This year (2018), the Construction and Planning Agency, Ministry of the Interior, has planned the "3-Generation Family Trip to a National Park" series of events based on families of three generations and carefully taken visitors of all ages into the consideration. It is family fun in nature while bringing the grandparents, parents and children closer together.
The Kaohsiung Metropolitan Park hosted "Spirits of The Night" event on 3 separate days: April 20, May 11, and May 25. This event focuses on nocturnal animal observation, and welcomes families of 3 generations to join. Participants will see the diverse plant ecology during nighttime under the guidance of professional environmental education teachers, and witness Kaohsiung's transformation over 22 years from sugarcane fields, landfill site, to its recovery as a large metropolitan park filled with greenery.
The Taichung Metropolitan Park hosted the "3-Generation Family Treasure Hunt" on April 28 and May 19, and the "3-Generation Family Adventure to Papora in Dadushan" event on June 9.
On Saturday, April 28, the environmental education teacher taught the children about the plants in the park. The Taichung City Government provided environmental education backpacks and picture books for 5 types of plants: shell ginger, paper mulberry, subcostate crape myrtle, yuzu, and large-leaf banyan. Every family received one backpack, which includes a picture book of one type of plants, a magnifier, and other tools, so that the family can observe the plants through all 5 senses through the books introduction. Towards the end of the event, the children all bent over to pick up the leaves and branches to create personalized small faces of nature to be framed.
On Saturday, June 9, the "3-Generation Family Adventure to Papora in Dadushan" event differed from picture book family reading in past years and invited grandfathers and grandmothers to join their grandchildren. Together the participants searched and explored the history of Papora, experiencing the Papora people's way of life in the past inside the Taichung Metropolitan Park, and learning about the changes in culture and the environment.
The two metropolitan parks based the event plans on the unique geological and cultural historical background and took in careful consideration for the elderly participants. The activities encouraged the elderly to change from passive to active participants, and to experience for themselves the moving stories of the past. Both parks have accessible trails installed and hold unscheduled educational activities suited for children, adults, and the elderly, all 3 generations. The activities are wonderful ways to connect and create memories while being surrounded by nature.