Learn How to Get Free National Park Passes for Fourth Graders and Their Families
Remember back to the good old days when a kid under five years old basically meant free admission anywhere? Well guess what, the National Parks have a little secret hidden up their sleeves and I can’t wait to take advantage of it.
Got a fourth grader, Floridians? You’re in luck!
Fourth graders and their families are getting FREE National Park Passes for not only themselves, but for their families. Read on to learn more about the program, what it entails, and where it can take you on outdoor adventures.
Every Kid Outdoors Program
The program is called Every Kid Outdoors and it specifically targets fourth graders. A little like that golden age of getting free admissions to parks and museums under 5, fourth graders (typically ages 9-11) are at their peak age for exploration and nature pursuits.
Parents can help their children sign up, but so can fourth grade teachers, too! All the information can be found on the official government website, https://everykidoutdoors.gov/index.htm.
Where Can Your Free Park Pass Bring You?
The National Park program through Every Kid Outdoors isn’t just limited to Florida’s National Parks, but to the whole country! The next school break can be spent utilizing this pass to the fullest!
Some of the best National Parks around the nation include:
- Yellowstone
- Grand Canyon
- Yosemite
- Zion
- Rocky Mountain
- Grand Teton
- Glacier
And more!
Don’t forget the northeast corridor with places like Boston (full of history and greatness) and the Liberty Bell (a national monument!) in Philadelphia.
A few personal favorites having lived some time in the DC area, I recommend Great Falls Park and also the stretch of mountains that shouldn’t need introduction – Shenandoah National Park, where cabin camping, waterfall hikes and fall foliage will steal the show.
Obviously, getting us sea level dwellers out to the mountainous regions in the west or up to the east coast isn’t always easy, but we have lots of nearby parks to enjoy as well!
Where Can Fourth Graders Use the Every Kid Outdoors Pass in Florida?
Consider visiting Canaveral National Seashore for sandy, tranquil beaches, or use your fourth grader pass to gain free entry to Castillo de San Marcos fort in St. Augustine. (Trust me, this alone will save you a bundle!).
See gators at the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, or get a front row seat to a rocket launch. Take an airboat ride in Everglades National Park, or head down to the crystal blue waters of the Florida Keys at Big Pine Key’s National Wildlife Refuge.
Further north, consider a weekend getaway to Savannah, where your pass will get the family up close to Fort Pulaski National Monument.
Why You Should Get the Free National Parks Pass
I’m going to be honest here, the list is so long of great National Parks, Monuments, Forests and more that I’d say the pass is an absolute no-brainer if you like to travel. This pass screams, “book a family road trip!”
Your whole family will get to enjoy the beauty of nature. Make it fun with online printables from park websites, or purchase versions of outdoor bingo, like from Melissa & Doug.
Even better, really engage your kids with the popular Junior Ranger program offered at Florida State Parks, and stock them up full of outdoor supplies for the fun. This might include a compass, binoculars, bug catchers, flashlights and headlamps, or a notebook to create their very own “field guide” to foliage and wildlife.
Enriching your kids with time in nature is why the National Parks program was created. Well, that, and preserving the natural beauty of our homeland.
Nonetheless, it’s something that will be best enjoyed by fourth graders, an enjoyment hopefully fostered and continued throughout their adult life.
I still love getting outdoors and we camp just about every month. We love getting outdoors, and your kids will too.
All you have to do is sign up online and get started!
Getting Your Pass
Be sure to print your pass when you have completed the online form, and bring it to your first eligible National Park property for exchange. For Florida, here is the list of eligible trade-in points: https://www.everykidoutdoors.gov/exchange.htm?state=FL.
The pass admits all children under 16 and up to three adults for free (if the park is a pay-per-person park), and the pass allows all passengers in vehicles entry for free for pay-per-vehicle parks.
Be aware that the pass is only good through the end of summer (typically August 31) after the fourth grade school year is complete.
Get started with your fourth grader National Park pass here: https://everykidoutdoors.gov/index.htm.
