PHOENIX, Ariz.—April 21, 2011— 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, has scheduled a series of activities spanning ten states in support of Earth Day.
As the steward of some of the most pristine natural destinations in the nation, ARAMARK has designed educational, interpretive and interactive programs that showcase the importance of protecting the environment and preserving the country’s natural resources.
“Environmental awareness and sustainability have become a part of all our lives thanks to events like Earth Day,” says ARAMARK Parks and Destinations President Bruce W. Fears. “We strive to make every day Earth Day, putting the environment first in all aspects of our business - from how we run our operations to the ingredients we use in our restaurants.”
ARAMARK’s menus regularly feature local and sustainable choices like the Barley and Three Bean Succotash at Shenandoah National Park, where the company partners with local growers at Miller Farms, the Morro Bay Sable Fish at Asilomar Conference Grounds, and the Halibut Tostadas at Monterey Bay Aquarium, as a few examples.
This year, many ARAMARK Parks and Destinations locations are taking part in Earth Day in a variety of ways: community volunteer opportunities, field trips for local school children focusing on environmental education, employee-lead cleanup and restoration events and contests among other earth-friendly activities that support the year-round environmental and sustainability efforts.
Educational Events: Field trips have been arranged by Lake Tahoe Cruises, Nev., Lake Crescent Lodge, Wash., and Glacier Bay Lodge, Alaska in honor of Earth Day. The field trips will educate local youth on environmental efforts and what they can do at home to help make every day Earth Day. Children will also be recognized for their environmental efforts, art projects and native plant gardens.
Volunteer Opportunities: On Saturday, April 23, Hearst Castle, Calif., Kalaloch Lodge, Wash. and Lake Quinault Lodge, Wash., will be holding community volunteer events to clean and improve local beaches and trails. The San Simeon State Beach cleanup will be staffed by Hearst Castle employees in partnership with California State Parks and the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary; the Kalaloch Beach cleanup is in partnership with the Washington Coast Savers, Washington State Parks and Recreation commission, Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary and Olympic National Park. At Lake Quinault Lodge, nearby rainforest trails will be restored.
Employee Stewardship: Employees at Lake Powell Resorts and Marinas in Page, Ariz., and Shenandoah National Park, Va. will be restoring popular walking trails and fire roads near the properties. Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort and Lake Crescent Lodge staff will be removing trash from two-mile stretches of road. In Gettysburg National Military Park, Pa and R. David Thomas Center, N.C., gardens will be planted with the goal of producing food to be used at the facilities and to educate guests.
Recycling: Bushkill Falls, Pa will collect used cell phones with proceeds benefiting the Pocono Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, while Denali Park Resorts, Alaska, provided staff and hauling for recyclables at a local Earth Day event. At Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort, Wash., the property will use signage and children’s meals to educate guests on the property’s recycling efforts.
Earth Day Events: Cape May County (N.J.) Zoo and McKinley Chalet Resort, Alaska will be holding events in celebration of Earth Day. Cape May County Zoo’s May 7 event will include a 5K race, a 1 mile walk and Earth Day exhibits highlighting art made out of recycling materials and drawings from local school children. McKinley Chalet Resort will host the Trashin’ Fashion and Art Show on May 11 to benefit the Denali School District and bring awareness to innovative ways to recycle and reuse.
In addition to these happenings, the cafes and gift shops at Pikes Peak, Colo., Kartchner Caverns, Ariz. and Historic Philadelphia, Pa. are participating by highlighting locally-grown menu specials to reusable retail products.
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.