Children of Service members, civilians, and government employees — as well as several adults — got their sweat on in a Zumba class during Earth Day and “Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day” celebrations at Arlington Hall in Arlington, Va., April 24, 2014. Children of Service members, civilians, and government employees were entertained throughout the day by activies such as face painting, miniature archaeology, arts and crafts, archery, a Zumba and yoga class, and meet-and-greets with several little critters.
According to a National Women’s History Museum article published in 2013, the international program — which first began in 1992 — was originally known as “Take Our Daughters to Work Day” and was started in New York city by Gloria Steinham to help show young girls that being smart was not something to hide, but to be proud of.
The article, by Katherine Dvorak, also stated that outreach to boys and girls in low-income communities — a hallmark of the “Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work” program — allows all children to have experiences and expectations that they may not have had otherwise.