Explore Your Park! Your Health!

Engaging the Next Generation of Diverse Visitors and Employees

Your Park! Your Health! is a program first conceived and implemented in 2016 to reflect our commitment to developing a workforce and visitation base that values diversity and an inclusive environment. The program creates unique opportunities for undergraduate or master’s/doctoral-level students to gain a broad experience in applied public health as it relates to the NPS and its visitors. To carry out this initiative and promote the contributions national parks and public lands play in the health and welfare of our nation’s citizens, the OPH worked in collaboration with the Greening Youth Foundation (GYF), a nonprofit organization, dedicated to engaging underrepresented teens and young adults by connecting them to the outdoors as well as careers in conservation.

How the Program Works

Greening Youth Interns lead the development and implementation process for innovative community-based projects focused on health, healing, wellness, recreation, history and culture. Through collaborations with partners, Your Park! Your Health! has engaged hundreds of local youth, young adults and senior citizens in outdoor recreational activities such as hiking, yoga, skating, and pond dipping, as well as educational and stewardship activities that emphasize their connection to the rich culture and history of our nation and provide a greater awareness about the health benefits of these activities. Programs and activities are currently focused in the DC metro area as a pilot that could be expanded to promote national parks as a health resource and build community relationships nationwide.

three different images stacked in a row with the first image of five women smiling. The second photo shows a woman painting a bird house and the third image is of kids playing in the park of five women smiling, one woman painting a bird house and

Extending the Invitation

Our programs and strategies are tailored to engage members of communities that have been marginalized. A special focus also includes those who have an increased risk of high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes and now those who are disproportionately impacted by COVID-19. Learn more about our key audiences below:

  • Golden Age (Senior Citizens): encourage holistic health-inspiring the implementation of new, healthier habits
  • Elementary and Middle School Children: introduce healthy habits, create a sense of normalcy and inspire a connection with healthy lifestyle practices early
  • High School Youth: promote stewardship and conservation, and education on the benefits of living a healthier lifestyle
  • College Aged Group: provide employment/ internship opportunities, preparation for workforce, opportunities to care for the land and education on implementing healthy lifestyle behaviors
  • Military Families: develop and implement holistic, multi-disiplinary approaches to mental health and wellness for our veterans, active-duty personnel and their families



Last updated: March 19, 2024

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