Enchantment State News

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), a member of the National Parks Subcommittee of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, joined U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Shelly Moore Capito (R-W. Va.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Cory Booker, (D-N.J.) to announce their bipartisan resolution that encourages children to get outdoors and promote healthy outdoor recreation by designating May 20, 2023 National Kids to Parks Day.

First celebrated by the National Park Trust, the thirteenth annual Kids to Parks Day promotes outdoor recreation and active, healthy living.

“Connecting kids to the outdoors can give them a sense of place, a refreshed perspective, and the physical activity they crave. It also can inspire a lifelong a connection to conservation. I’ve seen this as both a dad and an outdoor educator,” said Heinrich. “A few years back, I was proud to lead the successful effort that provides all fourth graders and their families free access to explore our national parks, forests, and monuments. On May 20th, I encourage all New Mexico families to get outside and enjoy our state’s beautiful public lands.”

Senator Heinrich, co-chair of the bipartisan Outdoor Recreation Caucus, is a longtime supporter of enhancing educational outdoor recreation opportunities for communities in New Mexico. Heinrich championed the Every Kid Outdoors Act, legislation that provides all fourth graders and their families free entrance to America's public lands, waters, and historic sites, including national parks – more than 2,000 sites in all.

Early in his career, Senator Heinrich served in AmeriCorps for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and was the Executive Director of the Cottonwood Gulch Foundation, where he led youth educational wilderness expeditions and outdoor programs in the American Southwest.

Original source can be found here.