How to Take Your Kids & Family to National Parks FREE & Find Deals and Discounts on Hotels Nearby

Family Travel

I grew up on family road trips to national parks and my hubbie and I are also raising our own kids to appreciate all that they offer. So, I'm particularly excited to be sharing this post with you. America's Best Idea - our national parks - gets even better with a generous number of fee-free days throughout the year at more than 100 participating national parks -- the Grand Canyon for example -- that usually charge entrance fees. However, note that other fees such as reservations, camping, tours, concession and fees collected by third parties are typically not included with these free days. I'm so happy to let you know that the last Free National Park dates in 2011 are coming up this Friday - Sunday, November 11-13, Veteran's Day Weekend. What's even better? Some of America's national parks are even free 365 days a year, so you'll definitely want to check the details on the NPS.gov website.

Me at Saguaro National Monument, Tucson, AZ

1968 Vintage photo by my Daddy, MommyBlogExpert.com

2012 NPS Fee-Free Calendar 

January 14-16, Martin Luther King Jr. weekend 

April 21-29, National Park Week

June 9, Get Outdoors Day

September 29, National Public Lands Day

November 10-12, Veteran's Weekend

Save on Accomodations Near Parks Too
Here's another great resource for discounts and saving money on hotels in or close to various National Parks. 

What parks have you been to with your kids and which are your favorites and why? Please leave a comment and share.

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Volunteer to Help Your Child's School or Classroom for National Parent Involvement Day 11/17

Parenting

U.S. schools are at a crossroads. As education budgets and programs continue to be cut, classroom sizes keep rising, understandably frustrating today's moms and dads of students like never before. In times like this -- with no relief in sight -- I think that if us parents aren't part of the solution, then we are actually part of the problem. Rather than standing idly by, allowing the educational system to crumble upon our children, it's time for parents to take back quality education for all kids. Standing by to help in that noble effort is Project Appleseed, a non-profit public education advocate which is all about parental involvement and engagement. On November 17, the organization's 18th annual National Parent Involvement Day, parents across America are asked to help out in their child’s school.  Not coincidentally, this important day falls within the middle of American Education Week which runs this year from November 13-19.

Some of my happiest memories are as a school trip mother

Vintage family photo with my own kids on an outing, MommyBlogExpert.com

“Volunteers and adult assistants in classrooms can potentially make a huge difference, especially with schools and teachers under so much stress,” says Paddy Eger, a veteran educator with 20 years experience as a primary and intermediate grade teacher, parent trainer and volunteer, and author of Educating America 101: Strategies for Adult Assistants in K-8 Classrooms.

Eger has developed some simple strategies that allow those volunteering in schools to maximize the ways they can help while also reducing the chances that their assistance will be counterproductive to teachers' and/or administrators' own efforts. Her suggestions don't replace the formal training provided by schools but the ideas in her book can greatly enhance the time volunteers spend working directly with kids.

“With a little training and a handful of strategies, most adults can effectively assist both teachers and students," Eger says. “One hour a month or a week helping students is a small investment of time that has big returns in the long run.”

Have you helped (or plan to help) at your child's school. If so, I encourage you to share your experience of volunteering in the classroom here and if you have any advice for other parents with school age children.

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FTC Disclosure: This blog did not receive any payment or other compensation associated with this post. See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.

Thomas and Friends Day of the Diesels Movie

Movies

Enter the Thomas and Friends Trackmaster Toy Giveaway Below

This month,Kidtoons proudly presents the animated wholesome feature movieThomas & Friends: Day of The Dieselsin select theaters nationwide every weekend in November. In this fun kids film based on the popular children's classic book seriesThomas the Tank EngineThe Steamies and The Diesels interact in an action-packed adventure suitable for all audiences including young children.

As the heroic plot unfolds, there's a fire on the Island of Sodor and two new firefighting engines Flynn and Belle join Thomas and Percy to put it out. Just after the blaze is extinguished things get really exciting, keeping toddlers, preschoolers, and older kid fans involved in the non stop action up until the happy ending and the moral of the story emerges.

GIVEAWAY

ENDS 12/5/11

3 Winners - Prize packs valued @ $75 each!

Kidtoons TrackMaster Giveaway

THREE (3) Winners Each Get

All the Prizes Pictured Including

• One Thomas & Friends(TM) TrackMaster(TM) Cranky & Flynn Save the Day! (Fisher-Price, retail value $75)

       AND

• One Thomas theatrical one-sheet/movie poster

HOW TO ENTER

 

Just leave a comment(s) below this post!  Contest ends December 5, 2011 at 12 midnite PST and is open to legal residents of the U.S. only. Winners will be selected at random from all entries and will be notified via email.

Required (Mandatory) Entry

Simply leave a comment below this blogpost saying why you want to win this prize.  Don't forget to include your email address, Facebook and/or Twitter contact info in the comment section so the winner can be contacted.

Optional Extra Entries

Earn extra entries to win for doing one or more of the easy options listed below.  Just be sure to return to MommyBlogExpert (MBE) to leave an additional comment after each individual extra action you do to confirm so we can record all your additional chances to win.

1.  Follow MBE on Twitter

2. Like MBE on Facebook

Super ***Bonus Entries***
You can earn even MORE chances to win each time you TWEET the message below, up to 3 times each day.  Don't forget to return to leave a comment on this post with the direct link right after every Tweet you do so you'll receive an entry for each of your RTs.

Tweet:
Thomas + Friends Movie $75 Trackmaster Train Toy @Kidtoonfilms Giveaway 3 Prizes Ends 12/5 http://tinyurl.com/6tpf5d3 #kids #movie

Mommy Blog Expert is excited to be one of the few blogs to host some really great Kidtoons family friendly monthly movie giveaways in connection with screenings for children in theaters nationwide.

Past Kidtoons movie giveaways on MBE include: Spookley Square Pumpkin, Care Bears: Share Bear Shines, Curious George: A Very Monkey Christmas, Barbie A Fairy Secret, Little Engine That Could, Strawberry Shortcake: Sky's the Limit, Olivia and the Great Outdoors, Thomas & Friends: Hero of the Rails, Babar and the Adventures of Badou: Swing Into Summer, Candy Land The Great Lollipop Adventure, Sid the Science Kid, and Spookley Square Pumpkin 2011.

Each Kidtoons giveaway is unique, based on the monthly movie offering. But, they're always family friendly and wholesome for children, so don't miss out on entering the current giveaway as well as subscribing to MommyBlogExpert, so you'll be the first to know when next month's giveaway is announced.

About Kidtoon Films

Kidtoons mission is to showcase fun and affordable family-centric movies at participating theaters. Every month a different entertaining child's film is screened at well over 100 neighborhood theaters across the U.S. So, be sure to check theater locations near you because more big screens where you can take your child to see this have been added recently.

This concept brings parents and children together to enjoy kid-friendly characters, cartoons, music videos and sing-a-longs as well as giveaways for the kid audience members like stickers, activity books or toys after every film.

Everyone can get a FREE movie pass to a Kidtoon Films showing in your neighborhood on your child's birthday. Sign up your kid(s) for the Birthday Club at kidtoonfilms.com. See more information on the Kidtoons concept and find the theater location nearest you where this cute film is showing, as well as see this month's movie trailer.

LOTS More 

Family-Friendly Giveaways!

Currently Being Hosted by Mommy Blog Expert

ENTER Them All HERE

FTC Disclosure: Kidtoon Films is providing the prizes and shipping for this giveaway.  However, MommyBlogExpert did not receive any payment or other compensation associated with this post.  See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.