Submitted by the Olympic National Forest
With the school year starting, the Olympic National Forest reminds all fourth graders and their families to claim their free Every Kid in a Park pass, which allows free entry into all federal parks, forests, and recreation areas.
Fourth graders can print out a paper voucher for free entry into all federal lands by visiting the Every Kid in a Park website at www.everykidinapark.gov. Students and their families can redeem their paper voucher for a card pass at any Olympic National Forest office. The voucher and passes are valid for the entire school year, through August 31, 2017.
If schools would like a Forest Service representative to visit and talk to kids and teachers about the Every Kid in a Park pass and program, please call Paula Jablonski for more information 360-765-2200. Teachers or adults who engage fourth-graders through a youth-serving organization can print paper passes, and find activities and lesson plans here.
Today, kids are spending more hours than ever in front of screens instead of outside. The Every Kid in a Park initiative encourages valuable opportunities to explore, learn, and play in the spectacular places that belong to us all and aims to inspire future generations to serve as stewards of these places.
Research shows that children ages 9-11 are at a unique developmental stage in their learning where they begin to understand how the world around them works in more concrete ways. By targeting fourth graders, the program works to ensure every child in the U.S. has the opportunity to visit and enjoy their public lands by the time he or she is 11 years old. For more information, visit www.everykidinapark.gov.
The Olympic National Forest offers diverse recreation opportunities for everyone. Experience the sounds of rushing rivers, lush rain forests, alpine wildflowers, and views of the Puget Sound from mountain peaks. The adjacent Olympic National Parkalso honors the Every Kid in a Park pass.
