Trump and Zinke slam door on kids’ park program
Every Kid in A Park program faces cancellation
News reports suggest that Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke and the Trump administration will pull the plug on “Every Kid in A Park” -- a popular program that encourages children and their families to get outside and enjoy America’s parks.
Launched in September 2015, the program grants fourth graders and their families free access to national parks and other public lands.
Statement from Jamie Williams, President, The Wilderness Society
“Canceling this program would be another bad decision that unfortunately is status quo for the Trump-Zinke administration. They offer discounts for their fossil fuel friends to develop some of our wildest and most sacred public lands – then slam the door on children and families who want to visit our national parks.
Rather than taking away these precious opportunities, let’s encourage children to spend more time outdoors visiting places that show off our nation’s natural beauty, history and diverse culture. Congress should pass legislation, S. 1522 and H.R. 3186, to continue the Every Kid in A Park program.”
Bipartisan congressional bills that would preserve Every Kid in A Park have been introduced by Representatives Niki Tsongas (D-Mass.) and Scott Tipton (R-Colo.) and by Senators Martin Heinrich (D-NM) and Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.).
The Wilderness Society supports Every Kid in A Park. Other supporting organizations include the Girl Scouts of the USA, National Parks Conservation Association, National Park Foundation, The North Face, Outdoor Afro, Outdoors Alliance for Kids, Outdoor Industry Association, REI, Scholastic, Sierra Club, and the YMCA.
CONTACTS:
- Michael Reinemer, 202-429-3949, michael_reinemer@tws.org
The Wilderness Society, founded in 1935, is the leading conservation organization working to protect wilderness and inspire Americans to care for our wild places. With more than one million members and supporters, The Wilderness Society has led the effort to permanently protect 109 million acres of wilderness and to ensure sound management of our shared national lands. www.wilderness.org
