National Parks are not dangerous. It is the people who come to visit them. Danger arises when 1. people have not prior experience, 2. they come unprepared, 3. they make flawed decisions.
All Yosemite 4th,5th and 6th graders (9-12) are part of a local outreach program through Nature Bridge (formally known as Yosemite Institute). Each month the students visit and learn about different areas of the park. Not only do they learn about science and caring for the earth, but they are expected to come prepared for each field trip with a day pack, lunch, water bottle, and layers of clothing. This concept of preparation is difficult for some of our younger students, and parents don't always check what their children are bringing before they get to school. Usually in the fall we have to pull out extra supplies for those who forgot them, but after they're in the program for a year, they catch on to what is expected. On the trail, they learn how not to get lost, what to do in the event of a rockfall, and most importantly how to take care of themselves. I believe this is the way to make our parks safer. We have been very successful and now I have former students that are in college that go on annual backpack trips every year and some even work summers as trail crew in the back country. I'm proud of my boys and girls.