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Childhood experiences outside spur lifelong wellbeing. Playing outside is good for physical health, boosts concentration, lowers stress, improves social skills and even helps kids improve their performance at school. Research shows that when children explore the outdoors with their family or school by age 10, those children are more likely to visit parks throughout the rest of their lives. That’s why the Every Kid Outdoors program is so important – it grants a full year of free entry to national parks, lands, and waters for all U.S. fourth graders and their families.
This year, Rep. Katie Porter and Rep. DeGette introduced a bill in the House that would secure $25 million in permanent funding for the Every Kid Outdoors program and also extend the program to include 5th graders. The Every Kid Outdoors program has never had adequate funding to address the inequalities that prevent many youth and families from experiencing nature, like a lack of safe public transit options to public lands, limited nearby programming at parks, and the often nonexistent infrastructure for the disabled community. We need this bill passed in order for more kids to experience nature!
Take action now and tell Congress to support the Every Kid Outdoors Act so that youth and their families can have the health benefits of time outside. Add a personal comment for a bigger impact. Let Congress know why access to nature is important to you and why you think all kids deserve to spend time in green spaces!
1. Dilenschneider, C. (2019, September 4). School Groups vs. Family Visitors: Which Kids Come Back As Adults? (DATA). Impacts Experiences.