State Parks Free Day passes available at libraries

Free day passes to a state park or historic site are at the Big Horn County libraries. The State Parks Library Backpack Program provides a day pass plus a backpack. The backpack is filled with maps, field guides, activity supplies and other fun tools to help explore the parks/sites. 

As a commissioner for State Parks & Cultural Resources, I’ve been occasionally mentioning (maybe nagging would be more accurate wording) that we really need to get this program in Big Horn County. So thankful it is here. 

The program has been around for nine years. It is now in all 23 counties thanks to Interpretive Ranger Angelina Stancampiano who recently took over the program. 

She, like so many of our agency staff, is a rock star. On a side note, if you ever go to Sinks Canyon State Park, stop in to see her and the black footed ferrets. Angelina does a lot of outreaches with the little rascals. (Maybe we can get them to come see us in Big Horn County.) 

The backpack program focuses on education, outreach and engagement with the outdoors through meaningful experiences. Library card holders can check out the day pass and backpack for up to 14 days. This gives everyone in the party in a single vehicle access to the site. 

According to Angelina, Wyoming has the highest library visitation in the U.S. The backpack program is a great addition to what our county libraries do now. The libraries are such an important part of the communities.