Looking to offer new outdoor opportunities for kids and families to learn and spend more time in nature, three existing park trails will be converted to TRACK Trails in the near future.

TRACK Trails are self-guided and interactive, incorporating brochures and other elements to make hikes more fun. 

“Our mission is to engage kids and families in nature as a way to promote overall health and health of parks and public lands,” said Jason Urroz, program director of the Kids in Parks program.

The TRACK Trails are a partnership between nonprofits Oregon Parks Forever and Kids in Parks, and the three new — or newly converted — trails will be in Medford, Ashland and Trail. 

The grand openings for three new TRACK Trails in Southern Oregon will be held throughout June 7 and June 8. 

“We’re opening 12 new trails in Oregon in the first week of June; it’s part of a national network and part of the Oregon network and we just want to help kids and families in Oregon to get outdoors and unplugged,” Urroz said. 

The McGregor Park ribbon cutting will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, June 7, in Trail. 

The Prescott Park ribbon cutting in Medford is scheduled for 11 a.m. on Sunday, June 8, and the Lithia Park ribbon cutting in Ashland is set for 2 p.m. on June 8. 

Additionally, the organizers will be screening the documentary “Out There: A National Parks Story” at Southern Oregon University’s Music Recital Hall in Ashland, located at 450 S. Mountain Ave. 

Tickets for the film screening are $15, $10 for seniors ages 65 and older and can be purchased at orparksforever.org. 

TRACK Trails are an environmental treasure hunt of sorts, encouraging kids and families to locate and identify local flora and fauna while on their hike, winning free prizes such as stickers, bike lights, mini disks and more after logging their adventures.

“We talk to rangers and staff at parks to coordinate with them on which trails they think will be the best to be a TRACK Trail and work with them on which brochure topics to include,” Urroz said. “We do the art and design and fabrication process and have all the materials shipped to them, and they do the trail head sign and we build the website and register the hike.” 

There are 330 TRACK Trails in 18 states as well as Washington D.C. 

“In June, there will be 30 trails (in Oregon),” Urroz said. “I’d certainly love for trails to be in all 50 states.” 

The primary focus overall for organizers of the TRACK Trails and other partners is getting more people outdoors and enjoying and advocating for nature. 

“It’s about spending time outdoors, being active and exploring nature. …We’re trying to see what to do to get people more excited about being outside and off their phone,” he said. “If kids today aren’t excited about nature, they won’t stand up and fight for it; national parks are threatened as they are now.” 

“The favorite thing for me is reading the answers of kids when registering their hikes; I have, for 25 years, been an educator, and ranger in the national park services and director of the national level kids hiking program,” Urroz added. 

Organizers and partners intend to keep bringing new TRACK Trails to the Beaver State. 

“Oregon Parks Forever is funding the expansion of TRACK Trails in Oregon and are funding 50 trails in Oregon right now. …30 of them will be installed as of June 9,” Urroz said. “We have more work to do and more trails in the queue.” 

To learn more about the Kids in Parks program, visit kidsinparks.com. 

For more information on Oregon Parks Forever, visit orparksforever.org. 

Reach reporter James Sloan at james.sloan@rv-times.com.