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Contact: Jeffrey Gerbic, 530-242-3421 Contact: Visitor Center , 530-246-1225
Whiskeytown, CA – Whiskeytown National Recreation Area invites all 4th 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, 4th grade students can now go to www.everykidinapark.gov to complete an activity and obtain a free annual entry pass to more than 2,000 federal recreation areas, including national park sites.
“Whiskeytown has a long tradition of providing outstanding opportunities for youth to understand, appreciate and enjoy the area’s resources through the Whiskeytown Environmental School and park interpretive programs,” said park superintendent Jim Milestone. “We hope these free passes for fourth graders will encourage all 4th graders, their classes, and families to spend more time playing, exploring and learning at Whiskeytown, and inspire adventures to other recreation areas and park sites.”
In addition to providing every fourth grader in America a free entry pass for national parks and federal public lands and waters, fourth grade educators, youth group leaders and their students across the country will also participate in the program through field trips and other learning experiences.
The fall is the perfect time to bring 4th grade students to Whiskeytown to participate in the park’s popular Gold Rush program. Held in the Tower House Historic District, this two hour educational adventure explores the historical significance of the area and how it relates to the California Gold Rush. Included are a tour of the historic Camden House; a short hike through the woods to a historic gold mine and stamp mill; and an opportunity for students to pan for gold in Clear Creek. The material presented aligns with the California Common Core State Standard for 4th grade history. This year teachers will be encouraged to assist students with obtaining their free passes so they can have follow-up visits to the park with their families. For more information about this program, please contact Park Ranger Jeff Gerbic at 530-242-3421.
As part of the Whiskeytown’s 50th Anniversary celebration, we are also requesting 4th graders (and everyone else too!) to write letters to be placed inside a Children’s Time Capsule to be opened in 2065. We encourage all contributors to include photographs and answer the following questions: “What do you enjoy most about visiting Whiskeytown National Recreation Area?” and, “What are your favorite memories (or stories) of Whiskeytown?” Please clearly sign and print your name and include an email address with your submission. Please send the letters to: Superintendent Jim Milestone, P.O. Box 188, Whiskeytown, CA 96095. For questions about the Children’s Time Capsule, please contact Jim Milestone at 530-242-3460.
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 national parks and other federal public lands and waters across the country from September 1st, 2015 throughAugust 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.
The goal of the Every Kid in a Park program is to connect 4th 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 an administrative-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.
Whiskeytown National Recreation Area
14412 Kennedy Memorial Drive
Whiskeytown, California 96095
Visitor Center: 530-246-1225
Fax: 530-246-5154
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Last updated: September 6, 2015