ARAMARK Parks and Destinations Events Celebrate Earth Day and National Park Week

(3BL Media) Phoenix, AZ - April 20, 2012 - ARAMARK Parks and Destinations, a leading operator of lodges and concessions in national parks and forests, state parks and other tourist destinations throughout the United States, today announced a series of activities to celebrate Earth Day, April 22, and National Park Week, April 21-29.

 “Earth Day and National Park Week provide the perfect backdrop to showcase the beauty of America’s parks and recreational sites,” said Bruce Fears, president of ARAMARK Parks and Destinations. “Our parks are filled with an abundance of natural resources and we take pride in promoting programs and activities that teach the importance of preserving these destinations.”

ARAMARK has a deep respect for and commitment to protecting and improving the environment. To advance its commitment to environmental stewardship, ARAMARK invests in improving platforms, products and services to create sustainable and practical programs that create long-term and real environmental benefits.

In celebration of National Park Week, entry to all National Parks is free during the week and ARAMARK Parks and Destinations is offering specials on lodging, tours, dining and retail at Lake Powell, Mesa Verde, Shenandoah and Olympic National Park.  

Below are scheduled events and activities visitors will find at their favorite parks and attractions:

Alaska:

Denali National Park: The second annual Trashin Fashion and Art Show will be held May 12 at 6:30 p.m. at the McKinley Chalet Cabin Nite Dinner Theater, located at mile 238.5 on George Parks Highway. Local communities and schools within the Denali Borough will come together to showcase clothes and art made from trash or recycled items. The theme, “Show it, Don’t Throw It” will promote environmental stewardship within the Denali Borough. Admittance to the event will be a donation to benefit the Denali School District’s sustainability efforts.

Arizona:

Glen Canyon National Recreation Area: Lake Powell Resorts & Marinas will continue its support of the Page Attacks Trash Program with an event April 21. The program now in its 30th year will bring a focus where every day is Earth Day.

For National Park Week, Rainbow Bridge Tours at Lake Powell will be 20 percent off and all regular-priced items in the gift store will be 10 percent off April 21-29.

Kartchner Caverns State Park will host its annual community event with a Farmer’s Market highlighting awareness of fresh, local produce, shopping locally and eating unprocessed food. In the Café, the menu will focus on fresh foods and their nutritional value. The gift shop will offer native wildflower seeds, reusable bags and U.S. made products promoting “Take a Hike for Health.”

California/Nevada:

The M.S. Dixie II and Zephyr Cove Resort will host its annual Earth Day Fieldtrip for more than 350 local fourth grade students. The three-hour cruise aboard the Mississippi-style paddle wheeler boat will include environmental education from the U.S. Forest Service and the Tahoe Douglas Fire District to demonstrate the life of a tree, water clarity, fire protection and a presentation from the ship’s captain about the boat . The fieldtrip will depart from Zephyr Cove Resort at 10 a.m., Wednesday, April 27.

Additionally, Zephyr Cove Resort and Lake Tahoe Cruises is sponsoring the Kid Zone at the South Lake Tahoe Earth Day event April 28. More information can be found at: www.southtahoeearthday.org.

Colorado:

Far View Lodge in Mesa Verde National Park will announce the winner of a sweepstakes give away on April 19, when it opens for the 2012 season for a stay at the lodge and tours for two. For National Park Week, the park will offer a buy one, get one 50 percent off promotion on its half-day guided tours of archaeological sites and cliff dwellings as well as on desserts at the Metate Room restaurant.

Maryland:

The Maryland Science Center will host an Earth Day event featuring a “recycle race” where kids armed with baskets will race to fill bins with recyclable items. There will also be a station to create images out of recycled paper, a lavender planting to take home, a demonstration on how green roofs benefit water sheds and cut down on air conditioning use, and new menu items featuring sustainable ingredients served with sustainable flatware.

Virginia:

In celebration of Earth Day and National Park Week, the Virginia Tourism Corporation’s monument LOVE letters, which stand 16 feet wide and 7 feet high, will be on display at Skyland Resort from the afternoon of Thursday, April 20 through Sunday, April 29 making for a great photo opportunity for visitors.

Skyland Resort will offer all guests staying at the lodge during National Park Week a coupon good for 20 percent off their next 2012 midweek stay. Elkwallow Wayside, Skyland Resort, Big Meadows Wayside and Loft Mountain Wayside will offer guests buy one dessert, get one 50 percent off of equal or lesser value April 21-29.

Washington:

Four lodges in Olympic National Park and Forest will offer 10 percent off regularly priced retail items and 10 percent off food and beverage (excluding alcohol) during National Park Week. For Earth Day, the lodges will host the following activities:

Lake Quinault Lodge will host an Earth Day Volunteer Vacation weekend on Saturday, April 21. The lodge is offering a discounted room rate of $79, which includes a BBQ on Saturday. Those participating in a Volunteer Vacation will help restore some of the most popular hiking trails in the Quinault Rainforest damaged by winter storms.

Kalaloch Lodge will hold its annual Pacific Coast Beach cleanup in conjunction with the Washington Coast Savers, Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission, Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary and Olympic National Park. A BBQ will be held at Kalaloch to support all volunteers.

Sol Duc Hot Springs will highlight the lodge’s trash diversion program with signage and education around the property to help guests do the same at home. On Earth Day, Sol Duc employees will join together to clean two miles of Highway 101 at the entrance to the Sol Duc Valley as a part of the lodge’s long standing commitment to the Adopt-a-Highway program. 

Lake Crescent Lodge staff also will clean two miles of Highway 101 east of Lake Crescent as a part of the Adopt-a-Highway program. The lodge will open for the summer season on May 3 with renovated rooms.

About ARAMARK Parks and Destinations
ARAMARK Parks and Destinations, a division of ARAMARK, delivers authentic and memorable experiences at national and state parks, national forests, specialty hotels, museums, and other tourist destinations throughout the United States.  In partnership with its clients, ARAMARK Parks and Destinations seek to enhance the guest experience by offering industry-leading hospitality, environmental stewardship, recreational, and interpretive programs. For more information on ARAMARK Parks and Destinations and each of its properties, visit www.aramarkparksanddestinations.com.

About ARAMARK
ARAMARK is a leader in professional services, providing award-winning food services, facilities management, and uniform and career apparel to health care institutions, universities and school districts, stadiums and arenas, and businesses around the world. The company is recognized as one of the "World's Most Ethical Companies" by the Ethisphere Institute, one of the "World's Most Admired Companies," by FORTUNE magazine and one of America's Largest Private Companies by both FORTUNE and Forbes magazines. ARAMARK seeks to responsibly address issues that matter to its clients, customers, employees and communities by focusing on employee advocacy, environmental stewardship, health and wellness, and community involvement. Headquartered in Philadelphia, ARAMARK has approximately 250,000 employees serving clients in 22 countries. Learn more at www.twitter.com/aramarknews.

To learn more about ARAMARK’s company-wide efforts to reduce our environmental footprint and help our clients and the communities we serve to do the same, visit http://www.aramarkearthweek.com.