It’s now easier than ever to explore Washington’s beautiful state parks — but you’ll have to plan ahead.<\/p>\n
For four years, the King County Library System has been a part of the Washington State Park’s “Check Out Washington” program, which allows library patrons to borrow Adventure Pack to enhance your state park experience.<\/p>\n
This year, KCLS has even more Adventure Packs to borrow (from 200 to 270) so more people can participate in the program.<\/p>\n
However, the program is popular. So popular that the current wait list for an Adventure Pack is more than 700 people long, according to Sarah Fronk, State Parks communications manager.<\/p>\n
When you check out an Adventure Pack, you receive a Discover Pass, various educational materials, pocket guides about Washington’s flora and fauna, and a set of high quality binoculars.<\/p>\n
The Adventure Packs themselves are made by epqd gear, a Washington-based sustainable bag manufacturer.<\/p>\n
Other library systems that participate in Check Out Washington include the Pierce County Library System, the Tacoma Public Library, the Joint Base Lewis-McChord Libraries, and more.<\/p>\n
Washington State Parks hopes to continue expanding the program in the future; Fronk said State Parks is working on a fundraiser to that will fund an additional 150 Adventure Packs for KCLS specifically, plus another 150 Discover Passes that can be checked out without an Adventure Pack.<\/p>\n