December 2022 Monthly Theme: "Parked" at Home
The concept of “home” means something different to each of us. Let’s help people explore ways to stay connected with parks through virtual experiences and at-home and in-community activities when they can’t be at a national park every day of the year.
The concept of “home” means something different to each of us--and to the people, fauna, and flora whose stories we tell. Let’s explore this concept, especially as many of us burrow in for winter. What ways can everyone stay connected with parks through virtual experiences and at-home and in-community activities when they can’t be at a national park every day of the year.
Here are a few suggestions that can be used for websites, social media, or programs:
- Make Connections: Share virtual experiences that you already offer and tease some of your digital projects and virtual experiences in the works.
- Virtual Experiences to Tour: Create and highlight virtual ways that people can connect with the theme using historical places, museum collections, oral histories, photos, film, and more.
- Gather 'Round: Host a virtual programs, such as living history events, storytime, talks, panel discussions, and more.
- Create Masterpieces: Host virtual events to create together, such as plein air painting, Instameets, writing workshops, or poetry slams for visitors to participate in various forms of art.
- Create a Compilation: Ask staff, partners, and online visitors to contribute stories, photos, and artwork.
- Share Your Story: Highlight the work that employees, volunteers, and interns in creating virtual experiences and digital outreach.
- Beyond Park Boundaries: Let people know about the virtual or digital opportunities to stay connected to NPS programs outside of park boundaries, such as grants, outreach, preservation, and recreational opportunities.
- Bringing Parks Home: Create ways for visitors to bring the idea and spirit of parks into their own home.
- Partnering Success: Give a shoutout to the work that your partners do providing virtual experiences or activities that can be done at home.
- Volunteering: Encourage people to volunteer and provide examples of how they can get involved in stewardship volunteering with projects in their own community or backyard, including citizen science.
- The Next Generation: Let people know of youth opportunities to get involved in the stewardship of public lands and work we do with communities around this theme, especially from their own home or neighborhood.
- Reaching Classrooms: Feature educational materials and opportunities that educators and students can use from their own classroom or home, such as lesson plans, learning games, and distance programs.
- Highlight Homes: Create products that talk about the concept of “home” in your park like historic buildings (especially homes/houses) or homes for wildlife (dens, lodges, nests, etc.).
- Light and Dark: As the days get shorter and darker, find ways to celebrate either the light or dark and talk about finding light in the dark (either literally or figuratively e.g., recognizing that the holidays can also be challenging).
Social Media
The hashtag #ParkedAtHome can be used for posts related to this month's theme, including when using the ideas listed above. National Park Service national, park, and program social media channels will be sharing content using this hashtag throughout the month that can be shared.
Resources on NPS.gov and Other Websites
Looking for more information or something ready-made to share for this month's theme? Here are a few places to find information and resources or link to:
More December Themes & Activities
Every month, the National Park Service celebrates different national holidays and initiatives that provide opportunities to share our mission through websites, social media, and other platforms. Find information on a related topic on NPS.gov, hashtags that national parks are using, and other messaging tools to use on these special days.
December 1-31: Holidays
December 3: (UN) International Day of Persons with Disabilities
December 5: (UN) World Soil Day
December 7: National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day
December 11: (UN) International Mountain Day
December 17: Wright Brothers Day
December 21: Winter Solstice / First Day of Winter
Last updated: November 30, 2022