Photos & Videos: The 2011 White House Easter Egg Roll

Ellie Schafer
April 26, 2011
07:45 PM EDT

Download Video: mp4 (17MB)

Yesterday, the First Family hosted a record number of people on the South Lawn in their backyard for the 133rd White House Easter Egg Roll. 30,000 people from around the country embraced this year's theme "Get Up Go!" -- a part of the First Lady's Let's Move! initiative to raise a healthier generation of kids. Highlighted by blue skies, amazing performances, healthy activities and eating -- the event was a huge success!

Check out all of the action and fun from this year's event:

President Barack Obama cheers on kids taking part in the Easter Egg Roll on the South Lawn of the White House

President Barack Obama cheers on kids taking part in the Easter Egg Roll on the South Lawn of the White House April 25, 2011. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

President Barack Obama hits a tennis ball during a sports clinic set up as part of the Easter Egg Roll activities

President Barack Obama hits a tennis ball during a sports clinic set up as part of the Easter Egg Roll activities on the South Lawn of the White House, April 25, 2011. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

First Lady Michelle Obama participates in the "Play With Your Food" station with Jacque Pepin

First Lady Michelle Obama participates in the "Play With Your Food" station with Jacque Pepin,right, Kelly Ripa, left, and Al Roker, second from left, at the annual Easter Egg Roll on the South Lawn of the White House, April 25, 2011. (Official White House Photo by Samantha Appleton)

Many thanks from the White House Visitors Office to all of the volunteers and everyone that attended to help make this one of the best Easter Egg Rolls ever!

Ellie Schafer is the Director of the White House Visitor's Office
Related Topics: Healthy Kids, Working Families, District of Columbia, Michigan

Joining Forces: Travels with First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden

Posted by Kori Schulman on April 26, 2011 at 05:14 PM EDT
Download Video: mp4 (51MB)

Following the launch of Joining Forces, First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden traveled throughout the country, celebrating the service of military families and the communities, businesses and non-profits working to support them every day. The initiative aims to educate, challenge, and spark action from all sectors of our society to ensure military families have the support they have earned. At each stop, the First Lady and Dr. Biden encouraged Americans to get involved in any way they can.

Visit www.joiningforces.gov to find opportunities to support military families in you own community.

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On the South Lawn for the 2011 White House Easter Egg Roll

April 26, 2011 | 1:35 | Public Domain

View the scene at this years White House Easter Egg Roll, a tradition in its 133rd year.
This year's theme is "Get Up and Go!" The theme focuses on promoting health and wellness and encouraging children to lead healthy and active lives. The Easter Egg Roll is the largest annual public event at the White House. 30,000 people from all 50 states and the District of Columbia received tickets to the event.

Download mp4 (17MB)

Photo Gallery: The Launch of Joining Forces

Posted by Kori Schulman on April 26, 2011 at 12:54 PM EDT

Following the launch of Joining Forces, First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden embarked on a national tour to visit extraordinary examples of communities, businesses and non-profit organizations working to support our Nation’s military families.

The Joining Forces tour kicked of in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina with stops in San Antonio, Texas; Denver, Colorado; Colorado Springs, Colorado; closing in Columbus, Ohio. View the photo gallery of Mrs. Obama's and Dr. Biden's trip:

  • First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden Wait Backstage
    1 of 17
  • First Lady Michelle Obama Stands with Gen. Joseph Dunford
    2 of 17
  • First Lady Michelle Obama Greets Marines at Camp Lejeune
    3 of 17
  • First Lady Michelle Obama Talks with a Group of People
    4 of 17
  • First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden Attend an Operation Shower Baby Shower
    5 of 17
  • First Lady Michelle Obama, Dr. Jill Biden, and Martha Stewart
    6 of 17
  • First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden Aboard Bright Star
    7 of 17
  • First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden at Brooke Army Medical Center
    8 of 17
  • First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden Greet People at the Warrior and Family Support Center
    9 of 17
  • First Lady Michelle Obama Talks with Jessica Simpson
    10 of 17
  • Members of the Air Force Academy Baseball Team
    11 of 17
  • First Lady Michelle Obama Greets Kids at Colorado Rockies Coors Field in Denver
    12 of 17
  • First Lady Michelle Obama Watches the Air Force Academy Pitching Clinic
    13 of 17
  • First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden at the National Math and Science Bowl
    14 of 17
  • First Lady Michelle Obama is Introduced During a Visit to a Sears Distribution Center
    15 of 17
  • First Lady Michelle Obama Greets People at a Sears Distribution Center
    16 of 17
  • First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden Greet Sesame Street Characters
    17 of 17
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The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
April 25, 2011

Remarks by the President and First Lady at the 2011 Easter Egg Roll

South Lawn

10:30 A.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT:  Hello, everybody.  (Applause.)  I hope all of you had a wonderful Easter.  I hope everybody is having a great time here.  Welcome to the White House.  (Applause.)

In addition to our outstanding Easter Bunny, I want to introduce somebody who is doing extraordinary work not only helping military families, not only making sure that everybody is getting up and going, but is also keeping me in line, the First Lady of the United States, Michelle Obama.  (Applause.)

MRS. OBAMA:  Is everybody having a good time?

AUDIENCE:  Yes!

MRS. OBAMA:  It is a beautiful day just for you.  Let’s give Colbie Caillat a big round of applause.  She did a great job.  (Applause.)

We are so excited about this year’s Easter Egg Roll.  The theme is “Get up and Go,” because as you know, I’m a big proponent of getting up and going, making sure we’re moving and eating healthy.  And this Easter Egg Roll reflects all of that, so while you’re here in addition to listening to some great music and dancing a little bit, you can roll your eggs.  You can do some yoga.  You can play with some -- do some obstacle course, play basketball and tennis. 

We’ve got wonderful storytellers over at Storytime Stage.  Everyone has just been terrific.  I want to thank all of the talent, all of the people who volunteered here today.  Let’s give our volunteers a big round of applause -- (applause) -- because we couldn’t do this without them.

Today we’re going to have a record number of 30,000 people coming through the South Lawn.  That’s pretty amazing.  So I think now it’s time for us to stop talking and “Get up and Go,” and do some moving.  So with that we’re going to come down and kick off the Easter Egg Roll.

Thank you all.  Have a great a time.  (Applause.)

END
10:33 A.M. EDT 

Watch Live: The 2011 White House Easter Egg Roll

Kori Schulman
Kori Schulman
April 25, 2011
06:00 AM EDT

The 2011 White House Easter Egg Roll is here, and you’re invited! Today, the Obama’s will host 30,000 people from all 50 states in their backyard for an Easter Egg Hunt and the traditional Easter Egg Rolling, as well as live musical performances, storytime readings, healthy cooking demos, sports and more. This year's theme “Get Up and Go!” focuses on promoting health and wellness, a central part of the First Lady’s Let’s Move! initiative to raise a healthier generation of kids.

Join the First Family and people from around the country for the 133rd White House Easter Egg Roll on WhiteHouse.gov/live.

View the full live stream schedule below:

Related Topics: Healthy Kids, Working Families

Community Colleges Serving Veterans

Posted by Kirsten White on April 21, 2011 at 02:00 PM EDT
Student Veterans Panel

Student veterans attending community colleges in the San Diego area weigh in during a panel. (by San Diego Community College District)

Last Friday, I attended the Department of Education’s fourth and final regional community college summit at San Diego City College in San Diego. These summits were held across the country to follow up on the first-ever White House Summit on Community Colleges hosted by the President and Dr. Biden at the White House last October. As Dr. Biden said then, the White House Summit was only the beginning of our national outreach and efforts to demonstrate how community colleges are critical to educating the best, most competitive workforce in the world.

The San Diego summit focused on the ways community colleges are supporting and educating veterans and members of the military and their families. Summit participants heard from several veterans about how their military service prepared them for college, and about some of the challenges they encountered transitioning from the military into the classroom. Many community college leaders and students discussed how veterans have become leaders on their campuses, strengthening classroom discussions and advocating for other students and veterans. In San Diego and around the country, we have a special obligation to make sure our veterans and military families can move into promising careers and thrive after their years of service and sacrifice to our country.

The summit came on the heels of the First Lady and Dr. Biden’s Joining Forces kickoff tour. Joining Forces is an initiative to raise public awareness about military families and veterans who live in communities throughout the country, and encourage all Americans to do their part to show their appreciation and support. Community colleges are uniquely-suited to meet the Joining Forces challenge, and they set an example for all sectors of society to use their strengths and expertise to expand opportunities for our veterans. Community colleges have always responded to the needs of their communities. They educate and train the people who live and work around them to meet regional and national economic needs. And when their students are veterans, that becomes a very special mission.

Kirsten White is the Policy Director to Dr. Jill Biden

See more about Defense, Veterans, Additional Issues  

The Department of Education: Our Commitment to Supporting Military Families


Posted by Arne Duncan
 on April 21, 2011 at 11:17 AM EDT


Our country’s safety and prosperity relies on the everyday commitment and sacrifice of our nation’s military members and their families. That’s why the U.S. Department of Education is proud to join agencies across the government in participating in First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden’s Joining Forces initiative, which seeks to mobilize all sectors of society to better support service members and their families.
 


Military families face unique challenges. They and their children often deal with high rates of student mobility, as well as emotional and personal stress caused by deployments and other military assignments. Our Department has taken steps to better meet these needs by providing important guidance to states and districts and by working to better direct the flow of federal resources.
 


Department of Education Arne Duncan visits with military families

Department of Education Arne Duncan visits with military families at a Naval Shipyard in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, August 31, 2010. Secretary Duncan talked with military families about the difficulties they face in providing their children with a consistently top-notch education as they move around our country and the world in our nation’s service. (Ed.gov)

To provide military members ample time with their families before, during and after deployment, some school districts have developed policies and practices for excused absences while maintaining high educational standards. We want to encourage schools to be flexible in balancing educational needs with family responsibilities, which is why we’ve provided guidance to all school district superintendents and chief state school officers on effective practices related to military-connected children and public school attendance policies. 



See more about Defense, Education, Working Families  

Will.i.am is Joining Forces, Will.u?

Posted by Kori Schulman on April 20, 2011 at 04:51 PM EDT

Will.i.am is Joining Forces to support America's military families. Joining Forces is a national initiative to mobilize all sectors of society to give our service members and their families the opportunities and support they have earned. First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden are asking all Americans to get involved in any way they can.

"No act is too small" Will.i.am said in a video message. Watch the video and join Mrs. Obama, Dr. Biden and Will.i.am to recognize, honor, and support our military families. Visit JoiningForces.gov and learn how you can involved.

Watch Will.i.am Joining Forces with Michelle Obama, here. 

Stay connected with Joining Forces on facebook and Twitter, or sign up for email updates.

 

See more about Defense, Working Families  

Get Up and Go!: The 2011 White House Easter Egg Roll

Ellie Schafer
April 20, 2011
04:20 PM EDT

For twelve hours on Monday, April 25th, the South Lawn of the White House will play host to the 133rd White House Easter Egg Roll.

30,000 people from all 50 states and the District of Columbia won tickets through this year’s ticket lottery. With this year's theme being "Get Up and Go!," in collaboration with the First Lady's Let's Move! initiative, guests will have the chance to enjoy entertainment and activities that go far beyond the traditional Easter egg hunt and egg roll. Some of the highlights include:

  • Rockin’ Egg Roll Stage - Live musical performances for all ages. Artists include Colbie Caillat, Greyson Chance, Willow Smith, Sesame Street, and more.
  • Storytime Stage - Celebrities bring books to life. Readers include Kelly Ripa, Mark Consuelos and family, John Lithgow, John Bemelmans Marciano, Kristi Yamaguchi, Geena Davis, and more.
  • Hop To It!- An instructional dance party on the South Lawn!  Get up and go jump rope, hula hoop, dance and more.
  • Eggtivity Zone Obstacle Course- A series of obstacles and drills, including soccer, football and baseball obstacle courses.
  • Basketball and Tennis- Get hands-on training from basketball and tennis pros on the President’s court!
  • Yoga Garden- Come enjoy a session of yoga from professional instructors. 
  • Eggspress Yourself- An arts and crafts workshop filled with egg dying, egg decorating, face painting and more. 
  • Play with your Food- Family Farmer’s Market, Kids’ Kitchen, Make-your-own Garden, Buzzing about Bees, and more led by the White House chefs and celebrity guest chefs. This activity center is built around the White House Kitchen Garden.

Each activity will have exceptional special guests, from John Lithgow and Sesame Street doing songs and stories, to athletes like Ryan Zimmerman of baseball’s Washington Nationals, tennis stars Chris Evert and Brian Vahaly, and the Harlem Globetrotters. The world-famous U.S. Marine Corps Band will perform as well. 

All of the Easter Egg Roll festivities will be live-streamed on WhiteHouse.gov/Live so all Americans and audiences around the world can participate. Check in again on the morning of April 25th to get a full viewing schedule!

Related Topics: Working Families, Additional Issues, District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia