Rock the Park
By Emily Ashby,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Fun-loving hosts + natural parks' splendor = inspiring TV.

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Rock the Park
Community Reviews
Based on 2 parent reviews
Best as a children's program. Wonderful Scenery.
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Will not appeal to everyone, but will appeal to certain tastes.
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What's the Story?
In ROCK THE PARK, adventure guides Colton Smith and Jack Steward tour some of the country's most beautiful national parks, taking in the scenery and trying out some of the activities for which the areas are known. They observe native wildlife in their natural habitats, learn about the parks' geological history, and discover how nature is changing the face of each one even today, all on their quest to visit every national park in America. Often the guys step off the beaten path to take in scenes other tourists might miss, whether it's kayaking among whales or hiking to within reach of a moving glacier, and they encourage viewers to use their adventures as inspiration for their own.
Is It Any Good?
Rock the Park is an entertaining visual guide to some of the country's most awe-inspiring landscapes. Although the content certainly isn't groundbreaking, the show's appeal is thanks to the jovial hosts and their genuine boyish enthusiasm for each new adventure. Tagging along with Jack and Colton is more like following two fraternity brothers on an epic spring-break trip than getting a professional guided tour of the parks, but that makes it fun for all kinds of viewers. They're goofy, they laugh at their near-misses, and they imitate funny animal sounds for the camera, all of which bodes well for keeping kids' attention.
What's even better is that the guys aren't doing all this for themselves (although they're getting some pretty sweet adventures out of the deal). Their stated goal is to encourage you and your family to embark on outdoor journeys of your own, preferably in some of the very parks they visit. So grab your map to track their progress and settle in with the kids to be inspired by the guys' adventures before plotting the course for your family's adventures because, as Jack and Colton say, "If we can do it, so can you."
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the parks the hosts visit. Are they near where you live? How are the animal populations and climates related to their geographical locations? What natural forces contributed to their creation?
What is the value of the national park system? Why is it important to conserve some of our natural landscape? What factors threaten wildlife and vegetation in other parts of the world? Why is that a problem?
Families can use this series to inspire their own outdoor journeys. What are some places you would like to visit? How far away are they? How would you get there? What famous landmarks are there? Why is screen-free time important?
TV Details
- Premiere date: October 4, 2015
- Cast: Jack Steward, Colton Smith
- Network: CW
- Genre: Educational
- Topics: Adventures, Ocean Creatures, Science and Nature, Wild Animals
- Character Strengths: Curiosity
- TV rating: TV-G
- Last updated: February 26, 2022
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