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White House Launches Every Kid in a Park Pass, includes access to Oregon and Washington National Forests
Release Date: Sep 4, 2015
The Obama Administration has formally launched the Every Kid in a Park program. This initiative is part of President Obama’s commitment to protect our nation’s unique outdoor spaces and to ensure that every 4th grader in America has the opportunity to visit and enjoy federal lands and waters.
Starting in September, 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 forests, parks, wildlife refuges and marine sanctuaries. The pass is valid for the 2015-2016 school year 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.
“Every Kid in a Park is a chance for fourth graders from every background to explore the outdoors, especially national forests in Oregon and Washington,” said Jim Peña, Regional Forester, USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Region.
The USDA Forest Service has identified signature Every Kid in A Park sites in Oregon and Washington:
Oregon State:
- Cape Perpetua Visitor Center, Siuslaw National Forest
- Multnomah Falls Recreation Area, Columbia River Gorge NSA
- Discovery Center, Columbia Gorge
- Gold Beach Ranger Station, Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest.
Washington State:
- Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Gifford Pinchot National Forest.
- Johnston Ridge Observatory at Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument.
Though you may not be in close proximity to one of the signature Every Kid in a Park sites, there are many other opportunities to use your pass and experience Federal lands throughout Oregon and Washington. To find a National Forest near you, or any other Federal lands, please visit recreation.gov
Fourth graders can log onto the website at everykidinapark.gov to complete a fun educational activity in order to obtain and print their paper pass. Students may also trade in their paper pass for a more durable pass at participating federal sites nationwide. Educators and community leaders can access educational activities, field trip options, and the ability to print passes for their classrooms. Parents visiting the new website can find additional links for more information on planning trips to nearby public lands.
The Every Kid in a Park program is an Administration-wide effort administered in partnership with the Department of Agriculture, the Department of the Interior, the Department of Education, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
For more information, please visit www.everykidinapark.gov, and follow the program on Twitter @everykidinapark, on Facebook, on Instagram and YouTube.