Celebrate America's treasures-it's national parks- during National Park Week, April 19 - 27.  The Outer Banks are fortunate in that 3 great national parks can be found here.  The Cape Hatteras National Seashore, the first national seashore in the nation, is a 25,000 acre natural area made up of beaches, marshes, maritime forests and undisturbed natural areas.   It's also home to 3 lighthouses. 

Fort Raleigh National Historic Site on Roanoke Island celebrates the history of the Roanoke Voyages in the 1580s, when the English were anxious to get a foothold in the new world.  The Wright Brothers National Memorial in Kill Devil Hills pays homage to Orville and Wilbur Wright who came to the Outer Banks with their dreams of bringing flight to the world. 

This year's theme for National Park Week is Kids in the Park.  Did you know that each park offers a Junior Ranger program?  Youngsters age 5-13 can become a Seashore Ranger, Flight Ranger or a Roanoke Ranger.  Each park's visitor center can provide a Junior Ranger booklet for kid's to get started.  If you can't visit a park check online at www.nps.gov/webrangers. 

Anyone who would like to learn more about America's National Parks can take an online class Introduction to the National Park Service.  This course, which takes about 30 to 45 minutes, offers teachers 0.12 continuing education credits. 

Check with Cape Hatteras, Fort Raleigh and WB National Memorial for special events this week.