Here’s the perfect way to earn prizes for exploring the great outdoors with your family. Kids in Parks is an incentive-based program from the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation designed to get kids away from screens and enjoying the outdoors. The best part – it’s FREE! So, enjoy a day of outdoor play while your kids earn prizes!
The Greenville area definitely has an abundance of breathtaking outdoor destinations. Unfortunately, with younger children in tow and the absence of a play structure, it’s hard to know how to make the most of those natural gems. If you find yourself heading out to just such a place, getting out of the car, soaking in the beauty, and then a few minutes later looking around and saying, “Ok, now what?”—we have the ultimate solution!
Meet Kids in Parks, a user-friendly, national initiative born out of the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation. It turns what your little ones might normally view as a “boring walk in the woods” into an interactive, educational treasure hunt. Best of all, as your kids log their miles, they earn real, physical prizes mailed straight to your house—and it’s completely FREE!
Here is everything you need to know about how the Kids in Parks program works, what gear your kids can earn, and exactly where you can find the closest official TRACK Trails right here in the Greenville and Upstate area.
Kids in Parks: What’s it All About?
At the heart of the Kids in Parks program is a massive, ever-expanding network of TRACK Trails. Today, the program features over 300 trails across 18 states, Washington D.C., and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.
When you arrive at an official TRACK Trail, you’ll find a special kiosk loaded with free, self-guided activity brochures. These brochures give kids specific “missions” for their hike—like looking for specific bird species, hunting for camouflage patterns in nature, or copying animal movements.
How the Program Works (and How to Get Prizes!)
Getting started is incredibly simple and highly rewarding for the kids:
- Pick Your Trail & Explore: Head to one of the official locations listed below. Grab an activity brochure from the kiosk at the trailhead and enjoy your hike.
- Log Your Adventure: When you get home, go to the Kids in Parks website and create a free account for your family. Plug in the details of the trail you just completed. (The site will automatically track how many miles your children have hiked based on the trail data!).
- Wait by the Mailbox! Your children will receive their first prize after logging their very first activity.
What Prizes Can They Earn?
The prize system is a fantastic motivator. Children will receive the first of fifteen milestone prizes after their very first activity is logged!
- 1st Hike: A pocket-sized Trail TRACKer Nature Journal, a passport, a custom trail sticker unique to the official location you visited, and a card carabiner.
- Subsequent Hikes: A series of collectible educational adventure cards to snap onto their carabiner, more custom stickers, and progress badges.
The program has also expanded to include specialized tracking for Bike Trails and Disc Golf TRACK Trails. Milestone rewards for those tracks include super-practical gear like:
- Clip-on bike lights
- Mini first-aid kits
- Branded sunglasses straps
- Bicycle bells
- Disc golf putters
e-Adventures for Rainy Days
Have a rainy day or can’t make it to a park? They also feature an e-Adventure section on their website. Kids can use a smartphone or tablet to complete backyard nature challenges to keep exploring the environment around them and earning prize incentives!
Pro-tip: If you follow “Kids in Parks” on social media or subscribe to their newsletter, they often post additional TRACK trail brochures that you can print out and utilize in your backyard or your favorite local parks!
Where to Find TRACK Trails Near Greenville, SC
You don’t have to drive incredibly far to get started. We have excellent official TRACK Trails right in our backyard, along with some fantastic options within an easy driving distance for a family day trip!
1. Swamp Rabbit Trail – City of Fountain Inn
- Location: Trailhead at Hellams Street, Fountain Inn, SC 29644 (Runs to Mount Zion Drive).
- Distance/Difficulty: 1.0 mile, Easy (Crushed rock and partial paving).
- The Vibe: This is the newest section of the iconic Prisma Health Swamp Rabbit Trail network. It features parking mid-way at the Country Chase Fitness Park, picnic tables, and is totally stroller and bike-friendly. The brochure activities here focus on “Pond Life” and identifying local tree species.
2. Table Rock State Park (Carrick Creek Trail)
- Location: 158 E. Ellison Lane, Pickens, SC 29671 (About 45 minutes north of Greenville via US 276).
- Distance/Difficulty: 2.0-mile loop, Moderate.
- The Vibe: Located right at the Nature Center, the Carrick Creek loop features gorgeous cascading waterfalls, a viewing deck, and a classic mountain forest experience. It’s a bit more rugged but absolutely doable for kids who love to climb over roots and rocks. (Note: State park admission fees apply).
- Read Our Full Guide: Check out our Kidding Around Guide to All South Carolina State Parks before you go!
Learn all about Table Rock State Park with our KA review.
3. Battle of Musgrove Mill State Historic Site
- Location: 398 State Road SC-56, Clinton, SC 29325 (About 45 minutes southeast of Greenville).
- Distance/Difficulty: Easy to Moderate.
- The Vibe: Combine outdoor exploration with a little local history! This beautiful property features historical Revolutionary War battlefields, views of the Enoree River, a gorgeous waterfall trail, and plenty of room to explore.
Learn all about Musgrove Mill State Park with this review from Maria.
4. Congaree National Park & Beyond
If you are up for a family day trip, Congaree National Park (just south of Columbia) hosts a spectacular elevated boardwalk TRACK Trail through old-growth floodplains.
Learn all about Congaree National Park with this review from Kristina.
Our family actually first discovered this program on a trip up the mountain into Western North Carolina at Mount Mitchell State Park in Burnsville, NC. Mount Mitchell is breathtaking—the summit is the highest point east of the Mississippi River at 6,684 feet above sea level—and taking this trip has become a beloved annual birthday tradition for us! If you head into Western NC, you’ll also find excellent family-favorite TRACK Trails at Chimney Rock State Park, the Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site, and the North Carolina Arboretum.
Looking for Backyard Practice Spots?
If you’ve printed out some of the backyard brochures from the Kids in Parks newsletter, some of our favorite local spots in the Spartanburg area to enjoy an outdoor adventure are Tyger-10 Nature Park, Lake Cooley, and the Milliken Arboretum.
Keep an Eye Out for These Special Outdoor Days!
- National Kids to Parks Day: Hosted annually by the National Park Trust on the third Saturday of May, this nationally recognized celebration is a wonderful way to connect your family with local state and national parks.
- National Play Outside Day: Recognized on the first Saturday of every month, this serves as a fantastic regular reminder to plan outdoor adventures with the family!
Have your kids tried the Kids in Parks program yet? What prizes have they earned? Let us know your favorite local trails in the comments!
Want more free family fun around the Upstate?
- Check out our ultimate guide to Free Things to Do in Greenville, SC.
- Looking for more places to explore? Browse our comprehensive Kidding Around Park Guide.
Which park will your family visit to earn prizes?
Check out more local parks in our KA Park Guide
Fun can be FREE!
