Every Kid in a Park Program Begins at Richmond National Battlefield Park and Maggie L. Walker National Historic Site

Date: September 3, 2015
Contact: Stephanie Pooler, [e-mail]

Richmond, Va.–Richmond National Battlefield Park and Maggie L. Walker National Historic Site invite all 4^th grade students to visit both parks as part of the White House's new Every Kid in a Park program. Launched on September 1, 4^th grade students can now go to www.everykidinapark.gov to complete an activity and obtain a voucher for a free annual entry pass to more than 2,000 federal recreation areas, including national parks.

 "During the National Park Service's centennial celebration, we want everyone to get to know their national parks, and we're offering a special invitation to 4th graders and their families to discover what Richmond's national parks have to offer," said Park Superintendent David Ruth. "The parks offer kids and their families a place to learn and experience important stories of America's history in Richmond."

To receive their free pass for national parks, 4th graders can visit the Every Kid in a Park website and play a game to access their special Every Kid in a Park voucher. Students can exchange the printed voucher for a permanent, durable pass at Richmond National Battlefield Park's Visitor Center at the Tredegar Iron Works or the Maggie L. Walker National Historic Site. As a bonus, when each 4^thgrader visits either site to pick up the pass, they will receive a free NPS drawstring back pack containing some special surprises as long as supplies last.  Fourth graders and their families can then use this pass for free entry to nationalparksand other federal public lands and waters across the country from September 1, 2015 through August 31, 2016. The website also includes fun and engaging learning activities aligned to educational standards, trip planning tools, tips on what to pack when visiting parks and other important information for educators and parents.

The program also encourages 4^th grade students across the country to participate through field trips and other learning experiences.

The parks' education staff has a wide range of programs for 4th graders and encourages classes to reserve a program by visiting Richmond National Battlefield Park's education website at https://www.nps.gov/rich/learn/education/hands-on-educational-adventures.htm or Maggie L. Walker National Historic Site's at https://www.nps.gov/mawa/learn/education/index.htm. Fourth graders can also complete activities to earn Junior Ranger patches at both parks. The park swill hold special events next spring to engage 4th graders through the Every Kid in a Park program.

The goal of the Every Kid in a Park program is to connect 4th graders with the great outdoors and the special places of America, ready to preserve and protect national parks and other public lands for years to come. The program is an important part of the National Park Service's centennial celebration in 2016, which encourages everyone to Find Your Park.

Every Kid in a Park is an administration effort, launched by President Obama, and supported by eight federal agencies, including the National Park Service, the Army Corps of Engineers, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, Department of Education, Fish and Wildlife Service, Forest Service, and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

About Richmond National BattlefieldPark

Richmond National BattlefieldParkconsists of 13 sites in Hanover, Henrico and Chesterfield counties.

Experiencing the park's 13 battlefield sites and five visitor centers usually takes a full day. A driving tour of the battlefields is available at any of the park's visitor centers. The main park visitor center is located at Historic Tredegar (470 Tredegar Street in Richmond) and provides museum exhibits, audio-visual programs and orientation services to help plan a visit to the battlefields. For additional information, contact Richmond National BattlefieldParkat 804-226-1981, or via the internet atwww.nps.gov/richorwww.Facebook.com/RichmondNPS.

About Maggie L. Walker National Historic Site

The Maggie L. Walker National Historic Site, home of the first African American woman in the United States to become president of a chartered bank, has been a NationalParksince 1978, and open to the public since 1985. A national activist for the rights of African Americans and women, Maggie Walker also inspired young people to learn self-discipline, self-help, and selflessness, and groomed young leaders who knew the importance of helping others and their communities. Guided tours of her restored home, located in historic Jackson Ward, are given by National Park rangers. Theparkvisitor center is open Tuesday-Saturday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Additional information is available at 804-771-2017, or on the web atwww.nps.gov/mawa, orwww.Facebook.com/MaggieL.WalkerNHS.

About the NationalParkService

More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America's 408 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Learn more at www.nps.gov.