The first family is set to visit California next week as part of an effort to highlight President Obama's efforts on behalf of our nation's parks. Specifically, reports the Chronicle, the four Obamas will visit Yosemite a week from this Sunday — just a few months ahead of the 100-year anniversary of the National Park Service.
“President Obama has taken unprecedented action to invest in America’s natural resources, to protect our public lands and to help ensure that all Americans — no matter their background — have the opportunity to experience our nation’s unparalleled national parks, monuments, forests and other public lands,” reads a statement issued yesterday by the White House.
This point is also emphasized in a video released by the White House, which shows President Obama visiting other national parks like Yellowstone and Everglades National Park. “I want to make sure the American people are able to enjoy the incredible national parks, the incredible beauty, the mountains, the oceans that have been one of the greatest gifts that we’ve ever received," Obama explains in the video.
The trip to Yosemite, which will be immediately preceded by a visit to Carlsbad Caverns National Park, will call attention to the fact that, according to the White House, "President Obama has conserved more land and water than any president in history."
Yosemite was first protected in 1864, and was officially designed a park in 1890.
Related: Video: Watch Rock Climbers Install Light-Based Art Installation On Yosemite's Half Dome