National parks invite all 4th grade students to visit the parks for free as part of the White House’s Every Kid Outdoors program. Each year in September, 4th grade students can go to everykidoutdoors.gov to complete an activity and obtain a free annual entry pass to more than 2,000 federal recreation areas, including national parks. Each student receives a paper pass with a unique code. That pass gives the 4th grader and their family free access to all national parks, lands, and waters through August 31 of the current school year.
The goal of the Every Kid Outdoor program is to connect 4th graders with the great outdoors and inspire them to become future environmental stewards, ready to preserve and protect national parks and other public lands for years to come.
Every Kid Outdoors is a nationwide effort launched by President Obama and supported by eight federal agencies including the National Park Service, the Army Corps of Engineers, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, Department of Education, US Fish and Wildlife Service, US Forest Service, and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
National parks also offers a variety of programs that 4th graders and their families can enjoy at any time of year. The Junior Ranger program is a fun way for kids (and adults!) to learn about the parks by attending a ranger-led program, hiking on a park trail, and completing an activity booklet available at park visitor centers. Kids are sworn in as Junior Rangers, and receive a patch for their hard work.