Beginning in the 2015-16 school year, fourth graders and their families are entitled to free admission to all national parks, federal lands and waters thanks to the new White House youth initiative, Every Kid In A Park. The effort is in anticipation of the 100th birthday of the National Park Service in 2016, and serves as a way to encourage families to get off the couch, go outside and take an interest in nature. Students can sign up online to receive a voucher for free admission.
For more information, visit www.nationalparks.org/ook/ekiap-signup. You can also download National Park Owner’s Guide, Parks For Play: 35 National Park Adventures for Kids of All Ages at the website.
Another program for third and fourth graders is the Ski Free NY program. This program lets students in those grades ski or ride for free at the majority of New York resorts this winter when accompanied by a paying adult. If your child has never skied before, the Learn To Ski or Ride Passport is available for free. Go to the link for the application and the passport will ship late November: www.iskiny.com/files/public/pdf/ISKINY_Free_For_Kids_Passport_Brochure_2015-16.pdf.
