Connecting the Next Generation to Parks
Our national parks are America’s largest classroom, offering unparalleled educational resources. The National Park Foundation (NPF), together with our partners, supports Youth Engagement & Education programs that provide ways for kids to enjoy, understand, and connect with the nature, history, and culture of parks through a variety of classroom subjects at national parks across the country.
Education programs tied to our parks enhance curriculum taught in the classrooms and have a transformative impact on students, increasing critical thinking skills, knowledge, self-confidence, and motivation to learn. Beyond time spent in the parks, classroom activities conducted before and after in-park or virtual field trips reinforce what students learn during their exploration, furthering impact.
The experiences that NPF and its partners help make possible for students promote physical and emotional health, civic engagement, and long-term appreciation for nature. By connecting young people to parks, we cultivate the next generation of park stewards.