How do you get every kid into a park?
By DVE-News/TV reporters
MILFORD — Did you ever think you would meet the head of the United States Forest Service? We didn’t either, but it actually happened.
A group of DVE-News/TV reporters recently had the great honor to meet and interview the staff of Grey Towers, officials from the Park Service, and the U.S. Forest Service Chief Thomas Tidwell, who was here all the way from Washington, D.C.! They were here on the same day as National Public Lands Day to announce a new White House program from right there in Pike County.
We got the scoop about the new national Every Kid In A Park program from the Forest Service chief. Chief Tidwell is working on getting the word (and free passes for kids) across America.
Every Kid In A Park is a new program to get kids and families outdoors on federal lands and waterways, at no charge. This is a new program that was started through the White House this year. It gives fourth graders a chance to go online at everykidinapark.gov to complete some fun activities and print a certificate that they and their families can use all year long. It lets the fourth graders get their families and themselves into any federal park for free, for a while year. Just imagine that — every single federal land, waterway, and park in America for an entire year — for the whole family!
“You are the next generation of forest savers,” Chief Tidwell told us. “It makes us proud and reassured to know that these fourth graders and their families will help us protect our country’s beautiful forests, waterways and national landmarks, beautiful American places such as Grey Towers.”
Chief Tidwell told us that getting outside gives people relaxation, exercise, and — most of all — fun.
We loved every part of being at Grey Towers, including our awesome interviews with Chief Tidwell and with Mrs. Lori McKean (Visitor Services and Information Specialist) and Director Mr. Bill Dauer of Grey Towers National Historic Site, who helped us set up this special time. We had a chance to tour Grey Towers, hike on the trails, help with some of the trail cleanups, enjoy a magic show, get balloon creations, have ice cream (just like former Governor Gifford Pinchot used to do with his ice cream socials) with our families, and just be outside on a beautiful day at Grey Towers.
Thank you, Grey Towers and National Forest Service staff! It was an awesome day!
By Delaware Valley Elementary School reporters Lia Anthony, Justinn Brockway, Olivia Coehlo, Michael DeGroat, Matthew Garcia, Alexis Grimes, Leah Haas, Kayla MacDonald, Evan McDermott, Eddie Nieves, Jenna Ostrom, Leah Weinreb, and Nicholas Williams.