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Managing Editor CHICOPEE A "simple question" from a Chicopee science teacher led to the creation of a new statewide program to encourage Massachusetts children to discover the outdoors through the state's park system. Judy Hebert was honored on Friday during an assembly at the Selser School for her inspiration of the new program. Hebert, who received a standing ovation from the school's students, often fought back tears during the ceremony. "I can't believe any of this," she said. "This is the best day." About a year and a half ago, Hebert attended an event with members of the state's Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) at the Chicopee Public Library. She explained that she and her husband Bruce love to travel and they had recently retuned from a trip that included visiting some of the national parks. The national parks have a passport program to encourage visitors and she wondered why the state parks didn't have a similar program. Jason Hunt, one of the three DCR rangers who worked on the state program, said Hebert's statement was "a very, very simple question with a lot of meaning behind it." The state passport system divides the state into regions: Greater Boston, Southeast (Cape Cod), Northeast (north of Boston), Central (Worcester and Springfield) and Western (the Berkshires). At each of the 76 participating state parks there is a locked box with a rubber stamp. The passport has the combination and the children are asked to unlock the box and stamp their book. If a child goes to all of the parks in one region, they can get a t-shirt as a prize. Children can get the passports at state parks or by logging onto www.mass.gov/dcr/passport. Hebert received a framed poster designed for her in recognition of her suggestion from DCR Commissioner Richard Sullivan. | ||||||
