Barack Obama

outdoor "education" is very needed. the "every kid in the park" initiative opens the door to outdoor experiences for kids in urban and rural areas who never have the opportunity to go to and see, touch, feel the legacy of beauty in our parks.

my hope is this will inspire communities to help the poorer kids get there with transportation, equipment. when growing up, our home town had a teacher who recognized this need & organized kids camping experiences in the local mountains. later, in college, a few of us organized camping trips for kids (who had never been nor had the opportunity) to the sierras, big sur, etc. there are too many kids who have never been out of their neighborhoods.

keeping kids connected to nature has many positive benefits - social, mental, physical, and spiritual.