One thing my family LOVES to do is get outside and explore our community and our country with the kids. We are just wrapping up another fantastic year of using the Every Kid in a Park program.

Fourth graders can visit https://www.everykidinapark.gov/ and click “Get Your Pass” to sign up for the free program. The program runs for the duration of the 2018-2019 school year (ending on August 31, 2019), and allows 4th graders and their families/friends to visit our country’s national parks FREE for the entire school year. Every 4th grader in the country is eligible to sign up for the program. (And if you have a 4th grader- you need to make sure they do!)

 

This is an incredible program that encourages families to explore not just their community, but their state, and their country! Get outdoors, experience nature, and discover the beauty and wonder of our nation’s great parks.

Our family has been able to explore so many incredible parks and sites because of this program from larger parks like Yellowstone and the Badlands to several more local sites like Fort Vancouver.

Our son was our second child to receive the pass, and he loved being able to help his family see the country. At each park we visited, he simply showed his card to the ranger on duty. We found that the park rangers at each location were always incredibly warm and friendly to our fourth graders – often providing them with things like maps, coloring books, badges, and activity books. The program has been an incredible experience all around – and we can’t wait until our next child is in the 4th grade!

In parks which require a “pay per person” entry fee, your 4th grader, all children under the age of 16, and 3 adults will be covered by the pass. (And the awesome people at Johnston Ridge at Mt. St. Helens let 4 adults in our group in for free, so you never know -some rangers may be more lenient than others.)

At parks in which there is a vehicle entry fee (like Yellowstone), the pass admits the entire vehicle. (Commercial vehicles excluded)You can click to check out all the rules and fine print for the Every Kid in a Park program.

Start planning YOUR trip by visiting https://findyourpark.com/your-parks to see all the parks which accept the pass. (You may also find some neat places near you that you want to explore with or without the pass!)

Enjoy your travels and adventures!