Every Kid in a Park Pass

Date: September 4, 2015
Contact: Cody Goraczkowski, 507-825-5464

National Park Service News Release

Release Date: September 4, 2015

Contact: Cody Goraczkowski Phone: [phone] Ext. 213 Email: [e-mail]

Pipestone National Monument Launches Every Kid in a Park Pass

Fourth Graders and their Families Eligible for Free Access to Federal Lands and Waters Nationwide

Pipestone, MN:Pipestone National Monument is proud to help launch the Every Kid in a Park program as part of President Obama's commitment to protect our nation's unique outdoor spaces and ensure that every American has the opportunity to visit And enjoy them.

As of September 1,fourth graders nationwide can visit the new Every Kid in a Park website to obtain a pass that provides free access to students and their families to all federally managed lands and waters –including national parks, forests and wildlife refuges. The pass is valid through August 31, 2016 and grants free entry for fourth graders and three accompanying adults (or an entire car for drive-in parks) at more than 2,000 federally-managed sites.

Monument Superintendent Glen Livermont states "There's a lot to discover at the monument, and we're excited to welcome fourth graders and their families to Pipestone National Monument throughout the next year. We hope that our young visitors have fun in the great outdoors and develop a lifelong connection with the monument, and all of nation's land, water, wildlife, and history."

Leading up to the 100th birthday of the National Park Service in 2016, President Obama launched the Every Kid in a Park initiative earlier this year as a call to action to get all children to experience America's unparalleled outdoors. Today, more than 80 percent of American families live in urban areas,and many lack easy access to safe outdoor spaces. At the same time, youth spend more hours than ever in front of screens instead of outside.

Fourth graders: log onto the website www.everykidinapark.gov and complete a fun educational activity in order to obtain and print your pass. You can also trade in your paper pass for an official card at participating federal sites nationwide. Sites in the area that issue Every Kid in a Park cards include Pipestone National Monument, to find other sites nearby that issue passes: https:///www.everykidoutdoors.gov/plan-your-trip/pass-exchange/.

Educators and community leaders: use the website to access educational activities, field trip options, and the ability to print passes for your students.

Parents:find additional links for more information on planning trips to nearby public lands on the Every Kid in a Park website.

Every Kid in a Park is designed to inspire the next generation to discover all that our nation's public lands and waters have to offer, including opportunities to be active, spend time with friends and family, serve as living classrooms to build critical skills, and discover our nation's heritage.

The Every Kid in a park program is an Administration-wide effort offered in partnership with the Department of the Interior, the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Education, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Fourth graders can get their official passes at many National Park Service sites as well as lands managed by other federal agencies.

Pipestone National Monument offers a ¾ mile walking path, orientation film, museum, picnic area and a gift shop. As a visitor you will be able to explore American Indian culture and the natural resources of the tallgrass prairie. Established by Congress in 1937 to protect the historic pipestone quarries, the site is considered sacred by many American Indians. Spanning centuries of use, American Indians continue to quarry pipestone at the Monument.

For more information, please visit www.everykidinapark.gov, and follow the program on Twitter @everykidinapark, on Facebook, onI nstagram and Youtube. For additional information on Pipestone National Monument, please visit www.nps.gov/pipe.

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