Every Kid in a Park Free Pass for 4th Graders

Date: September 4, 2015

Every Kid in a Park Logo

Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore 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.

Superintendent Laura Rotegard said, "We hope to open up a world of wonder and magic to fourth graders. There's a lot to explore and discover here at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore and in all of our public lands."

Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore provides special experiences for kids, including a Junior Ranger program, guided hikes, and lighthouse tours.

Leading up to the 100^th 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, including at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore at the Grand Sable Visitor Center near Grand Marais and the Interagency Visitor Center in Munising.

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

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.

Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore is open year round. The Grand Sable Visitor Center is open daily from 9 am to 5 pm through October 11. The Interagency Visitor Center (IVC) is open daily from 9 am to 5 pm through September 30. Beginning October 1, the IVC will be open Monday through Saturday from 9 am to 4:30 pm, except for federal holidays.

For more information, please visit www.everykidinapark.gov, and follow the program on Twitter @everykidinapark, on Facebook, on Instagram and Youtube. For additional information on Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, please visit www.nps.gov/piro.