YAP Reality Documentary

YAP with Director Jarvis (NPS photo)
YAP! with NPS Director Jon Jarvis

NPS photo

Subscribe RSS Icon | What is RSS
News Release Date: February 22, 2014

Contact: Karissa DeCarlo, 508-996-4095 x 6108

Experience “The North Star Journey” premiere on Friday, February 28, 2014 from 6:00-7:00 pm

at the Cook Memorial Theater at the New Bedford Whaling Museum,18 Johnny Cake Hill. Doors will open at 5:30 pm. View the reality doc trailer here:http://youtu.be/S6jOQnF5R7E. The free screening is part of New Bedford Celebrates Frederick Douglass: And his Journey from Slavery to the Heights of the Abolitionist Movement, a program series presented by The New Bedford Historical Society, The New Bedford Whaling Museum, New Bedford WhalingNational Historical Park and The Zeiterion Performing Arts Center highlighting Douglass remarkable life throughout the month of February 2014.

After being invited to D.C. during the summer of 2013 for a week-long experience, the Youth
Ambassadors took on every opportunity and challenge they encountered. The impact of what
they felt, saw, learned and did is evident throughout “The North Star Journey” and in every
verse of their newest song, "North Star." As they became more immersed in the world of the
Underground Railroad and in particular the stories of Harriet Tubman and Frederick
Douglass, it seemed they could find the courage and energy to do anything. From learning to
kayak, completing a challenging bike ride and simply finding a renewed appreciation for
opportunities they might pursue thanks to the work of others; inspiration was in the air.
Production assistant Bianca Johnson summed up the experience: "In just one week I
watched four talented individuals take the torch and use their skills to tell a story of our past
while seeing a new future for themselves."

The experiences coordinated by NPS sites and partners inspired the ambassadors' creativity and allowed them to live many of YAP!'s core
values such as moving outside, knowing your history, living sustainable, experiencing
America, and inspiring others. The at-risk youth that are part of the Youth Ambassador
Program have developed into a team of researchers, historians, writers, explorers, lyricists,
musicians, polished performers and ambassadors for the National Park Service.
The trip was made possible by a grant from the National Park Foundation through the
generous support of ARAMARK through the Yawkey Foundation and the Fernandez Pave
Partners for the “North Star Journey” included the Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge,
Frederick Douglass National Historic Site, Greenbelt Park, Harriet Tubman National
Monument, Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance Program and 3rd EyE Youth
Empowerment.

 

For more information on YAP! go to www.nps.gov/nebe/forkids/yap.htm

Download YAP! The Teacher’s Online Resource Guide
companion to YAP’s debut album, Edutainment Movement



Last updated: February 26, 2015

Park footer

Contact Info

Mailing Address:

33 William Street
New Bedford, MA 02740

Phone:

508-996-4095

Contact Us