It is fitting to celebrate the National Park Service on its 100th birthday at the first national park, but the Centennial is also an incredible opportunity to foster the next generation of park visitors, advocates and stewards to ensure the National Park Service remains an inspiration to the world — where our nation’s treasures and the places that tell our stories of triumph and struggle welcome visitors from all walks of life.

We have made great strides with President Obama’s Every Kid in a Park initiative that gives 4th graders and their families free access to all public lands across the country, and we have invited every American to get outdoors and #FindYourPark throughout the Centennial year. We also continue our efforts to make national parks relevant to all Americans.

President Obama designated César Chávez National Monument in 2012 to honor the civil rights leader and the farm labor movement. On Wednesday, I will tour the site with Latino leaders and hold a community town hall discussion on ways to engage more diverse audiences.

Some of my favorite moments as Secretary have been spending time with young people on public lands to watch their love of parks grow. In Minnesota on Friday I look forward to getting out on the river with youth from Outdoor Afro in Mississippi National River & Recreation Area — a natural oasis full of wildlife in a densely populated urban area.