Check Out Washington

2023 Check Out Washington Program at Your Local Library​

Enter the State Park First-Time Adventure Photo and Story Contest!​

2023 Check Out Washington Program at Your Local Library​

Enter the State Park First-Time Adventure Photo and Story Contest!​

More families than ever can access and explore state parks through libraries statewide. This year, Check Out Washington will provide over 500 Adventure Packs and Discover Passes – up from 400 in 2022 – to local libraries around the state. In addition to Discover Passes, Adventure Packs include binoculars as well as nature guides to birds, wildlife, trees and plants. Library patrons can check out an Adventure Pack for up to a week at a time.

Inside you'll find a Discover Pass, Binoculars & Nature Guides

Have you borrowed a Pack? Share your photos and stories for prizes. The Foundation is inviting visitors to share their captivating first-time state park experiences through photos and stories, showcasing the awe-inspiring beauty and unforgettable moments experienced at Washington State Parks.

This year the program has also expanded into new regions, including Bellingham Public Library, Ellensburg Public Library, Fort Vancouver Regional Library and Whatcom County Library System. King County Library System is also receiving an additional 70 Adventure Packs.  

The program puts an emphasis on communities that would benefit most from greater access to outdoor recreation, as indicated by health disparity data. The full list of participating libraries featuring Adventure Packs is at the bottom of this page. 

Check Out Washington is a collaborative program supported by Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission, the Washington State Parks Foundation (WSPF), the Washington State Library and WSECU.

Funding for the program is provided by a sponsorship to WSPF from WSECU, with supplemental support from WSPF donors.

With an Adventure Pack you can explore state parks and learn about wildlife. Photo by Moments and Mountains Photo and Film

The Check Out Washington Adventure Packs distributed throughout the library system now more than triples the number of available passes and park materials to the communities that need them most, while providing a suite of new resources to enhance first-time park visits.

This program expansion is focused on these 14 library systems in Washington: