“For the Enjoyment of Future Generations”
Fourth grade students try their hands at lifting rocks at an exhibit that explains how Kamehameha built Pu‘ukohola Heiau National Historic Site.
When the National Park Service was created in 1916, one of the primary objectives given to the new agency was that it should leave our national parks “unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations.” Nearly a century later, millions of children visit the National Park System each and every year. Most of the nearly 400 national parks provide tailored children’s programs such as Junior Rangers, WebRangers, Scout Rangers and a variety of others. These programs seek to foster a spirit of ownership and appreciation for the parks so that this generation of children will in turn leave the parks “unimpaired” for their children and generations to come.
Many national parks also provide organized educational programs, such as Parks-as-Classroom, Ranger in the Classroom and Teacher-to-Ranger-to Teacher. Some parks have also developed specific curriculum materials for classes to use before, during and after their visits to the parks. Throughout the Pacific Islands, the National Park Service offers many opportunities for schools, families and their children to learn about and care for our national parks. If you would like more information regarding a specific park’s children and/or educational programs, please contact the parks.
Ranger Liz of War in the Pacific National Historical Park (Guam) speaks to a class on one of her many outreach opportunities.
