More than two dozen foundations, companies and nonprofit organizations have signed on to the President’s Every Kid in a Park initiative, committing to funding trips to America’s national parks and other public lands and waters for nearly half a million 4th grade children. This is just one of many events happening across the country to celebrate National Park Week and the centennial year of the National Park Service, the White House announced.
Launched in September 2015, the Every Kid in a Park initiative provides all 4thgraders and their families with free access to our country’s public lands and waters for a full year. Since the launch of the initiative, private companies, nonprofits and other youth-serving groups have responded to the President’s call to action to get all children to visit and enjoy America’s unparalleled outdoors, taking action to ensure that all children can have this opportunity. In addition to demonstrating the breadth of support for Every Kid in a Park, these commitments include new steps to expand the initiative, including the launch of a public awareness campaign and website, EveryKidinaPark.org, a commitment from outdoor retailer REI to fund trips for all 4th graders in Washington D.C. public schools, and a 75 percent Amtrak discount for 4th graders with an Every Kid in a Park pass when purchased with a full fare adult ticket.
Highlights of the announcements and commitments supporting the President’s initiative include:
· Transportation costs will be paid for nearly half a million 4th graders across the country to attend Every Kid in a Park trips through a combination of philanthropic support and existing federal funding;
· Six states – Nevada, Wyoming, Idaho, Indiana, New Mexico and New York – have committed to honoring the federal Every Kid in a Park pass in their state parks;
· Print and digital distribution of Every Kid in a Park resources has reached virtually every 4th grade class in the United States;
· More than 1,000 events and field trips have already been held to support the Every Kid in a Park initiative.
President Obama’s Every Kid in a Park Initiative provides every fourth grader and their family a free one-year pass to any of our nation’s public lands and waters.
Among the organizations which have committed to help the President’s Every Kid in a Park initiative:
American Recreation Coalition, through collaboration with public, corporate and nonprofit partners during Great Outdoors Month®, is committed to introducing thousands of 4th graders and their families to their public lands and waters at special events all across the country. The coalition is working closely with Governors to host campouts – including the first-ever Great Outdoors Western Governors Campout in Wyoming – issue proclamations, produce public service announcements and more to help their residents get outdoors.
Amtrak has signed on as the transportation partner of the Every Kid in a Park initiative. As Every Kid in a Park connects young people to the outdoors, America’s Railroad® connects people, the economy and the nation. Amtrak hopes to increase opportunities for Americans to get outdoors and connect with one of our nation’s true treasures, the national park system. In partnership with the Department of the Interior, Amtrak will offer a special Every Kid in a Park discount: buy one adult, get one child 75% off for travel to National Parks, urban parks, federal lands and waters this summer. Amtrak has service to over 260 parks and more than 2,000 federally managed lands and waters nationwide.
Children & Nature Network (C&NN) will promote Every Kid in a Park across a range of communication channels and events, and engage their grassroots networks and local supporters.
Civic Nation, in coordination with the Department of the Interior, is launching a public awareness and engagement campaign to inspire the next generation of cultural and environmental stewards by instilling curiosity about nature’s wonders, fostering appreciation for diverse cultural heritage, and furthering understanding of historic events. The Every Kid in a Park Campaign will engage educators, parents, and others to help get Every Kid in a Park and join the movement to make exploring these places a rite of passage for generations to come. In addition, Everykidinapark.org will serve as an online hub to find resources and tools from partners to improve access to America’s treasured outdoor spaces and historic sites.
Family Travel Association, a coalition of the travel industry’s leading suppliers, destinations, resources and experts on the subject of traveling with children, will share news about Every Kid in a Park with members through any of a number of open channels, which include familytravel.org, newsletters, social media channels, Spotlight editorial campaign, general editorial, promotions and annual Summit.
Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) participates in the Girl Scout Ranger program at National Parks and has developed “girls in the outdoors” videos at three National Parks. GSUSA is promoting Every Kid in a Park through Girl Scouts’ websites and by highlighting the 8 badges a Girl Scout Junior can easily earn when visiting public lands. GSUSA is also developing a “Get Outside” button for the online volunteer tool kit to help volunteers take activities they do with girls outside and will promote this initiative through social media assets on the GSUSA blog, Facebook and other outlets.
Johnson Ohana Charitable Foundation, in support of Every Kid in a Park, has initiated a $25,000 fund with DonorsChoose.org, a crowdfunding platform for teachers. The fund is currently supporting Every Kid in a Park field trips and will provide 4th graders with hands-on opportunities to explore the outdoors and connect with nature. Fourth grade teachers from around the country can request up to $500 to support transportation for field trips to a U.S. national park, forest, wildlife refuge, or other federal lands or waters as part of the Every Kid in a Park initiative.
National Marine Sanctuary Foundation (NMSF) is supporting the Every Kid in a Park initiative by creating a dedicated segment of its annual competitive grantmaking program, the Ernest F. Hollings Ocean Awareness Trust Fund Grants. NMSF is funding four innovative projects encouraging more than 9,000 4th graders and their families, particularly those in underserved schools and communities, to adopt an ocean stewardship ethic through experiences in our nation’s federally-designated National Marine Sanctuary System. Field trips to existing and potential future sanctuaries, where young people will explore marine life, maritime heritage, research and conservation, are complemented with classroom STEM-focused learning activities.
National Parks Conservation Association commits to help Every Kid in a Park by engaging more than 1,000 4th graders, parents, and teachers at NPCA events in 2016.
National Park Foundation, the official charity of America’s national parks, has raised more than $3 million in support of getting nearly 400,000 4th graders to more than 200 parks and public land sites. The Foundation will continue its efforts for the Every Kid in A Park initiative by continuing to raise critical dollars that ensure young people have the opportunity to experience America’s national parks. The Foundation will also continue to leverage its robust media platforms to support the initiative including its popular website (nationalparks.org), “GoParks” newsletter, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram platforms.
National Park Hospitality Association concessioner members are supporting Every Kid in a Park by playing a direct role in the visits of at least 15,000 4th graders to some 30 national park units during the 2015-16 school year alone. Free boat rides, lunches, and overnight stays, discounts on recreation activities in national parks and more are just some of the ways national park concessioners are helping connect 4th graders and their families with America’s public lands and waters. These commitments will extend beyond the current academic year. Concessioners’ efforts are aimed at making these visits – often first-ever visits to a national park – fun, and making the kids eager to come back for more fun for the rest of their lives.
National Park Trust, through two national youth programs, Kids to Parks Day and Buddy Bison School Program, has worked with more than 130 schools this year and has encouraged each 4th grade class to take advantage of this unique opportunity. In addition, NPT will be getting every 4th grader in Ventura County, California to Channel Islands National Park. Every Kid in a Park has helped NPT engage even more students than ever before.
NatureBridge will support Every Kid in a Park by bringing over 30,000 students, including over 2,000 4th graders, each year, to six campuses in national parks. NatureBridge provides hands-on environmental science programs for children and teens. These multi-day programs take place outdoors in the magnificence of nature’s classroom, where students are immersed in the wonder and science of our national parks in Yosemite, Golden Gate, Olympic, Santa Monica Mountains, Channel Islands, and Prince William Forest.
The North Face: a portion of this year’s The North Face Explore Fund grants have been designated to nonprofits that support the initiative and bring 4th graders on meaningful outdoor experiences where the Every Kid in a Park pass is accepted. In support of Every Kid in a Park, The North Face and Jaunt VR are teaming up to bring an inspirational and immersive virtual reality experience to 4th grade students and their families, giving them a taste of what it is like to discover and explore public lands throughout the U.S. Based in Palo Alto California, Jaunt is a pioneering virtual reality company that brings compelling VR experiences right to your smartphone.
Outdoor Alliance, a national nonprofit coalition of outdoor recreation advocacy groups for climbers, mountain bikers, backcountry skiers, and paddlers, is sharing the Every Kid in a Park initiative on its website and social media channels, as well as through its coalition network.
As a national strategic partnership of more than 80 organizations and businesses from diverse sectors, the Outdoors Alliance for Kids (OAK) expects to reach 10,000 kids across the country through events and sustained programming, including collaboration with schools, non-profits and local land management agencies.
Outdoor Industry Association and The Outdoor Foundation created “Parks 4 Kids.” This online platform supports the Every Kid in a Park effort by funding schools and nonprofits to ensure their programs can provide America’s youth with outdoor experiences, this year, and in years to come, and has already raised more than $250,000 since launching in January.
Scholastic, using its reach into every school in the country, has developed and distributed custom Every Kid in a Park classroom resources to virtually every 4th grade teacher in the United States. Through its “Backpack Channel,” Scholastic has also brought Every Kid in a Park into homes across the country, elevating awareness among parents and calling on each of them to capitalize on the free pass and introduce their children to federal lands and waters.
Sierra Club is hosting hundreds of outings on our public lands, from neighborhood parks to national parks.
Trust for Public Land is supporting the Every Kid in a Park initiative by promoting content related to the public awareness campaign via social media and other communications platforms. Additionally, the Trust for Public Land has established a mission goal of creating a park within a 10-minute walk of everyone in America’s cities.
U.S. Travel Association, whose mission is to increase travel to and within the United States, will engage its diverse membership and the broader travel community to foster greater awareness and engagement with the Every Kid in a Park initiative as well as the National Park Service Centennial celebration. These efforts will complement Project: Time Off, a national movement from U.S. Travel and a Coalition of supporters, to win back America’s Lost Week of vacation and shift culture so that time off is understood as essential to personal well-being, professional success, business performance, and economic expansion.
The Wilderness Society (TWS) is supporting Every Kid in a Park through its partnership with the Outdoors Alliance for Kids (OAK). Together, TWS and OAK will develop a robust and vibrant Every Kid in a Park initiative that provides an increasing number of 4th grade students with outdoor experiences every year. Additionally, TWS and OAK will also be working with their partners in the federal land management agencies to institutionalize the Every Kid in a Park initiative so that it continues beyond the end of the Obama Administration.
Wildlife Conservation Society – which promotes the benefits to all of being outside in nature, including through five zoological facilities – will highlight the Every Kid in a Park initiative in educational programs, camps, on website and social media platforms, and at each of the Wildlife Conservation Society facilities to ensure that children and adults alike are exposed to the benefits of being outdoors.
YMCA of the USA is encouraging local YMCAs across the country to provide healthy outdoor experiences at local, state and national parks to the 950,000 youth that participate in summer camping programs. Additionally, YMCA is collaborating with Let’s Move! Outside partners in 50 cities convened by YMCAs to support Every Kid in a Park through existing activities and partnerships on public lands.
Obama Designates 3 New National Monuments in the California Desert
In February, President Obama designated three new national monuments in the California desert, encompassing nearly 1.8 million acres of America’s public lands.
“Building on the Administration’s commitment to protect our land and water for future generations, today’s designations will nearly double the number of acres of public lands previously protected as national monuments by President Obama–– demonstrating the Administration’s strong commitment to aggressive action to protect the environment for future generations,” the White House said.
In addition to permanently protecting incredible natural resources, wildlife habitat and unique historic and cultural sites, and providing recreational opportunities for a burgeoning region, the monuments will support climate resiliency in the region and further advance the President’s unprecedented work to address climate change. The new monuments will link already protected lands, including Joshua Tree National Park, Mojave National Preserve, and 15 Congressionally-designated Wilderness areas, permanently protecting key wildlife corridors and providing plants and animals with the space and elevation range that they will need in order to adapt to the impacts of climate change.
The new monuments are Mojave Trails National Monument, Sand to Snow National Monument and Castle Mountains National Monument in southern California.
Mojave Trails National Monument: Spanning 1.6 million acres, more than 350,000 acres of previously congressionally-designated Wilderness, the Mojave Trails National Monument is comprised of a stunning mosaic of rugged mountain ranges, ancient lava flows, and spectacular sand dunes. The monument will protect irreplaceable historic resources including ancient Native American trading routes, World War II-era training camps, and the longest remaining undeveloped stretch of Route 66. Additionally, the area has been a focus of study and research for decades, including geological research and ecological studies on the effects of climate change and land management practices on ecological communities and wildlife.
Sand to Snow National Monument: Encompassing 154,000 acres, including just over 100,000 acres of already congressionally-designated Wilderness, Sand to Snow National Monument is an ecological and cultural treasure and one of the most biodiverse areas in southern California, supporting more than 240 species of birds and twelve threatened and endangered wildlife species. Home to the region’s tallest alpine mountain that rises from the floor of the Sonoran desert, the monument also will protect sacred, archaeological and cultural sites, including an estimated 1,700 Native American petroglyphs. Featuring 30 miles of the world famous Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail, the area is a favorite for camping, hiking, hunting, horseback riding, photography, wildlife viewing, and even skiing.
Castle Mountains National Monument: The Castle Mountains National Monument is an integral piece of the Mojave Desert with important natural resources and historic sites, including Native American archeological sites. The 20,920-acre monument will serve as a critical connection between two mountain ranges, protecting water resources, plants, and wildlife such as golden eagles, bighorn sheep, mountain lions and bobcats.
Insight Vacations Facilitates Visits to National Parks During 100th Anniversary Celebration
DELRAY BEACH, Fla.,– Insight Vacations®, a leader in premium escorted journeys, is facilitating travel to America’s national parks which are commemorating the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service this year.
“Although it’s too late for independent travelers to book the coveted hotels inside the National Parks – rooms sell out years in advance – Insight secures the most scenic hotels in prime locations among the treasured landscapes of Yosemite, Mesa Verde and Yellowstone National Parks,” the company said.
The new 2016/17 USA, Canada & South America brochure features tours visiting 30 national and state parks. Here are some favorites:
Yellowstone National Park: Gorgeous and seemingly limitless, Yellowstone is the quintessential National Park. Most famous for its geysers and hot springs, Yellowstone also offers more than 3,400 sq. ft. of sprawling forests and meadows. This park is home to the country’s largest collection of elk and bison as well as flourishing populations of wolves, grizzlies, antelope and moose. Go there on: “American Parks Trail” – Nine days reliving the rustic Wild Wild West. Other highlights include Grand Teton National Park, Custer State Park, Mount Rushmore and the Crazy Horse Memorial.
The Grand Canyon: Even the most spectacular photos don’t do this view justice. One of the world’s seven natural wonders, this masterpiece has been crafted for the better part of two billion years (about half of the Earth’s total lifespan). The mighty Colorado River continues to carve through 277 miles of the canyon below, while the top rims play hide-and-seek with the clouds. Go there on: “Wonders of the American West” – 10 days exploring the American West’s most exquisite natural wonders and dazzling panoramas. Additional stops include Point Imperial, Lake Powell, Monument Valley, Mesa Verde National Park, Anasazi Heritage Center, Arches National Park, Canyonlands National Park, Capitol Reef National Park, Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, Bryce Canyon National Park and Zion National Park.
Zion National Park: The climbing white-and-red cliffs of Zion Canyon make it one of Utah’s most vibrant natural landscapes. Zion enjoys a lower elevation, so lush vegetation thrives and majestic rock formations are offset by hanging gardens and meadows of mesa-top wildflowers. Go there on: “Enchanting Canyonlands” – Seven days exploring the colorful panoramic stage of the American Southwest. Enjoy ample time at each destination, including Bryce Canyon National Park, Lake Powell, Monument Valley, Glen Canyon Dam, Oak Creek Canyon and Sedona.
For more information, visit www.insightvacations.com. For reservations, contact your travel agent or call Insight Vacations at 888-680-1241, www.insightvacations.com.
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