• Everyday
    • Education
    • Neighborhood Notes
  • Sports
  • Food & Art
    • Artist Profiles
    • Food Shopping
    • Local Farmers
    • Music
    • Restaurants
  • Community Channels
    • Around the House
      • Home Inspection Services
      • Insurance
        • Insurance Agent – Melanie Bakala
      • Real Estate Agents in Thurston County Covering Olympia Lacey Tumwater Yelm and beyond
    • Business Networking
      • Chamber
        • Chamber of Commerce
      • Economic Development Council
      • Rotary
        • Gateway Rotary
    • Community Talker
      • Instagram Article Feed
    • Health and Wellness
      • Hospital + Medical Center
      • Physical Therapy
    • Media Partners
      • Thurston Community Media
      • NorthAmericaTalk
    • Mentoring (Big Brothers Big Sisters)
    • Movies
    • Olympia Farmers Market
    • City, County and Government Information
      • People in Public Service
      • City of Lacey, Washington
      • City of Olympia, Washington
      • City of Tumwater, Washington
      • City of Yelm, Washington
      • City, County and Port Meetings
      • Port of Olympia
      • Thurston County Washington
    • Senior Life
      • Cemetery Products
      • In-Home Care
      • Senior Services for South Sound
    • Services
      • Auto Repair
      • Pet Emergency
    • South Puget Sound Community College
    • Timberland Regional Library
  • Featured Businesses
    • Around The House
    • Health Care
    • Local Retail Shops
    • Services
    • Women in Business
  • History
  • Photos
    • Community Events
    • Local Attractions
    • Sporting Events
  • Non-Profits
  • LocalTalk
  • Activities
    • Dogs & Pets
    • Family & Kids
    • Indoor
    • Outdoor
    • Gardening
    • Outdoor Recreation
    • Biking
    • Camping
    • Hiking
    • Running
    • Parks and Beaches
    • Thrifty Thurston
  • Events
    • Calendar
    • Post an Event
  • Calendar
  • Travel
    • Day Trips
    • Overnight Trips
Search
Friday, March 24, 2023
  • About
    • Story
    • Team
    • Company News
    • Contact
    • Terms of Use
  • Advertise
    • How our Olympia advertising works
    • Launch a Campaign
    • Grow your Audience
    • Measure the Results
    • Company News
    • Contact
  • Events
    • Community Calendar
    • Articles
    • List an Event
  • I5 Traffic Cameras
ThurstonTalk
  • Everyday
    • AllEducationNeighborhood Notes
      green spaces along the roads in Jubilee

      Getting Outdoors and Living in Hawks Prairie

      Pacific ninebark flower close-up

      SW Washington Native Plants to Add to Your Garden

      The Thurston County Developmental Disabilities Coalition booth with people at it at the Yelm Community Resources Fair

      Yelm Community Schools Breaks Barriers and Promotes Access to Essential Services…

      Margaret McKenny, left, is shown during a radio broadcast, black and white photo

      Olympia and Tumwater School Names are a Nod to Thurston County…

  • Sports
  • Food & Art
    • AllArtist ProfilesFood ShoppingLocal FarmersMusicRestaurants
      prosciutto on a white tray

      Find the Perfect Balance of Healthy and Delicious with Catering and…

      close up of a white and pink zinnia with a purple center

      Conversation with an Olympia Artist: Back to Forest Photography

      The Beauties of Bourbon Revealed at Cynara Restaurant & Lounge

      Headless Mumby owner Alex Maffeo and his daughter standing in the distillery

      Lagers are for Lovers: Olympia’s Headless Mumby Brewing Serves Up Lagers,…

  • Community Channels
    • Around the House
      • Home Inspection Services
      • Insurance
        • Insurance Agent – Melanie Bakala
      • Real Estate Agents in Thurston County Covering Olympia Lacey Tumwater Yelm and beyond
    • Business Networking
      • Chamber
        • Chamber of Commerce
      • Economic Development Council
      • Rotary
        • Gateway Rotary
    • Community Talker
      • Instagram Article Feed
    • Health and Wellness
      • Hospital + Medical Center
      • Physical Therapy
    • Media Partners
      • Thurston Community Media
      • NorthAmericaTalk
    • Mentoring (Big Brothers Big Sisters)
    • Movies
    • Olympia Farmers Market
    • City, County and Government Information
      • People in Public Service
      • City of Lacey, Washington
      • City of Olympia, Washington
      • City of Tumwater, Washington
      • City of Yelm, Washington
      • City, County and Port Meetings
      • Port of Olympia
      • Thurston County Washington
    • Senior Life
      • Cemetery Products
      • In-Home Care
      • Senior Services for South Sound
    • Services
      • Auto Repair
      • Pet Emergency
    • South Puget Sound Community College
    • Timberland Regional Library
  • Featured Businesses
    • AllAround The HouseHealth CareLocal Retail ShopsServicesWomen in Business
      young child with noise-canceling headphones on in a public place

      Keeping Spring Break Fun for Everyone with Sensory Tool House

      A person inserting a Fast Fuel member card into the pump

      Fill ‘Er Up at Fast Fuel in Downtown Olympia and on…

      group of photo of women who work at Olympia Federal Savings

      Celebrating Women’s History Month with OlyFed

      Patient Describes Lung Cancer Journey as ‘Easy’ Thanks to Providence’s Multidisciplinary…

  • History
    • Margaret McKenny, left, is shown during a radio broadcast, black and white photo

      Olympia and Tumwater School Names are a Nod to Thurston County…

      Historic postcard in shades of green with a couple in a mule care with the words, 'A bit of o'blarney. St. Patrick's Day in the Morning.'

      Olympia History: Celebrating St. Patrick’s Day at the Turn of the…

      Olympia’s Great Depression Resort: Palm Grove Mini-Golf

      black and white photo of Odd Fellows Hall in Olympia

      Olympia’s Black History: The Life of William Williams

      KGY radio building on Port of Olympia Property in 1975

      Home is Where You Hang Your Hat: Beloved Radio Station KGY…

  • Photos
    • AllCommunity EventsLocal AttractionsSporting Events
      capital city pride

      Thousands Gather in Olympia to Celebrate Capital City Pride 2018

      procession species olympia

      Luminary Procession 2018: Lighting Up the Rainy Night in Downtown Olympia

      snowy winter scene

      ThurstonTalk Readers Capture Christmas Snow

      Twinklefest 2017

      Twinklefest 2017 Window Displays

  • Non-Profits
    • man saluting next to the Gold Star Families Memorial

      Woody Williams Foundation, Local Leaders and Gold Star Familiesto Unveil Lacey…

      Dolly Parton sharing a book with three kids

      Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library Comes to Thurston and Mason Counties Thanks…

      a bunch of Thurston County Food Project green bags overflowing with food

      Food, Friends, Fun: Create Heartfelt Connections through the Thurston County Food…

      solar panels on the roof of the Coastal Community Action Program building

      Resilient Growth Keeps Coastal Community Action Program Giving Back

      Mission Nonprofit Spotlight: BrenRose Foundation

  • LocalTalk
    • Washington-Center-Ladies-of-Laughter-show

      CENTER Stage Awards & Gala Will Party Like it’s 1999

      Lacey-Equity-Commission public feedback City-Hall

      Lacey City Council Seeks Historical Commission Member

      Razor clam

      WDFW Approves Razor Clam Digging at Long Beach Beginning Thursday, March…

      Mark Steepy headshot

      Thurston Economic Development Council Welcomes New Board President

      Nathan Miller and Catelin King standing in front of the Pope John Paul HIgh School sign with a crucifix on the wall to the left of Nathan.

      Pope John Paul II High School Seniors Earn $200,000+ Air Force…

  • Activities
    • AllDogs & PetsFamily & KidsIndoorOutdoorGardeningOutdoor RecreationBikingCampingHikingRunningParks and BeachesThrifty Thurston
      young child with noise-canceling headphones on in a public place

      Keeping Spring Break Fun for Everyone with Sensory Tool House

      group of young girls smiling at the camera with an adult woman in the background

      Empowerment 4 Girls Expands Programs in Thurston County

      a rooster on a table with kids and parents around it

      Join Yelm’s First 4-H Club: Nerd Herd

      Steamboat Tennis & Athletic Club exercise room with rows of exercise bikes, ellipticals, treadmills, etc.

      Achieve Health and Wellness at Steamboat Tennis & Athletic Club’s Brand-New…

  • Events
    • man saluting next to the Gold Star Families Memorial

      Woody Williams Foundation, Local Leaders and Gold Star Familiesto Unveil Lacey…

      close up of a pale yellow and pink dahlia flower with a ladybug on it

      Have Gardening, Composting and Recycling Questions? Master Gardeners Have the Answer…

      Spring decor, flowers, Easter bunnies and more on display at a Thriftway store in Olympia

      A Full Spring Calendar at Ralph’s and Bayview Thriftway Stores

      Skerryvore performing on stage

      Scottish Band Skerryvore Is Set To Take the Stage at the…

      Los Lobos band standing in the desert at sunset

      The Washington Center for the Performing Arts Presents Los Lobos with…

    • Calendar
    • Post an Event
  • Calendar
  • Travel
    • Day Trips
    • Overnight Trips
Home Activities Thrifty Thurston – Outdoor Adventure Awaits Using Every Kid in a Park...

Thrifty Thurston – Outdoor Adventure Awaits Using Every Kid in a Park Free Passes

By
Lisa Herrick
olympic national park
The Olympic National Park offers many options to hike and camp along the beach or in the temperate rainforest.

Share via:

0 Shares
  • More

We are so fortunate to be surrounded by natural beauty and easily accessible outdoor recreation and parks. Yet just as easy as it might be to enjoy these parks, it seems equally as easy to not take advantage of their proximity and pleasure. Sometimes it takes a little nudge to remind us what is in our own backyards.

olympia food co-opThe Every Kid in a Park program has offered encouragement to local families that include a fourth grade student. Every fourth grader is eligible to receive a free pass to visit any national park, monument, forest, recreation area, wildlife refuge, or historic site. That means for Thurston County fourth graders free outdoor adventure awaits at nearby Bill Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge, Mount Rainier National Park, Mount Saint Helens National Volcanic Monument, Olympic National Park and more.

Heather Myers, a mother of sixth and fourth grade daughters, was an early adopter of the Every Kid in a Park program. “I heard of this program last summer and quickly started planning park adventures at the start of my daughter’s fourth grade school year. My first thought was how fun for all kinds of families.”

free park pass
Heather, Taylor and Maddie Myers hike the Staircase Trail in the Olympic National Park – an easy and captivating day hike option from Olympia.

“It is an especially encouraging program for those with limited resources or those who might not typically consider excursions to national parks or outdoor activities,” continues Myers. “I did not grow up doing these kind of things so I really want to provide my children with this type of experience, especially since we have so many options close by.”

Already this year the Myers family has used their free passes several times. They have hiked the Staircase trail in the southeast portion of the Olympic National Park, which is an easy and captivating trail close enough to Olympia to make as a nice day hike option. They have toured the Ape Cave in Mount Saint Helens National Volcanic Monument, which is the third longest lava tube in North America. And they have spent the night camping in the scenic lowlands of Mount Rainier National Park.

“We are so close to all of these sites that are truly some of the most remarkable places in our country. Access to them is easy, entrance is free, and they are absolutely breathtaking. It is a great way to get kids active and enjoy the area we live in,” Myers comments.

free parks pass
Keira Watson will be using her Every Kid in a Park free pass to hike the beautiful trails in Mount Rainier National Park with her family.

As further encouragement to use the free passes and learn about our nearby parks, many teachers like Mrs. Rants at Boston Harbor Elementary School (BHES) have cleverly blended classroom instruction with both field trips and Washington State research projects. Thanks to the Every Kid in the Park Transportation Grant Program all BHES fourth graders will be visiting the Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge this spring to learn about the diverse habitat from the meeting of a freshwater river and the saltwater of the Puget Sound.

Several of BHES students, like Kate Herrick and Keira Watson, selected research projects to encourage their families’ use of the free fourth grade pass. While Kate has learned about the three distinct ecosystems of glacier-capped mountains, Pacific Coast and the old growth temperate rain forest within the Olympic National Park from her previous beach camping trips, she has not yet had the opportunity to visit the Mount Saint Helens National Volcanic Monument where she will learn about the volcano’s 1980 eruption.

free park pass
The Every Kid in a Park pass is good for all current fourth graders through August 2016.

Keira has visited Mount Rainier National Park numerous times, which remains one of her favorite places to hike with her family. Mount Rainier is the most glaciated peak in the contiguous United States and offers an abundance of hiking trails, wildflower viewing, and ranger led programs. Keira shares, “I have hiked with my family when there was still snow on the mountain and wildflowers along the trails. The views from the mountain are beautiful. We usually spend the day there and bring a picnic.”

Just like families throughout the country will be visiting the amazing parks in Washington State, the Myers family have designed their summer travels to take advantage of other national parks including five parks in Utah (Zion, Moab, Bryce, Canyon Lands and Arches) and the Grand Canyon where Maddie hopes to horseback ride and Taylor would like to river raft or kayak.

The free pass is valid for current fourth graders through August 2016 and admits all children under age 16 and up to three accompanying adults.

Thrifty Thurston highlights inexpensive family fun in Thurston County. The weekly series focuses on family-friendly activities throughout our community. If you have a suggestion for a post, send us a note at submit@thurstontalk.com. For more events and to learn what’s happening in Olympia and the surrounding area, visit our complete event calendar.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Share via:

0 Shares
  • More
Previous articleWelcome to Forrey’s Forza, Home of TC Pies
Next articleGirls High School Lacrosse Arrives in Thurston County
Lisa Herrick

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR

young child with noise-canceling headphones on in a public place

Keeping Spring Break Fun for Everyone with Sensory Tool House

group of young girls smiling at the camera with an adult woman in the background

Empowerment 4 Girls Expands Programs in Thurston County

a rooster on a table with kids and parents around it

Join Yelm’s First 4-H Club: Nerd Herd

Upcoming Events

Mar
24
Fri
all-day WDFW approves 10 days of coastal... @ Check Website for Open Beaches and Low Tides
WDFW approves 10 days of coastal... @ Check Website for Open Beaches and Low Tides
Mar 24 all-day
WDFW approves 10 days of coastal razor clam digs beginning Friday, March 17, tentative dates announced for April OLYMPIA – Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) shellfish managers today confirmed coastal razor clam digging[...]
7:00 am Annual Nonprofit Leaders Conference @ Ocean Shores Convention Center
Annual Nonprofit Leaders Conference @ Ocean Shores Convention Center
Mar 24 @ 7:00 am – 5:00 pm
Annual Nonprofit Leaders Conference @ Ocean Shores Convention Center
This is a one-day conference for rural and coastal nonprofits that provides information and training on the following topics- • Communications • Diversity, Equity & Inclusion • Finance/Fiscal Management • Nonprofit Management Nuts and Bolts[...]
9:00 am Up in the Air! Spring Break Weeks @ Hands On Children's Museum
Up in the Air! Spring Break Weeks @ Hands On Children's Museum
Mar 24 @ 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Up in the Air! Spring Break Weeks @ Hands On Children's Museum
Pilot Your Spring Break Adventure! Enjoy a spring break packed with awesome activities that launch, fly, and soar up in the air. Pilot a real Huey Helicopter. Make your own wearable wings. Command a mission[...]
10:00 am Tenino Arts Spring Market @ The Kodiak Room
Tenino Arts Spring Market @ The Kodiak Room
Mar 24 @ 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
The Tenino Arts Spring Market will play host to 32 artisan displays offering fine art & handcrafted items in more than 14 fields of creative expression. The venue will feature unique designs in pottery, metal,[...]
10:00 am The Knitting Circle @ Lacey Timberland Library
The Knitting Circle @ Lacey Timberland Library
Mar 24 @ 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
The Knitting Circle @ Lacey Timberland Library | Lacey | Washington | United States
The Knitting Circle meets at Lacey Timberland Library every Friday 10:00 am until noon. The group meets either in the Conference Room or inside the main part of the library on the left side over[...]
View Calendar

Local Community Sponsors

Local Community Sponsors

Business

young child with noise-canceling headphones on in a public place

Keeping Spring Break Fun for Everyone with Sensory Tool House

Spring Break can be a wild and woolly time. Kids are feeling springtime in the air and have an entire week...
A person inserting a Fast Fuel member card into the pump

Fill ‘Er Up at Fast Fuel in Downtown Olympia and on...

group of photo of women who work at Olympia Federal Savings

Celebrating Women’s History Month with OlyFed

Patient Describes Lung Cancer Journey as ‘Easy’ Thanks to Providence’s Multidisciplinary...

Boggs Inspection Services Tech going up into an attic on a drop down ladder

Boggs Inspection Services on How to Spot a Skilled Home Inspector

Trending Now

A person inserting a Fast Fuel member card into the pump

Fill ‘Er Up at Fast Fuel in Downtown Olympia and on...

Spring decor, flowers, Easter bunnies and more on display at a Thriftway store in Olympia

A Full Spring Calendar at Ralph’s and Bayview Thriftway Stores

group of young girls smiling at the camera with an adult woman in the background

Empowerment 4 Girls Expands Programs in Thurston County

Editor Picks

Dolly Parton sharing a book with three kids

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library Comes to Thurston and Mason Counties Thanks...

bag of popcorn sitting on the armrest of a reclining seat at Cinemark Theatres

It’s an Experience: See What You’ve Been Missing at Cinemark Theatres

a bunch of Thurston County Food Project green bags overflowing with food

Food, Friends, Fun: Create Heartfelt Connections through the Thurston County Food...

Recent Posts

  • CENTER Stage Awards & Gala Will Party Like it’s 1999
  • Woody Williams Foundation, Local Leaders and Gold Star Families
    to Unveil Lacey Memorial Monument March 31
  • Keeping Spring Break Fun for Everyone with Sensory Tool House
  • Lacey City Council Seeks Historical Commission Member
  • Have Gardening, Composting and Recycling Questions? Master Gardeners Have the Answer at Capital Mall
ABOUT US
ThurstonTalk is a community social network delivering positive stories about what it’s like to live, work and play in Thurston County Washington, including Olympia, Lacey, Tumwater, Yelm, Tenino and the surrounding area. Advertise with ThurstonTalk. Brand your business and tell your story to your target market.
Contact us: info@thurstontalk.com
FOLLOW US
  • About
    • Story
    • Team
    • Company News
    • Contact
    • Terms of Use
  • Advertise
    • How our Olympia advertising works
    • Launch a Campaign
    • Grow your Audience
    • Measure the Results
    • Company News
    • Contact
  • Events
    • Community Calendar
    • Articles
    • List an Event
  • I5 Traffic Cameras
© ThurstonTalk, Inc.
Share via
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Mix
Email
Print
Copy Link
Powered by Social Snap
Copy link
CopyCopied
Powered by Social Snap
Edit with Live CSS
Save
Write CSS OR LESS and hit save. CTRL + SPACE for auto-complete.