4th graders and their families get a free parks, national monuments, and federal lands pass under Pres. Obamas initiative.
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/white-house-picked-4th-graders-free-national-park/story
According to a White House official, the school grade was decided on for “logistical, educational and instructional reasons.”
“NPS and other land and water agencies already have 4th grade programming in place in many locations,” the official said. “Many states focus on state history during the 4th grade, which aligns well with what NPS and other land managers have to offer.”
I think this is great.
Several years ago Andi and I were hiking in the Grand Canyon. We were going down the South Kaibab trail to Phantom Ranch. We kept leapfrogging a pair of late twenties-ish hikers with three 9 or 10 year-old boys. There did not seem to be any familial connection between them.
At the ranger led campfire at the Ranch that night, the boys to everyone’s delight answered every question the ranger posed. She finally asked then how they knew so much about GCNP. The answer was wonderful to me. The boys, in chorus said, “Our teacher taught us!”
The ranger said you must have a good teacher. And then asked who is your teacher. Expecting the teacher’s name, I’m sure she was surprised when the boys pointed to the the woman accompanying them and again in chorus said, “She is.”
On the way back up to the rim the next day on the Bright Angel Trail, I got to talk with the couple with the boys. They were teachers at a private school in San Diego. Francis Parker rings a bell but I wouldn’t swear to it. The school had held a fund raising auction. These two teachers, the other adult turned out to be the boy’s PE teacher, had auctioned off a trip to GCNP. A parent had provided an RV to use for the trip.
It was a trip, I’m sure, the five of them will never forget. I haven’t.
What does this have to do with Pres. Obama’s initiative? It’s this. Getting kids and their families into the parks is the best way to preserve and expand the parks. If the national parks, monuments, and wild lands are seen as the preserves of old farts like me, they have a limited audience. But if families and kids engage with nature in the parks, the future is bright – not just for the parks but for nature.
PF
It is great – now if they’d just promote it to the kids.
My cynical first reaction was “Snort, just don’t ask what the parking costs, and why must we discriminate against 3rd graders?”
Oh well, I was thrilled to get my senior lifetime pass recently. So it’s all good.
As you point out, no entry fee is good, but only one barrier. California state beaches are free,but
School funding cuts over the past fifty years (thanks to “Reaganomics”) have impacted all those important parts of education that don’t fit within the “three Rs.” Reducing and/or eliminating field trips, hurt the lowest income children the most. The experience alone, without any specific teacher led instruction or lesson, is of value. Although its value can be enhanced with some pre-during-post trip instruction.
We’re going back to GCNP this year with the b2 boy. It’s hiking in places like that when he’s not bored.
We don’t know what we’re doing this year. We’ve never been to the north rim, maybe this fall.
The North Rim is another world from the South. Both are good, but the North has 1/10 the visitors. So it is better. We’ve been there many times. As you drive the long drive in, find a place to stop, and look for the famous Kaibab squirrels. They are quite distinctive, with little tufts of hair at the end of the ears. I’ve only seen one a couple times.