The brand new “Every Kid in a Park” program was just launched by your friends, the federal government. Every 4th Grader, or home-school equivalent, in America can go on-line or work with their class to earn a pass that will allow free access for them and their families to federal lands all across the country through August 2016. Agencies involved include:
National Park Service
Bureau of Land Management
Bureau of Reclamation
US Fish and Wildlife
US Forest Service
Army Corps of Engineers
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Please feel free to share this link with your friends, neighbors, enemies - whomever. I just did a dry run through the on-line activity, and it takes about a minute for a kid to get a pass. To answer the first question from you nefarious types, the 4th Grader must be present when these passes are presented at a site. For other questions, please follow the link.
I don’t have a 4th Grader. Pretty sure acquiring one just to get this deal would be a bad financial decision. In addition, then I’m stuck with a 4th Grader. I’ll pass on the pass.
OK, I really feel that the OP should have included a disclaimer that you can’t just swipe a fourth-grader off the street. I am not enjoying posting from jail.
Hmm, our national park pass this year cost something like $60. I suspect acquiring a 4th grader will cost a bit more than that. I think I’ll pass this time.
The pass is issued only to the fourth grader (a signature is required), and may only be used by the named fourth grader. So in order to use the pass to enter a national park for free, that same fourth grader must be present (signed card in hand) with the rest of the family to gain entrance.
Here’s the conditions, from the horse’s mouth:
Official rules
The pass is for U.S. fourth graders (or home-school equivalent) students.
The pass is for the 2015 to 2016 school year. It expires August 31, 2016.
Students can’t transfer the pass to anyone else.
We can’t accept electronic versions of this paper for access or to exchange for a pass.
There’s no way to request a refund later if you forget the pass when you visit.
If you lose your pass, get a new one by visiting the website and signing up again.
Educators can get one paper pass for each of their fourth-grade students.
How it works
Show your pass to a ranger when you enter. If there is no ranger, leave it on the dashboard of your car.
If you visit a site that charges entrance fees per person— The pass admits all children under 16 and up to three adults for free.
If your group visits a site that charges vehicle fees - The pass admits all children under 16 and all adults in up to one passenger vehicle. Commercial vehicles can’t use a pass to get in.
If you arrive at a site on bicycle— The pass admits all children under 16 and up to three adults on bicycles.
The pass doesn’t cover things like camping, boats, and special tours. Also, some sites are managed by private operators. They may not honor the pass. Check with the site ahead of time to find out.
The pass doesn’t cover fees for local, city, or state parks and recreation areas unless they say that they accept this pass.
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