Virtual Pop-Up Play Days continue through December

RICHLAND, Wash.-- Last summer, the City of Richland started a Pop-up Play Day program, providing interactive activities at local parks.

With social distancing restrictions due to COVID-19, the play days turned into an online activity that includes some outdoor elements.

"The activities are gauged for 6-12 year olds, that's the complexity of the activities," said Becky Burghart with the National Parks Service. "But they're really fun, family activities like geocaching. Families can go out and learn how to geocache in the Tri-Cities. There are hands-on activities, there's a history piece that talks about the Manhattan Project, and then there's an outdoor recreation piece that gets you out in the local city parks."

There are six separate activities that focus on the history of the Tri-Cities, including the continued connection to agriculture, and how the development of nuclear grade plutonium shaped the Tri-Cities.

Week #1 -Community Resources
Week #2 -  Engineering Our Community
Week #3 - ABC Houses- Building Our Community
Week #4 - Feeding Our Community
Week #5 - Pets in Our Community
Week #6 - Art in Our Community

Each activity includes a video and a downloadable activity.

Participants can download the Junior Ranger Passport and complete each of the activities. Then mail it into the Richland Parks and Recreation Department to receive a patch or pin.