Welcome to our new Update monthly enewsletter, connecting you with news and stories about National Park Service programs connecting parks, communities, young people, and nature.
View Update online. We welcome your feedback.
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Connecting to Parks: NPS Launches Youth Partnership "Green Teams II" |
 This summer, 12 "Green Teams" made up of urban 14-18 year-olds will visit more than two dozen national parks - an environmental immersion experience that is nurturing the next generation of National Park Service (NPS) leaders and staff. The program, in its second year, is an NPS partnership with Groundwork Trusts across the country.
"Engaging young people with national parks is simply the right thing to do," says Doug Evans of the NPS Rivers, Trails & Conservation Assistance (RTCA) program. "Many of these youth never get a chance to see beyond their neighborhoods; visiting and learning about the parks allows them to connect with nature. NPS is acting now to attract staff and promote environmental stewardship for the next 100 years."
The youth learn about the history of the parks and NPS career opportunities, conduct team-building exercises, and participate in hands-on projects that allow them to see the immediate impact of their work, from constructing trails to planting native species.
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| Connecting in Communities: Kids Take the Lead on a Gulf Coast Trail System |
Imagine over 100 miles of land-based and water-based trails, connecting natural, cultural and historic sites along Mississippi Gulf Coast. Now imagine a 5th grade gifted class leading the process. With NPS involvement, it's a reality. The RTCA Program is currently working to develop and build capacity of the Gulf Coast Heritage Trails Partnership of Harrison County, a coalition that includes citizens of all ages.
That includes members of the Quarles Elementary School's 5th Grade gifted class, who attend partnership meetings and are responsible for drafting the vision and mission statements for the partnership. Says Liz Smith-Incer of RTCA's Mississippi Field Office, "The students have been instrumental in influencing government agencies and moving the trails partnership toward its goals."
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Connecting to Nature: The Land and Water Conservation Fund |
 The Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) is one of the most valuable partnerships that states and local communities have to create and enhance parks that connect kids to nature, because the federal government will provide up to 50% matching funds. Administered by the National Park Service, LWCF has funded over 40,000 outdoor recreation projects, reaching 98% of American counties since 1965. The 2007 annual report explores the LWCF role in creating places where kids can discover the outdoors. |
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Connecting to Trails: National Trails Day, June 7 |
"Getting kids out on trails is one of the best ways to instill environmental stewardship for years to come, and participating in a National Trails Day event is fun place to start," says Cherri Espersen, NPS National Recreation Trails director.
"There are plenty of options, from the Fred Marquis Pinellas Trail in Florida, which involves youth in providing art along the trail; to the Delphi Historic Trails in Indiana, which feature all-ages tree-planting days; to the Rivanna Trail in Virginia, with its own webpage of kids' activities."
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| Conservation Success: Trips for Kids Metro DC |
 "This is the best day of my life, ever!" That's how Joey M. described his ride in Fort Dupont Park, an NPS park in Washington D.C. Joey was one of hundreds of children who came together for the 2nd annual Earth Day Youth Mountain Bike Festival, a program sponsored by Trips for Kids Metro DC, working with the NPS National Capital Region.
The participants, many of whom live in the nearby Anacostia neighborhood, learn about safe biking through 400 acres of rolling hillside at Fort Dupont Park, guided by trained ride leaders. "There's more to come," adds Chris Niewold
of RTCA's Capital Region Office, "Trips for Kids and NPS will provide
ongoing youth events at Fort Dupont to serve the children of the
Anacostia communities."
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| Let's Work Together |
Could your project benefit from 1-2 years' staff time from a National Park Service specialist? If you're working on restoring a river, building a community trail, or making an urban park flourish, we'd love to talk with you about ways we could work together. Please call or email your regional representative today. The next program application deadline is August 1, 2008. |
Conservation Successes informs Department of the Interior staff, organizational partners, and friends about the program successes and activities of the National Park Service Conservation and Outdoor Recreation Programs. For more details, please contact the staff person involved with each project.
This e-newsletter may be copied or redirected; our staff would be pleased to assist your editor in adapting any of these stories for your publication. For more information, please call (202) 354-6900 or e-mail sally_grate@nps.gov All photos courtesy NPS. | |
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