In 2015, the National Park Service started the Every Kid in a Park initiative, a
program which encouraged families to visit National Parks by providing FREE passes to fourth graders and their families. Through this program, fourth graders all over the country had the opportunity to discover our nation's natural and historical resources.
The program is continuing during the
2016-2017 school year. Starting September 1, children currently in 4th grade can begin to download their passes. Children in 4th grade (including home-school equivalent) were specifically targeted to participate in this initiative because research shows that children ages 9-11 are at a unique developmental stage, during which they are most likely to hold positive attitudes towards nature and the environment. They are understanding the world in more concrete ways, but are also receptive to new ideas. By targeting 4th graders year after year, the Every Kid in a Park initiative will allow every child in the U.S. to visit National Parks by the time they are 11 years old.
My daughter was in 4th grade in 2015-2016, and we took advantage of the opportunity to visit six National Parks (and one National Monument!) over the course of the year...all for free! The experience truly was priceless for our whole family, and we look forward to the year when our youngest daughter enters 4th grade, as we're already thinking about the parks we'd like to visit in the future!Do you have a child in 4th grade this school year? If so, starting September 1, your child can download a pass that will allow your entire family FREE entry to National Parks until August 31, 2017. After downloading the pass, you and your child can plan your next National Park outing using the resources at www.everykidinapark.gov. You can also follow the program on Twitter,Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
My daughter's National Parks pass inspired us to finally take our daughters to the Grand Canyon, and inspired a road trip through Utah and Wyoming to visit several parks there. There are many opportunities to use the pass closer to home as well. Some national parks and landmarks that typically charge fees that are within day trip distance from Tucson include Saguaro National Park, Tumacacori, Casa Grande Ruins, and Tonto National Monument.
