photo credit: Eliza Earle
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2025
Contact: Ginny Roscamp, ginny.roscamp@sierraclub.org
Outdoors Alliance for Kids calls on National Park Service to improve visitor services during comment period
WASHINGTON, DC — On Thursday, October 9, the National Park Service (NPS) closed its public comment period seeking feedback on ways to improve visitor services in parks.
Several members of the Outdoors Alliance for Kids (OAK) — including American Heart Association, American Society of Landscape Architects, Children & Nature Network, Green Schoolyards America, KABOOM!, Latino Outdoors, Project Nature Worthy, Trust for Public Land, Seed Your Future, and Sierra Club — submitted a comment letter asking for park signage that tells honest and complete history; increased youth programs to inspire future generations and provide healing opportunities; and full staffing of park rangers, interpreters, and other roles.
- Read OAK’s letter: https://www.sierraclub.org/sites/default/files/2025-10/oak-nps-comment.pdf
“The future of the National Park Service depends on strong pathways across generations. Programs like Junior Rangers, Every Kid Outdoors, and Conservation Corps allow young people to enjoy parks, improve health and well-being, and grow into the next generation of stewards. However, these programs only flourish if the staffing and resources provided to these programs keep pace with program demand. After losing nearly 24% of its core staff this year, it is imperative that the National Park Service rebuild its workforce with permanent jobs to restore these important programs that inspire future generations to protect these sacred places,” said Julia Hurwit, Campaign Manager for the Outdoors Alliance for Kids (OAK).
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