Crater Lake National Park invites all fourth grade students to visit the park for free as part of the White House’s new Every Kid in a Park program. Starting September 1, fourth grade students can go to Every Kid Outdoors to complete an activity and obtain a free annual entry pass to more than 2,000 federal recreation areas, including national parks.

“During the National Park Service’s centennial celebration we want to show people how relevant their national parks are to their lives. Crater Lake offers transformative learning experiences to people of all ages. We look forward to hosting fourth graders and their families as they discover the many stories our national parks tell,” said Crater Lake Superintendent Craig Ackerman.

Crater Lake National Park offers a variety of activities that fourth graders and their families can enjoy including ranger-led snowshoe walks in the winter, and boat tours, trolley tours, Junior Ranger activities, and ranger hikes and talks in the summer. 

To receive their free pass for national parks, fourth graders can visit the Every Kid in a Park website and play a game to access their special Every Kid in a Park pass. Fourth graders and their families can then use this pass for free entry to national parks and other federal public lands and waters across the country from September 1, 2015, through August 31, 2016.  The website also includes fun and engaging learning activities aligned to educational standards, trip planning tools, safety and packing tips, and other important and helpful information for educators and parents.

In addition to providing fourth graders with a free entry pass for federal public lands and waters, the Every Kid in a Park program will allow fourth grade educators, youth group leaders, and their students across the country to participate through field trips and other learning experiences.  

The goal of the Every Kid in a Park program is to connect fourth 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. The program is an important part of the National Park Service’s centennial celebration in 2016, which encourages everyone to Find Your Park.

Every Kid in a Park is a nation-wide 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, Fish and Wildlife Service, Forest Service, and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.