday’s event. For those families that prefer to figure out the weekly NCLI Program location, photo clues of the NCLI Mascot Nuts 2 and his friends will be shared on social media through our DEEP State Parks Facebook Page and DEEP State Parks Instagram page every Wednesday through the six weeks of adventure.
Registration is not required, but families or family teams (with at least one adult 18 years or older and one child under 18) who do pre-register and attend all six weeks of the program will be eligible to participate in the overnight campout at Hammonasset Beach State Park in the fall and to receive a small prize.
To be eligible for the final prize, families must pre-register by May 14, 2022, attend at least 4 weeks of the game, check in at the registration table at each Great Park Pursuit event, submit a completed activity card, and provide the required documentation that they attended the self-guided events. See you in the parks!
Registration for the 2022 No Child Left Inside®Great Park Pursuit – Connecticut State Parks’ Family Adventure is now open at www.NoChildLeftInside.org.
Established in 1913, the mission of the Connecticut State Park system is to provide natural resource-based public recreational and educational opportunities through a system of state park and forest recreation areas, environmental education centers, and nature centers which provide an understanding of, access to, and enjoyment of the state’s historic, cultural and natural resources.
#CTStateParks, #GreatParkPursuit2022, #NCLI2022
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Contact
DEEP Communications
DEEP.communications@ct.gov
860-424-3110