Website Review: Every Kid in a Park

The EVERY KID IN A PARK website connects youth, parents, and educators with the parks and other recreational sites around the United States.

Fourth graders and their families can access America’s natural wonders and historic sites for free! This website takes children through the process of getting a free pass.

The How it Works section takes youth through the process of getting a pass, planning a trip, and hitting the road.

The Get your Pass section involves fourth graders in playing a game, parents in learning the rules, and educators in accessing passes for whole classes. Regardless of whether students are able to visit parks, the game is a fun way to help youth explore the many outdoor opportunities available.

The Plan your Trip section connects students to websites where they can explore parks and other sites, learn about where to stay, and find out about outdoor safety. It also links to places children might want to visit in each state.

Librarians will find this website to be an excellent way to jumpstart discussions about the value of exploring the great outdoors. Place this website in a display that includes books focusing on nature and outdoor exploration. Be sure to include the many National Geographic Kids books available on this topic.

To visit the website, go to https://www.everykidinapark.gov/.

Book Review: Lucky

LUCKY by Chris Hill is an animal adventure that tells the story of feuding squirrel clans.

Lucky is a small, red squirrel who has been adopted by a band of gray squirrels. He quickly learns that he must develop some new skills in order to fit in and to survive in Albion Park. Along the way, he meets a cast of interesting characters including dogs, a fox, and a rival group of gray squirrels.

The author’s note provides information about the history of gray and red squirrels in the UK.

Librarians will find that this book appeals to middle grade animals lovers. Fans of the Warriors series and classics like Watership Down, The Wind in the Willows, and Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMN will immediately be drawn to the characters. It’s also a good choice for readers who enjoyed the Elliot’s Park books and are ready for something a little longer.

Published by Chicken House, an imprint of Scholastic on February 23, 2016. ARC courtesy of the publisher.

Website Review: Find Your Park

FINDYOURPARK is a website focusing public awareness on the centennial anniversary of the National Park Service in 2016.

Developed by the National Park Service and National Park Foundation along with many corporate sponsors, the website helps users find, share, and support parks.

The “Find a Park Experience” area helps users learn about parks of interest and features experiences that are possible at particular parks. Users begin by taking a quiz to determine their interests. They’re asked whether they want to experience history, learn new things, go exploring, or make a difference. The next questions are based on their answer to the first question. For those not able to travel to parks, virtual experiences are provided. Users can also watch videos and read about featured parks. A map is provided for further exploration of particular areas. Use this website as part of a writing activity to get youth thinking about places they’d like to explore.

The “Share Your Story” section encourages users to share their thoughts about parks through a song, photo, painting, poem, dance, video or any other approach. The Centennial Project is a contest to find and celebrate the top 100 stories. Consider a National Park theme for your library during the 2015-2016 school year. Get teachers and students started thinking about possible projects for next year.

The “Support Your Park” area features ways that people of all ages can get involved with the National Parks by joining community activities or volunteering. The “Every Kid in a Park” initiative will provide the opportunity for every 4th grader in the United States to experience public lands for free during the 2015-2016 school year.

To learn more, go to http://www.findyourpark.com/.