Saturday is Kids to Parks Day

PHOTO: U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich leads a hike in White Sands National Monument with students from Columbia Elementary School in Las Cruces. Heinrich recently introduced legislation to designate White Sands as our newest national park, April 24, 2019.

Dear Friend,

Our public lands are where memories are made. They offer endless opportunities for kids to explore, learn, and play. Connecting kids to the outdoors, whether it's playing in the local park down the street or hiking and camping in a national park, can inspire a lifelong connection to conservation, while reaping all of the health benefits that go along with an active lifestyle.

I was proud to pass a bipartisan resolution designating this upcoming Saturday, May 18, 2019 as Kids to Parks Day. This year's ninth annual Kids to Parks Day kicks off a summer-long series of events at local, state, and national parks. I encourage New Mexico families to take advantage of the Kids to Parks events taking place across the state this whole week. You can find a list of events here.

I encourage you to find more information on how to visit our treasured public lands in New Mexico by visiting my website's Kids to Parks Resource Guide.

Earlier this year, I was proud to pass my bipartisan Every Kid Outdoors Act, which will allow every fourth-grader in America to visit our nation's parks, forests, wildlife refuges, and historic sites free of charge-and bring their families along with them. I am so excited that we are encouraging a new generation of youth to explore the rich natural and cultural history on display in our public lands.

In a state that proudly calls itself the Land of Enchantment, we all know how much our public lands mean to us. These are the places where generations of families have gone to explore our natural wonders and learn about our rich history and culture.