Marvel at our country's history. Listen to wolves howl. Walk among dinosaur tracks. Look up into the inky night sky and reach for the stars. These unique U.S. sites belong to all of us. And, if you have a fourth-grader, there is no better time to see them!
Fourth graders and their families enjoy free national park entry.
Have a fourth-grader? Then here's some good news: Fourth graders and their families receive FREE entry to hundreds of national parks, recreation areas, forests, monuments, and wildlife refuges.
This program, known as Every Kid Outdoors, is run by the United States National Park Service. It allows fourth-graders and their families free entry to some of America's most dazzling national lands, from the St. Louis Arch to the Florida Keys.
To grab this free pass, all fourth-graders have to do is complete an online adventure diary. The most current pass is valid from September 1, 2023, through August 31, 2024. Find out more and sign up for this free program now!
As a fourth-grader with a voucher or pass, the student, and anyone in the vehicle with the child, is admitted for free at sites that charge per vehicle. If visiting a site that charges an entrance fee, up to three accompanying adults will be admitted free with a fourth grader with a pass. If the fourth grader and their family are riding bikes, up to three accompanying adults are included, too. The fourth-grader must be present to use the pass.
The Every Kid Outdoors program is designed to give all families a chance to get out and explore our amazing country... and it can save you some serious money on your next vacation!
Encourage kids to become Junior Rangers.
We recently visited Voyageurs National Park in Minnesota and bought a passport so my daughter can stamp each park she visits. She also became a Junior Ranger while visiting Voyageurs!
The Junior Ranger program is free, educational, and also available online. Kids complete activities in a booklet designed for that particular National Park and then take an oath to protect the parks. It was such a sweet moment to watch!
 Working on their junior ranger booklets at Voyageurs National Park in Minnesota. |
Involving children and families in such meaningful ways is part of the National Park Service's mission. Established on August 25, 1916, it was created to "preserve unimpaired the natural and cultural resources and values of the National Park System for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations."
The National Parks are a great way to get kids (and you!) outside, to enjoy nature, and to be mindful of our environment.
Make it a goal to visit a National Park this year with your family! It's a chance to have fun together, soak in the beauty of nature, and maybe even start a tradition that'll last for generations.
