Cathy Isom tells us about the Every Kid In A Park program giving every fourth grade student and their families an opportunity to enjoy our nation’s recreational areas. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours.
Every Kid In A Park
Every Kid In A Park
Free Access to Federal Lands and Waters for 4th Graders and Their Guests
Family hiking at Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Credit NPS photo by Will Elder, Golden Gate National Recreation Area
As part of President Obama’s commitment to protect our nation’s unique outdoor spaces and ensure that every American has the opportunity to visit and enjoy them, the Every Kid in a Park initiative allows fourth graders nationwide to go to www.everykidinapark.gov and obtain a pass for free entry for them and their families to more than 2,000 federally managed lands and waters nationwide for an entire year which started September 1, 2015.
By introducing fourth graders to public lands in their backyards and beyond at an early age, the innovative Every Kid in a Park initiative delivers a nationwide call to action to build the next generation of outdoor stewards of our country’s spectacular and diverse federal lands and waters. Connecting our nation’s youth to the great outdoors is even more important at a time when 80 percent of American families live in cities and most children spend more time on computers and smartphones than exploring nature. The initiative is slated to continue with each year’s group of fourth graders to inspire successive generations to become responsible stewards of our nation’s natural and cultural heritage.
Every Kid in a Park invites children of all backgrounds to discover their public lands and all they offer, including opportunities to be active and spend time with friends and family. As living classrooms, these outdoor places and historic sites also provide hands-on, real-world opportunities to develop critical skills and learn about the natural world.
Young boy and girl hiking along sunlit path in woods with walking sticks and backpack; boy is pointing toward something interesting up in trees. This image was used in the “Children and Nature” Conference at the National Conservation Training Center. Credit USFWS photo by Steve Hillebrand