Today is Every Kid in a Park Day of Action. It’s just one of the many events happening across the country to celebrate National Park Week and the centennial year of the National Park Service.
Since Congress established Yellowstone as our first national park in 1872, generations of Americans have been inspired by these beautiful outdoor spaces. From majestic mountain ranges to picturesque seashores, our National Park Service cares for over 400 national parks and works with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities.
The Obama Administration is committed to helping more Americans visit our astounding network of public lands and landmarks. That’s why the White House just announced that more than two dozen foundations, companies, and nonprofit organizations have signed on to the President’s Every Kid in a Park initiative, committing to funding trips to America’s national parks and other public lands and waters for nearly half a million 4th grade children. Launched in September 2015, Every Kid in a Park provides all 4th graders and their families with free access to our country’s public lands and waters for a full year.
‘Gramming the Good News
Help us celebrate our national parks and inspire kids across the country to get outdoors by sharing a #TBT photo of yourself in a national park on social media. President Obama already shared one from his own trip the Grand Canyon at age 11. Where did you #FindYourPark?
Danielle Cohen is an intern in the Office of Digital Strategy
As a young boy, President Obama’s family visited many of America’s national parks. This appreciation for our country’s beautiful outdoor spaces has stayed with him. The President has protected more than 265 million acres of America’s public lands and waters — more than any other president in history. He also has taken bold steps to protect places that are culturally and historically significant to diverse communities of Americans.
“Our national parks have allowed generations to discover history, nature, and wildlife in irreplaceable ways. From the highest peaks of Denali to the lowest dips of the Grand Canyon, families around our country enjoy the splendor of the outdoors.”
President Obama declaring National Park Week, 2006
Travel Inspiration from President Obama
During National Parks Week, all national parks across the country are free of charge. Not only are these parks beautiful, but every dollar invested in the National Park Service returns $10 to the U.S. economy.
Not sure which national park to visit first? From the Grand Canyon to Acadia National Park, check out some photos from places the President has visited with his own family, then to go FindYourPark.com to start your trip.
Every Kid in a Park
America’s public lands and waters offer space to get outside and get active, and are living classrooms that provide opportunities to build critical skills through hands-on activities. President Obama has worked hard to ensure that every American has the same opportunity to visit and enjoy national parks, like he did as a kid. In the lead up to the 100th birthday of the National Park Service in 2016, he launched the “Every Kid in a Park” initiative. This provides all fourth grade students and their families with free admission to national parks and other federal lands and waters for a full year.
Find Your Park
In 2015, the National Park Service and National Park Foundation launched Find Your Park, a campaign helping more Americans visit our astounding network of public lands and landmarks.
Today, President Obama will host his sixth and final White House Science Fair, welcoming students from across the country to show us how they are going to change the future of America.
“As a society, we have to celebrate outstanding work by young people in science at least as much as we do Super Bowl winners. Because superstar biologists and engineers and rocket scientists and robot-builders… they’re what’s going to transform our society. They’re the folks who are going to come up with cures for diseases and new sources of energy, and help us build healthier, more successful societies.”
President Obama, 2014 White House Science Fair
This year’s White House Science Fair will highlight the ingenuity and entrepreneurship of the next generation of scientists, engineers, mathematicians, and innovators. Students attending this year’s Science Fair are tackling some of our Nation’s greatest challenges – from combating climate change, to uncovering new ways to fight cancer, to discovering ways to reach farther beyond our atmosphere as a part of the Mars generation. Learn more about the next generation of America’s innovators.
The First Lady welcomed students and guests from across the country to plant the White House Kitchen Garden for the eighth year in a row, and final time as First Lady. This annual springtime tradition of planting the vegetable garden began in 2009 when the First Lady first broke ground on the South Lawn. The start of this tradition initiated a national conversation around the health and well-being of our nation—a conversation that evolved into her Let’s Move! initiative.
“It was eight years ago that we cooked up this really interesting idea that maybe we could dig up some dirt on the South Lawn … and we would plant a wonderful garden that would be a space for us to talk about the food we eat.”
First Lady Michelle Obama at the 2016 White House Kitchen Garden planting
This year, students that participate in school garden programs in Wisconsin, Colorado, and Louisiana and local students from Bancroft Elementary School and Harriet Tubman Elementary School, who regularly help in the White House Kitchen Garden, joined the First Lady. Bringing the event full circle were some of the very students from who participated in the first planting in 2009.
In addition, NASA Deputy Administrator Dava Newman and Astronaut Cady Coleman joined the First Lady to plant the same variety of lettuce that has been grown on the International Space Station.
“We’ve seen an increase in the number of folks that are planting community gardens in their neighborhoods. They’re even doing some community gardening in space, as we understand, which takes the concept to a whole other level.”
First Lady Michelle Obama at the annual White House Kitchen Garden planting
The First Lady’s American Garden Tour
Throughout the spring, the First Lady will continue her American Garden Tour to highlight the impact and benefits of diverse gardens across the country. Earlier this year, Mrs. Obama surprised students who participate in gardening programs at Watkins Elementary School and John Burroughs Elementary School in Washington, DC, along with a local family, who has made their backyard garden a community effort. In case you missed it, watch the video of the surprise visits:
Danielle Cohen is an intern in the Office of Digital Strategy
Happy March Madness! As teams from across the country get their dancing shoes ready, President Obama sat down with ESPN’s Andy Katzto discuss his picks for the 2016 NCAA Basketball Tournament. Nicknamed “Barack-etology,” filling out brackets for both the men’s and women’s tournament has become an annual tradition at the White House.
Asked and Answered:
In 2015, President Obama correctly predicted that the Connecticut Huskies would be the women’s NCAA basketball champions. However, he didn’t do so well with the men’s bracket—something an eleven-year-old girl from North Carolina pointed out in a letter to the President. “You are a great president, just not the best bracket picker,” Emilia wrote.
Dear President Obama,
My Name is Emilia. I am eleven years old and I live in Charlotte North Carolina. I just wanted to tell you that I saw your 2015 NCAA bracket pick and I beat you. You are a great president, just not the best bracket picker.
Sincerely,
Emilia
Inspired to do better with his 2016 brackets, the President wrote her back. “Your note gave me the sense you’re a talented young lady with some serious potential. Always remember that nothing is beyond your reach as long as you are willing to set your sights high and put your best effort into everything you do. I expect big things—and great brackets—from you in the years ahead,” he wrote. In the hopes that the President would get more than 40 percent of the games right this year, the White House even called Emilia to get her thoughts on the tournament.
Dear Emilia,
Thanks for your letter about my bracket picks this year. You’re right—when it comes to my basketball bracket, I don’t have the best record!
In addition to helping keep me honest, your note gave me the sense you’re a talented young lady with some serious potential. Always remember that nothing is beyond your reach as long as you are willing to set your sights high and put your best effort into everything you do. I expect big things—and great brackets—from you in the years ahead!
Your friend,
Barack Obama
The President also sent Emilia this signed picture:
Emilia — Next year I’ll check with you first!
Barack Obama
President Obama’s 2016 Picks:
In his men’s bracket, the President has Kansas, Texas A&M, Michigan State, and UNC headed to the Final Four. To the excitement of many Kansas fans, the President predicts the Jayhawks will win the national title.
In the women’s tournament, the President anticipates that Connecticut, Florida State, South Carolina, and Notre Dame will reach the Final Four. In the end though, he thinks it will be the UConn Huskies cutting down the nets come April 5.
Danielle Cohen is an intern in the Office of Digital Strategy
Yesterday, First Lady Michelle Obama celebrated the one-year anniversary of Let Girls Learn, the Obama Administration’s initiative to help adolescent girls worldwide attend and complete school. As part of the event, the First Lady welcomed young girls from Girl Up, the United Nations Foundation’s adolescent girl campaign, to tour The Girls’ Lounge Let Girls Learn bus on the South Lawn of the White House.
“The ability to read, write, and analyze; the confidence to stand up and demand justice and equality; the qualifications and connections to get your foot in that door and take your seat at that table — all of that starts with education. And trust me, girls around the world, they understand this. They feel it in their bones, and they will do whatever it takes to get that education.”
First Lady Michelle Obama on the one-year anniversary of Let Girls Learn
The Let Girls Learn bus then went across town for an event at Union Market in Washington, D.C. There, the First Lady was joined by U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Samantha Power for an event with young women, students, and stakeholders. In her remarks, the First Lady commemorated the one-year anniversary of Let Girls Learn and announced new private sector commitments in support of the initiative.
“Every single one of us has a role to play on this issue … No contribution is too small, as you can see, because in the end, that’s how we’re going to solve this problem – one girl, one school, one village at a time, with folks like all of you – particularly our young people — leading the way.”
First Lady Michelle Obama on the one-year anniversary of Let Girls Learn
After her remarks, the First Lady viewed murals that were painted live during the event by Mr. Brainwash — a Los Angeles based filmmaker and street artist. One mural, with countless colorful hearts, represented the 62 million girls around the world are not in school – a number that the Obama Administration is working to change.
Before heading back to the White House, the First Lady left a personal touch on one of the murals:
Across the world in Dubai, Dr. Biden commemorated International Women’s Day with a visit to the School of Research Science, a private K-12 Arabic-English bilingual school. There, she met with various administrators, teachers, and students on the importance of equal education for all children. In her remarks, Dr. Biden noted how proud she is, especially as an educator, to see more women throughout the world furthering their education and taking on unrepresented roles.
“We must do more to ensure that all girls and boys are able to pursue their passions and be treated with respect, regardless of gender; to make sure women have a seat at the table, recognize their value and welcome their contributions. If we do that, then tomorrow we will see an even brighter future for our communities, our countries and the world.”
Dr. Jill Biden on International Women’s Day
Danielle Cohen is an intern in the Office of Digital Strategy
When President Obama established the White House Council on Women and Girls in 2009, he recognized past pioneers of equality: “In the end, while many of the challenges women and girls face are new, the work of this Council is not — it’s been with us for generations.”
From his very first days in office, President Obama has worked to promote equality and opportunity for all women and girls in the United States and around the world. In honor of International Women’s Day, we recognize some of the brave women who were pioneers of equality in various areas, and continue to inspire the efforts of this Administration.
“During Women’s History Month, we remember the trailblazers of the past, including the women who are not recorded in our history books, and we honor their legacies by carrying forward the valuable lessons learned from the powerful examples they set.”
– President Obama on Women’s History Month 2016
Frances Perkins: Supporting Women in the Workplace
Frances Perkins, the first woman to serve as a cabinet secretary, once said, “Being a woman has only bothered me in climbing trees.” Throughout her career as an advocate for workers and their rights, she helped women climb many ladders of opportunity.
As the first woman to serve on the New York State Industrial Commission, Frances fought to create laws governing workplace health and safety, especially for women and girls, following the devastating Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire of 1911. Later, as President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Secretary of Labor, Frances helped create many policies, including social security and a minimum wage, that went into the New Deal and would help re-build America’s middle class. Her life and career continues to inspire the Obama Administration’s efforts in supporting working families and working to raise the minimum wage.
Katherine Johnson: Increasing Opportunities for Girls Pursuing STEM Education
Katherine Johnson, an African-American space scientist and mathematician, is a pioneer in American space history. While her computations have influenced almost every major space program, she is perhaps most well known for calculating the trajectory for Alan Shepard, the first American in space, as well as for the 1969 Apollo 11 flight to the moon.
From an early age, Katherine knew she loved math. “I counted everything,” she recalled. However, she faced obstacles getting an education, as black students in her hometown could not go to school after the eighth grade. Luckily, her family relocated to allow her to continue her education, and she went on to attend West Virginia State College. It was there that various mentors and professors saw her talent and passion for science and math, and encouraged her to pursue a career in the field. Just like her professors believed in her future, Katherine has continued to encourage students to pursue STEM careers throughout her retirement. From humble beginnings, Katherine’s story shows the importance of early exposure to STEM education, especially for girls of color, an issue the Obama Administration has worked to address.
Dolores Huerta: Protecting Women from Violence
Dolores Huerta is a civil rights, workers, and women’s advocate. With Cesar Chavez, she co-founded the National Farmworkers Association in 1962, which later became the United Farm Workers of America, a workers union that successfully promoted the rights of farm workers in California and across the country. While Dolores is most well known for her work on labor and civil rights, she has also done important work to protect women from violence. For Dolores, issues of abuse, sexual assault, and labor rights have long been interconnected, as she has heard from many women, especially immigrants, who have been mistreated while working on farms or in other low wage jobs.
At the age of 58, Dolores herself was the victim of a life-threatening assault by police while nonviolently protesting in California. Many years later in 2012, she was a strong voice encouraging Congress to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act. For Dolores, “every moment is an organizing opportunity, every person a potential activist, every minute a chance to change the world.” Whether working for the rights of farm workers, immigrants, or women, Dolores has inspired countless people, including members of the Obama Administration, to make the world a more just place.
“Today, on International Women’s Day, we recommit ourselves to achieving a world in which every woman and girl enjoys the full range of rights and freedoms that is her birthright.”
– President Obama on International Women’s Day 2016
Danielle Cohen is an intern in the Office of Digital Strategy
On this day 103 years ago, thousands of women gathered in Washington, D.C. to call for a constitutional amendment guaranteeing women the right to vote. While women had been fighting hard for suffrage for over 60 years, this marked the first major national event for the movement.
The huge parade, which was spearheaded by Alice Paul and the National American Woman Suffrage Association, was held on March 3, 1913. Riding atop a white horse, lawyer and activist Inez Milholland led over five thousand suffragettes up Pennsylvania Avenue, along with over 20 parade floats, nine bands, and four mounted brigades.
The organizers of the parade also maximized attention on the event by strategically hosting it just one day before the inauguration of President-elect Woodrow Wilson. This tactic worked. As the women marched from the U.S. Capitol toward the Treasury Building, they were met by thousands of spectators, many in town for the inauguration.
Not all spectators were kind. Some marchers were jostled, tripped, and violently attacked, while police on the parade route did little to help. By the end of the day, over 100 women had to be hospitalized for injuries. However, the women did not give up; they finished the parade. Their experiences led to major news stories and even congressional hearings. Historians later credited the 1913 parade for giving the suffrage movement a new wave of inspiration and purpose.
“In the face of discrimination and undue hardship, [women] have never given up on the promise of America: that with hard work and determination, nothing is out of reach.”
President Obama proclaiming Women’s History Month 2016
While it took another seven years for the Nineteenth Amendment to be ratified on August 18, 1920, the women who marched on this day in history accomplished their goal of reinvigorating the suffrage movement. As the official parade pamphlet read, they gave “expression to the nation-wide demand for an amendment to the United States Constitution enfranchising women.”
“For too long, women were formally excluded from full participation in our society and our democracy. Because of the courage of so many bold women who dared to transcend preconceived expectations and prove they were capable of doing all that a man could do and more, advances were made, discoveries were revealed, barriers were broken, and progress triumphed.”
President Obama proclaiming Women’s History Month 2016
Alice Paul, Inez Milholland, and the others who marched in 1913 are just some of the women who made a more just and prosperous future possible for all Americans. While these women paved the way for equality at the ballot box, the Obama Administration is still fighting every day to increase equality for women and girls. From creating the White House Council on Women and Girls, to appointing two women to the Supreme Court and a strong team of women leaders to his Cabinet and White House staff, President Obama has taken concrete steps to ensure that women’s voices are heard in government and society.
Throughout Women’s History Month, we’ll update you on the important work the Obama Administration is taking to support women in the workplace, expand women’s access to quality and affordable health care, increase opportunities for girls pursuing STEM education, protect women from violence, support women in the military and female veterans, and much more.
Danielle Cohen is an intern in the Office of Digital Strategy
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