Free canoe rides, arts and crafts, and a $10 salmon lunch
OLYMPIA – May 10, 2016 – The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission Folk & Traditional Arts in the Parks Program invites the public to the Second Annual Canoe Families Celebration at Millersylvania State Park in Olympia.
The celebration runs from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, June 4, at the boat launch area on Deep Lake, 12245 Tilley Road SW, Olympia. (Directions: https://goo.gl/maps/T9ofHApdXDL2) The event celebrates the hard work and dedication of the members of and volunteers associated with the Chehalis, Nisqually, Puyallup, Squaxin Island and River Road canoe families.
The June 4 event will feature free canoe rides along with native singers, drummers and storytellers. There will be children’s activities, and several artists will have crafts for sale. A salmon and fry bread lunch will be available for purchase for $10. Free hot dogs and s’mores will also be offered.
Cultural event activities are presented by Canoe Families from The Chehalis Tribe, the Nisqually Indian Tribe, the Puyallup Tribe of Indians, The Squaxin Island Tribe and The Skokomish Tribal Nation. Proceeds from food sales support the canoe families’ participation in the Tribal Canoe Journey—Paddle to Nisqually 2016, where tribes and nations from the Pacific Northwest travel by canoe to different host communities along the Salish Sea. The 2016 Canoe Journey will be hosted by the Nisqually Indian Tribe from July 30 through Aug. 6.
The Millersylvania event is accessible to persons with disabilities. If special accommodations are required in order to attend the event, please call (360) 902-8626 (by Thursday, June 2) or (360) 753-1519 or the Washington Telecommunications Relay Service at (800) 833-6388 or 711. Requests must be made in advance.
The Discover Pass is not required to attend the event. In recognition of National Trails Day, Saturday, June 4, is a State Parks “free day,” when visitors to state parks are not required to display a Discover Pass.
About the Folk and Traditional Arts in the Parks Program
The Canoe Families event is part of a broader series of events celebrating Washington’s diverse cultures and presented by the Folk and Traditional Arts in the Parks Program. The program is a partnership of Washington State Parks and Northwest Heritage Resources, with funding provided by grants from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Washington State Parks Foundation. For a full schedule of Folk and Traditional Arts in the Parks Program events, visit http://parks.state.wa.us/folkarts or contact Debbie Fant, Folk & Traditional Arts Program Coordinator, at deborah.fant@parks.wa.gov or 360-902-8635.
About Millersylvania State Park
Millersylvania State Park is an 842-acre camping park with 3,300 feet of freshwater shoreline on Deep Lake. The park, filled with trails, is abundant in old-growth cedar and fir trees. Millersylvania was constructed almost entirely by hand in 1935 by the Civilian Conservation Corps. Deep Lake attracts boaters, swimmers and anglers. The state capital is a few miles north of the park. For more information about Millersylvania, visit http://parks.state.wa.us/546/Millersylvania
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About Washington State Parks
The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission manages more than 100 state parks and properties totaling approximately 120,000 acres. The Commission provides a variety of recreation opportunities for citizens and provides stewardship protection for a diverse array of natural, cultural and historic resources. State Parks’ statewide programs include long-distance trails, boating safety and winter recreation.
Follow Washington State Parks:
Share your favorite state park adventure on the State Parks’ blog site at www.AdventureAwaits.com.
Support state parks by purchasing your annual Discover Pass today, and enjoy a whole year of outdoor fun on Washington’s beautiful state-managed recreation lands. For more information, visit www.discoverpass.wa.gov.
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Debbie Fant, (360) 902-8635
Toni Droscher (360) 902-8604
Wash. Telecommunications Relay Service: (800) 833-6388
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