By Monica Prelle
Camping Expert, about.com
WASHINGTON (February 19, 2015) – Today, President Obama will announce “Every Kid in a Park,”
a new initiative geared toward introducing America’s youth and their
families to public lands and waters. The national program seeks to
connect four million fourth graders with these treasured places in the
2015-16 academic year, coinciding with the National Park Service
Centennial celebration.
The National Park Foundation,
the official charity of America’s national parks and nonprofit partner
to the National Park Service, will lead the on-the-ground efforts in
collaboration with the National Park Service, Forest Service, Department
of Education, Army Corps of Engineers, Bureau of Land Management, Fish
and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Reclamation, and National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration.
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Currently, the National Park Foundation’s Open Outdoors for Kids initiative
supports Every Kid in a Park by eliminating barriers that prevent
America’s youth from visiting their national parks.
The National Park Foundation does this by providing
the much-needed funds to make national park field trips, citizen
science projects, Junior Ranger activities, experiential learning
opportunities, and more possible. Over the last three years, National
Park Foundation grants have made it possible for more than 200,000
students to visit their national parks.
“Thanks to our
public-private partnerships, we are able to open up a world of
experiential learning in our nation’s largest classrooms – our national
parks. Every Kid in a Park will enhance this important work and will
give many youth and their families the opportunity to explore our
national parks for the first time. This aligns perfectly with our
mission as we focus on engaging the next generation of park stewards as
well as those who already know and love the parks,” said Dan Wenk,
president of the National Park Foundation. “We applaud President Obama
on his commitment to this initiative and we’re thrilled to work with all
of our partners, including the National Park Service, local Friends
Groups, various youth organizations, philanthropists, and foundations to
connect kids to America’s magnificent national parks, inspiring their
natural curiosity and love of these special places.”
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This
initiative advances the National Park Foundation and National Park
Service’s centennial goal of connecting with and creating the next
generation of national park visitors, supporters, and advocates.
In celebration of the National Park Service Centennial in
2016, the National Park Foundation is also spearheading a two-year
public engagement and education campaign launching this spring titled
“Find Your Park.” The initiative will highlight the National Park
Service’s important work, inviting people everywhere to connect with
their parks and inspiring the next generation of park stewards. In
addition, as part of its commitment to the National Park Service
Centennial, the Foundation is embarking on a national fundraising
campaign dedicated to raising private support for America's national
parks.
