EVERY KID IN A PARK: Youth Blog Series, Post #6
Interview with Noam, a former Every Kid in a Park pass user, and participant through the Seattle Every Kid in a Park Collaborative.
Noam D. is about to start 5th grade at Highland Park Elementary School in Seattle. He is originally from California where he was actually born in a National Park Service site – Golden Gate National Recreation Area!
Can you introduce yourself?
Noam: I’m Noam and I’m 10 years old. I’m about to start 5th grade. I was born in California but now I live in Seattle.
How did you get your Every Kid in a Park Pass?
Noam: We were going to get it at school but I got it online first because my dad knew about the Seattle Every Kid in a Park Collaborative. I was really happy when I learned about it.
What parks did you visit and with whom?
Noam: I went to Rainier with my dad, two friends, and their dad; Yellowstone and Glacier with my dad; Olympic with my mom, dad, sister, and grandmother; and Billy Frank Jr. National Wildlife Refuge with my mom, dad, and sister.
Which park was your favorite?
Noam: Yellowstone!
Why was it your favorite?
Noam: It had really cool sunsets, lots of mountains, and lots of wildlife that you would rarely see like bears and wolves, yellow-bellied marmots, elk and bison.
Was it your first time visiting any of these sites?
Noam: Yes, it was my first time visiting Yellowstone, Glacier, and Billy Franky Jr.
What did you do at Yellowstone?
Noam: We looked for wolves, got hailed and rained on, and went on hikes!
Was this your first time visiting Yellowstone?
Noam: Yes
Would you like to go back to Yellowstone?
Noam: Yes, I’d like to go back to Yellowstone with my mom and sister because I think they’d be really interested in all the cool animals and sites.
What’s your favorite activity to do outdoors?
Noam: I like to go on hikes, explore, and look for animals.
Why do you like to go to parks?
Noam: It’s much cleaner than cities and towns. There’s more wildlife that you can see. And you can experience a better world.
Why do you think it’s important for kids to go outside and visit parks like the ones you were able to visit?
Noam: It’s a good opportunity to discover new things that’s a lot better than cities and towns. It’s a lot cooler!
What is your favorite memory from a national park?
Noam: Seeing a pack of wolves in Yellowstone!
Are you happy you received an Every Kid in a Park pass?
Noam: Yes – very happy.
What advice would you have for future 4th graders getting their pass this year?
Noam: It’s very important to pay more attention to the animals and the scenes. You’re in a really cool park that is sometimes hard to see when there’s a lot of people there.
Is there anything else you’d like to say?
Noam: Thank all you guys for letting me get the pass. I got to experience things I’ve wanted to since I was 3 or 4 years old.
The Seattle Every Kid in a Park Collaborative brings together nonprofits and federal land management agencies serving the Puget Sound region to develop strategies to ensure all fourth grade students in the area (and their families) have opportunities to visit public lands and parks through the Every Kid in a Park initiative. Collaborative members include: The National Park Service, IslandWood, The National Forest Service, NatureBridge, YMCA Bold and Gold, The Washington Trails Association, Seattle Parks and Recreation and the Seattle Audubon Society.
For more information visit: www.ekipseattle.org.
This is the sixth post in a youth blog series highlighting students’ experiences through the Every Kid in a Park program, and those with similar first-time outdoor experiences.
Outdoors Alliance for Kids 