Every Kid in a Park – Youth Blog Series, Post #2
Interview with Evie E. & Louise R., former Every Kid in a Park pass users
Evie E. and Louise R. are both rising sixth-graders at Creative Minds International Public Charter School in Washington, D.C. They were both invited to speak at OAK’s Congressional Lunch Briefing on July 11, 2017 to talk about their experiences outdoors. Before the event, they were interviewed by Isabel Argoti, OAK/NPS Community Assistance Fellow, and Katie Brantley, Sierra Club Digital Storytelling Fellow. Evie and Louise’s speeches given during the briefing were recorded live.
What’s your name, age, and grade?
Evie: I’m Evie and I’m 11 going into the sixth grade.
Louise: And I’m Louise, also 11 and also going into the sixth grade.
What do you love about the outdoors and what do you like to do outside?
Evie: Outdoors is peaceful and relaxing, and you can think about stuff. And it helps things grow, which it also helps us grow. Like vegetables.
Louise: I like the feeling of being independent outdoors, where you can just free-roam and explore and discover new plants and insects and animals.
Where did you get your Every Kid in a Park pass?
Louise: We went on a school trip and they handed them out. It was the US Arboretum.
Evie: There was also another school there.
Which parks have you been to?
Evie: Assateague Island National Seashore, Rock Creek Park, and Prince William Forest Park.
Louise: C&O Canal National Historical Park, National Mall, Rock Creek Park which is really close to my house. And Prince William Forest Park.
What did you like to do there? What was your favorite part about your visit?
Evie: At Prince William, we actually went camping there with our class in cabins. And at Rock Creek, I like to go hiking.
Louise: Me, too. Sometimes with my family, we’ll go on a family hike because it’s so close to our house. And sometimes we’ll walk along the C&O Canal and hike along the rocks.
What advice do you have for a future fourth grader who is about to receive their Every Kid in a Park pass?
Louise: Try to get your parents to have the family travel somewhere far. Also let the pass be a reminder to you to get outdoors even if it’s not a huge national park.
Evie: I have two sisters–one of them had the pass last year and the other is getting the pass this year and so I think my advice would be to look through the book or website when you first get the pass. Try to choose a park that is the farthest away from you so you can go on a long road trip and so you can find stuff that wouldn’t be in a park nearer to you, so you can learn new stuff and discover new, fun, exciting things.
The school trips in which Evie and Louise received their passes were sponsored field trips by the National Park Trust. The National Park Trust, a 501(c)(3) non profit, is dedicated to preserving parks today and creating park stewards for tomorrow, and is an incredible supporter of the Every Kid in a Park program. Since 2009, the Buddy Bison School Program and national Kids to Parks Day have engaged 3,000,000 students across the country with our nation’s parks, public lands and waters (ParkTrust.org).
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This is the second in a series of blogs highlighting students who have used, or are gearing up to use, their Every Kid in a Park pass.
Outdoors Alliance for Kids 