New Book Helps Children Discover National Parks

Director Bomar yesterday unveiled a new book designed to make national parks more meaningful to young visitors. More than 100 students from John Eaton Elementary School in Washington, DC, joined Bomar, U.S. Senator Richard Burr (R-NC) and other dignitaries at the launch party for Kids Passport to Your National Parks Companion.

“Kids Passport to Your National Parks Companion is an owner’s manual to national parks for children between the ages of six and 12, a crucial time for children to develop a connection to history and the natural world,” said Bomar. “This new book will make their park visits more engaging and fun.”

The book provides background information on the country’s 391 National Park Service sites and encourages children to use all of their senses to explore parks. There is plenty of space to record observations, sketch plants and animals, list accomplishments, track visits, and even collect park ranger autographs.

 â€œThere is a growing concern that children are becoming increasingly disconnected from the natural world and I applaud Senator Burr for conceiving of this book as a way to improve the quality and quantity of park visits for children,” said Bomar.

Bomar also praised National Park Service employees Lindi Harvey, Wendy Davis, and Diane Chalfont for working collaboratively with Eastern National to develop the book.  Eastern National is a National Park Service cooperating association that operates 245 bookstores and museum shops at 150 national parks and public sites.

The book is meant to supplement, not replace, the extremely popular Passport to Your National Parks, which allows visitors to collect cancellation stamps at most National Park Service sites. The new book will go on sale next week for $5.95.