Two Fort Payne, Ala., sites will celebrate Kids to Parks Day on Saturday, May 17, with history and prehistory lessons, including a look at a Spanish conquistador's trek through Alabama in 1540.
At 10 a.m. at the Little River Canyon Center, Jacksonville State University archaeologist and professor Harry Holstein will present "Hernando DeSoto: Stories of an Explorer."
From 1 to 4 p.m. at DeSoto State Park beside the Camp Store, National Park Service ranger Larry Beane will offer "Prehistoric Games, Tools and Weapons." His demonstration will include chunkey games, stickball games and atlatl spear-throwing activities for children and adults.
The morning program is the first in a series of educational programs commemorating the 475th year after DeSoto's landing in Tampa Bay, Fla., on May 28, 1539. The afternoon activity is the park's most popular program. Rangers say children often spending an hour or more trying to master the atlatl and games, giving them exercise and time outdoors.
Kids to Parks Day, established and organized by National Park Trust, is held annual on the third Saturday of May. It is designed to get kids into their local parks for outdoor exploration and recreation. Find out more at kidstoparks.org.
Both Saturday programs are free. Call the National Park Service office at 256-845-9605 for more information.
Little River Canyon National Preserve is at 4322 Little River Trail, NE, in Fort Payne. GPS units may need to be set to 472 Alabama Highway 35. Or call 256-845-9605 for more information.
DeSoto State Park is at 7104 DeSota Parkway, NE, in Fort Payne. Call 256-845-0051 for more information.