Members of Congress Invited to Attend ‘Summer Camp on Capitol Hill’

(June 21, 2018)

Event will take place June 29 at Garfield Park

Ashburn, Va. (June 21, 2018) — Members of Congress and their staff are invited to re-discover summer camp at the National Recreation and Park Association’s (NRPA) second annual “Summer Camp on Capitol Hill.” The event, which will take place Friday, June 29, 2018, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. EDT at Garfield Park, will demonstrate firsthand how federal funding, such as the 21st Century Community Learning Program and the Summer Food Service Program, is critical to fostering healthier youth through out-of-school time programs offered at park and recreation facilities nationwide.

Co-hosted by the DC Department of Parks and Recreation, the M-NCPPC, Department of Parks and Recreation, Prince George’s County, and the Caroline County Recreation and Parks Department, the event will feature a variety of activities that children typically participate in during summer camp and out-of-school time, including:

  • Soccer, Tennis, Yoga and Zumba
  • Arts & Crafts
  • Commit to Health Nutrition Education Activities
  • Mobile Farmers Market & Seed Giveaway
  • Wildlife Explorers Nature Discovery Program

“The future of out-of-school time programs, such as those offered by parks and recreation, is dependent on federal support, especially in communities where local funding is limited,” said Barbara Tulipane, CAE, NRPA president and CEO. “This event is an opportunity for us to educate our members of Congress on the importance of these programs that children and families everywhere rely on.”

"Under Mayor Muriel Bowser's leadership, DC Department of Parks and Recreation is where fun happens," said DPR Director Keith A. Anderson. "The NRPA Summer Camp on Capitol Hill will highlight some of the exciting programming Washington, DC has for children including soccer and tennis demonstrations as well as showcase our mobile activity vehicle, the DPR Fun Wagon." 

“The Department of Parks and Recreation for Prince George’s County is serious about our role as providers of healthy meals, food education, community gardening and sustainability,” says Darin Conforti, Acting Director of the M-NCPPC, Department of Parks and Recreation. “Our long-standing relationship with the NRPA supports spreading the significance of food disparities and the remedies that parks and recreation can provide both locally and nationally,” concludes Conforti.

Co-sponsors for this event include the Afterschool Alliance, the Food Research & Action Center, the National AfterSchool Association and the National Summer Learning Association. Other groups supporting the activities being offered at the event include the United States Tennis Association and DC SCORES, a local nonprofit partner of the D.C. United soccer team.

To learn more about NRPA, visit www.nrpa.org.   

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About the National Recreation and Park Association
The National Recreation and Park Association is a national not-for-profit organization dedicated to ensuring that all Americans have access to parks and recreation for health, conservation and social equity. Through its network of 60,000 recreation and park professionals and advocates, NRPA encourages the promotion of healthy and active lifestyles, conservation initiatives and equitable access to parks and public space. For more information, visit www.nrpa.org. For digital access to NRPA’s flagship publication, Parks & Recreation, visit www.parksandrecreation.org.