Saipan fourth-graders check out the American Memorial Park

The 2019-2020 school year marks the fifth year that the American Memorial Park and its partner, Pacific Historic Parks, have been awarded a field trip grant from the National Park Foundation to fund the “Every Kid Outdoors” program.

It encourages fourth graders to explore, learn and recreate in spectacular settings, including national parks, wildlife refuges, marine sanctuaries, and forests.

“There is so much to discover at American Memorial Park,” said superintendent Barbara Alberti. “Visits on class trips to experience our island’s World War II history will provide lifelong memories and learning.”

“Every Kid Outdoors” is a three-step program that targets Saipan’s fourth graders. First, park rangers and Pacific Historic Parks’ education team visit fourth graders at their school to introduce the program, and the significance of the American Memorial Park and the National Park Service. Following the school visit, students are invited to visit the park and engage in interactive and hands-on learning. Students learn about the Battle of Saipan, participate in ranger-led guided tours exploring the park and engage in bird watching, and explore park grounds. Upon completion of the fieldtrip, students participate in a reflection activity sharing their experiences.

“For the last couple of years, we have been able to bring every fourth-grade classroom in the Public School System on Saipan to the park,” said Jovannalyn Mafnas, Pacific Historic Parks education specialist. “We also travel to Tinian and Rota to bring the park and learning to fourth graders, highlighting the historical and cultural sites that makes each island in the CNMI unique. We are thrilled to continue the Every Kid Outdoors program and look forward to bringing this year’s new batch of fourth graders on an exciting learning adventure.”

In addition to a field trip to American Memorial Park all fourth graders, along with their families, are provided free access to more than 2,000 federal recreation areas for the year.  To obtain the free pass, fourth grade students visit the Every Kid Outdoors website and participate in a short educational activity. The free voucher is valid between Sept. 1, 2019, and Aug. 31, 2020.

The Every Kid Outdoors Program was established by Congress in 2019. It replaces the Every Kid in a Park Program which was launched in 2015. It is an interagency collaboration between the National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Reclamation, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and U.S Forest Service.

For teachers interested in bringing their fourth grade students to the park this year, contact ranger Renee Manibusan at reneeann_manibusan@nps.gov or Nataline Kaneshi at nkaneshi@pacifichistoricparks.org or call 234-7207 x 2020. (PR)