Goose Creek State Park offers more than just a place for people to camp, hike and swim. As important as it is for people to participate in recreation, it’s just as important, if not more so, for people to participate in education.

Goose Creek State Park offers education along with recreation.

The park’s Environmental Education and Visitor Center offers plenty of opportunities to learn about the park, its environment and the plant and animal life in the park. Almost every Sunday afternoon, the park presents programs — sometimes geared toward children, sometimes geared for entire families — on various subjects. One program may look at bears. Another program may focus on owls. Yet another program takes a look at plant life in a wetlands.

Park rangers who have expertise in the subjects they are discussing and presenting conduct most programs.

In addition to their educational, and sometimes recreational, value, the programs are free.

The park and its rangers take their educational responsibilities seriously.

Visitors to the area and area residents are urged to visit the park, take advantage of its educational programs and have fun doing it. It’s good to mix recreation with education. Body and mind will benefit.

For more information about the park and its programs, visit http://www.ncparks.gov/Visit/parks/gocr/main.php or call 252-923-2191. The park is at 2190 Camp Leach Road east of Washington.