Join the 5th Annual 'KIDS TO PARKS DAY'!

Children, families and schools in communities across America will celebrate their local, state and national parks and public today on Saturday, May 16th in commemoration of the 5th Annual Kids to Parks Day. National Park Trust estimates more than 500,000 people will attend park events across the country in what is fast becoming America's national day of play. What are you doing today? 

National Park Trust (NPT) launched kidstoparks.org where park events are listed by state and city, and the website features helpful downloadable tips and activity guides to help children, families and teachers plan park adventures. Those who pledge to participate at the site will also have a chance to win a grand prize, a Nikon COOLPIX L830 camera.

Families can pledge to participate at kidstoparks.org. When they visit a park today, May 16th. Kids and parents are encouraged to tweet #kidstoparks or send in photos to buddy@buddybison.org. Pictures will be posted and shared online.

"Five years ago, NPT launched this grass roots movement to encourage families to discover and celebrate our country's parks and public lands and water. Families, schools, park officials and elected officials have embraced this fun event – a national day of outdoor play – and it is fast becoming America's unofficial kick off to summer," said Grace Lee, executive director, National Park Trust.

"This year's Kids to Parks Day takes on special significance as the National Park Service prepares to celebrate its milestone Centennial celebration in 2016 and recently launched its Find Your Parkcampaign. In hopes families across America will use Kids to Parks Day as a great reason to celebrate our National Parks and connect with favorite parks and public lands.

National Park Trust's Kids to Parks Day is in support of the First Lady's Let's Move! Initiative, which is also celebrating its 5th year anniversary. NPT collaborators include: the National League of Cities, America's State Parks, American Academy of Pediatrics, National Park Service, National Recreation and Park Association, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Boy Scouts of America, US Play Coalition, National Geographic Kids, American Hiking Society, Children & Nature Network, National Wildlife Federation, Sierra Club, Outdoors Alliance for Kids, National Environmental Education Foundation, City Parks Alliance, and American Recreation Coalition.

It is also the signature event of NPT's popular Buddy Bison® School Program which teaches environmental education. Through its woolly mascot Buddy Bison, NPT encourages children to "Explore outdoors, the parks are yours!" Sixty schools in 18 states and Washington, D.C., have participated in the Buddy Bison school program, which provides classroom resources, lesson ideas and fully funded park trips that enhance and expand school curricula. We absolutely love this!  There aren't enough schools aware of the dangers that come with "Nature Deficit Disorder." The sooner we as a society recognize this as an actual danger, the better.

In 2012, NPT launched the Kids to Parks Day National School Contest. This year, NPT awarded scholarships to 51 schools in 28 states benefiting 3277children, grades pre-K through 12 in Title 1 schools. The scholarships will help students put their ideas into action and visit, learn, steward and play in their local, state and national parks and public lands this month. 'NDD'  has become such an issue in this tech driven era that even pediatricians are writing "prescriptions" for more time outdoors in children.

Elected official are also recognizing the importance of keeping outdoor play alive. The U.S. Senate recently introduced a resolution in support of Kids to Parks Day.

ABOUT NATIONAL PARK TRUST

National Park Trust is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to the preservation and protection of our nation's critical parks and public lands and the engagement of our youth – especially those who are underserved – with nature. As people spend more time indoors and as successive generations grow up with less of a connection to nature, NPT wants everyone to have an American park experience. To achieve this, NPT is preserving parks today and creating park stewards for tomorrow (parktrust.org; kidstoparks.org).

I encourage you to "Get Outside" and join us in observing 'KIDS TO PARKSDAY'! Look out parks, here come the #NatureTrackers!

You can follow National Park Trust on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram. Don't forget to post your park pics today and use the hashtag #kidstoparks!

Essentially yours,

Erika

To get more information on Nature Deficit Disorder you can read "The Last Child In The Woods" by Richard Louv.