Centennial Ambassador, National Park Service聽| 25, San Diego, California聽
鈥淭he Park Service realizes that things can鈥檛 carry on as they have been if we are to connect with the upcoming generation. That鈥檚 the idea behind the Centennial Ambassador program: we were brought in to shake things up. Not everyone likes change, but we have to reach young people on their level.聽
鈥淲hen I started working with Cabrillo National Monument, the wasn鈥檛 being fully managed, we didn鈥檛 have , and there wasn鈥檛 a good understanding of the power of social media. The park was pressed for time and resources, so I suggested a high school internship program. It鈥檚 not typical volunteerism鈥攚e have students creating a video series on our , and I鈥檝e been collaborating with nonprofit charter schools. These are kids who know how to code video games, how to use 3-D printers. Three high school girls grew our Instagram following fourfold in four months.聽
鈥淏ut it鈥檚 not just about reaching new people鈥攜ou have to connect them to the parks so they鈥檙e invested, so they鈥檙e no longer just 鈥榲isitors.鈥 鈥