NPS Photo
Photo of 2008 Independence NHP First Bloom participants
First Bloom is a National Park Foundation program that connects kids between 4th and 6th grades to nature and national parks. First Bloom kids meet with park rangers monthly over one program year. They engage in outdoor, hands-on activities and build their relationship with the outdoors and their national parks.
Toward the end of the program, youth plant a native landscape at a national park. That landscape is a lasting connection for those youth, a transferable experience, and a feature that all future visitors to the park will enjoy.
The goals of First Bloom are to:
- connect kids to the outdoors
- bond children – particularly underserved urban youth – to their national parks
- organize native plantings that educate visitors and enhance their experience
- build the next generation of outdoor and national park enthusiasts and stewards
Youth participating in First Bloom increase their knowledge, enthusiasm, and commitment in the core learning areas of the program, which include:
- national parks
- conservation
- native plants
- stewardship
As of the summer of 2009, First Bloom programs have operated in these cities: Austin, Boston (6 participating parks within the metropolitan area), Los Angeles, New York, Page (AZ), Philadelphia, San Antonio, and Washington, D.C.
Independence NHP is one of 26 parks in the NPS participating in First Bloom this program year.
