Every Kid in a Park

Every Kid in a Park
18F · Public domain · source
Name	Every Kid in a Park
Established	2015
Founder	Barack Obama, United States Department of the Interior
Type	Free access program

Contents

Every Kid in a Park Every Kid in a Park is a United States federal initiative created to provide free access to National Park Service lands and waters for fourth-grade students and their families. Announced by Barack Obama and administered by the United States Department of the Interior, the program links National Parks of the United States, National Forests of the United States, National Wildlife Refuge System, and National Marine Sanctuaries to K–12 outreach. The initiative intersects with No Child Left Inside Act, Every Student Succeeds Act, Let’s Move! and other youth-focused federal efforts.

Overview

The program issues free annual passes to fourth-grade students that admit the holder and accompanying passengers in a private vehicle to participating sites like Yellowstone National Park, Grand Canyon National Park, Yosemite National Park, Statue of Liberty National Monument, Ellis Island, and Denali National Park and Preserve. Administratively tied to the National Park Service and the United States Forest Service, the pass is accepted at locations managed by entities such as the Bureau of Land Management, United States Fish and Wildlife Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and National Park Foundation. Outreach materials have been developed in collaboration with organizations including National Wildlife Federation, Sierra Club, The Nature Conservancy, Boy Scouts of America, and Girl Scouts of the USA.

The initiative was unveiled during the Obama administration with a public announcement at the White House and policy framing by the United States Department of the Interior and then-Secretary Sally Jewell. Early pilots drew on existing public lands access models from the Yellowstone National Park entrance fee structure and the America the Beautiful Pass program. Partnering discussions involved stakeholders from the National Park Service, National Parks Conservation Association, Outdoor Industry Association, and foundations such as the National Geographic Society. Congressional dialogue with members of the United States House Committee on Natural Resources and the United States Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources shaped statutory and appropriations considerations. Subsequent implementation under the Trump administration and the Biden administration produced adjustments to outreach, distribution, and online registration processes.

Eligibility centers on fourth-grade students enrolled in United States public schools, private schools, tribal schools, and homeschooled cohorts across states and territories, with passes valid through August of the following school year. The pass model parallels fee-waiver systems used by American Battlefield Protection Program partners and the Interagency Pass family, and is coordinated with entrance management at sites like Mount Rushmore National Memorial, Blue Ridge Parkway, and Appalachian National Scenic Trail. Distribution channels include school-based registration, direct issuance at visitor centers, and partnerships with nonprofits such as Boys & Girls Clubs of America and Teach For America. The program recognizes tribal sovereignty through consultation with organizations like the National Congress of American Indians and engages federal agencies including the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

Outreach strategies leverage alliances with the National Park Foundation, National Geographic Society, REI, Patagonia (company), Outward Bound USA, and environmental education groups such as NatureBridge and Earthwatch Institute. Media partnerships have involved PBS, National Public Radio, The New York Times, and youth-oriented outlets like Teen Vogue to promote registration and field trips. Educational content integrates curricula connections to standards referenced by the National Science Teachers Association and resources from the Smithsonian Institution and Library of Congress. Corporate sponsorships and philanthropic support have included the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, Ford Foundation, and Kellogg Foundation.

Evaluation efforts have been conducted by research institutions including Columbia University Teachers College, Harvard Graduate School of Education, University of California, Berkeley, and think tanks such as the Brookings Institution and the Rand Corporation. Studies examined metrics tied to visitation at Denali National Park and Preserve, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Zion National Park, and coastal sites within the National Marine Sanctuary System, assessing changes in family visitation rates, outdoor recreation participation, and education outcomes. Early reports indicated increased access for fourth-grade cohorts and rises in first-time visits documented at Yellowstone National Park and Grand Canyon National Park, while longitudinal research connected experiential learning to civic stewardship models referenced by Urban Institute and Resources for the Future.

Critiques from organizations such as the National Parks Conservation Association, Environmental Defense Fund, Center for American Progress, and advocacy groups representing rural and indigenous communities have highlighted limitations in reach, digital access barriers, and administrative capacity at high-traffic sites like Yosemite National Park and Grand Canyon National Park. Issues raised include disparities identified by studies from Pew Research Center and Brookings Institution on rural broadband affecting online registration, logistical strains on visitor facilities explored by the National Park Service and United States Forest Service, and funding sustainability debated in hearings before the United States House Committee on Appropriations and United States Senate Committee on Appropriations. Proposals to expand eligibility, improve tribal consultation with the National Congress of American Indians, and coordinate with federal education initiatives such as the Every Student Succeeds Act remain part of ongoing policy discussions.

Category:United States federal programs