Florida Paddle Challenge Celebrates National Park Service

The National Park Service will celebrate its 100th anniversary with a 100-mile paddle challenge throughout 2016.

Biscayne National Park Ranger Gary Bremen tells The Miami Herald that the challenge will help focus on the connectedness of the Florida's 11 diverse national parks, which include both sandy beaches and grassy waters.

The event will begin Saturday at the Biscayne National Park's Dante Fascell Visitor Center.

To complete the challenge, participants must paddle in at least three of the 11 parks, using selfies as evidence, and log a cumulative total of 100 miles. Participants can log miles by paddling canoes, kayaks and stand-up paddleboards. Selfies can be posted on social media with the hashtag #FLNPS100PaddleChallenge.

Other participating parks include Big Cypress, Canaveral, Everglades, Fort Carolina and Gulf Islands, among others.