Every Kid Outdoors – Free 4th Grade Park Pass
Our family loves to visit parks – we love hiking, biking, picnicking, kayaking, exploring different terrain, learning about historical sites… you name it, we are all about it! Plus, with so many amazing parks to visit, we also try to add at least one to any trip we go on. Unfortunately, most parks charge entrance fees (either per head or per car), so if you visit multiple parks on a trip, those fees can add up!
However, when our daughter was in fourth grade, someone told us about the Every Kid Outdoors program. It was created so that fourth graders and their families can get out and explore wildlife, resources, and history for FREE. For all of her fourth-grade year (from August to August), we got free access to hundreds of parks, lands, and waters.
It is such a great way to explore parks close to home OR plan a trip to explore somewhere new. We live in a country with diverse landscapes, opportunities for outdoor adventures, and so many historical sites to visit across every state. In Georgia alone, we have the beautiful, undeveloped beaches of Cumberland Island, Fort Frederica in St Simons, the prehistoric Native American site at Ocmulgee National Monument, and so much more.
Want to zoom further into the Atlanta area? The following Atlanta area sites are covered under the Every Kid Outdoors pass:
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- Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area
- Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park
- Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park
- Jimmy Carter National Historical Park
For more parks, visit the Park Finder website here.
>> Keep scrolling to find out how to get your very own park pass.
How we used the pass!
Just a few years ago, our family made the most of our daughter’s fourth-grade year with a trip to Arizona! We flew in and out of Phoenix, but stayed in Sedona, Page, and Scottsdale over the course of the week.
In Sedona, we hiked, found vortexes, had dinner picnics on top of mountains, and explored ancient ruins via dune buggies amongst the beautiful red rocks.
In Page, we spent time kayaking to the Antelope Slot Canyons, crawling through their crevices, and exploring Horseshoe Bend.
By the time we made it back to Scottsdale, we hung up our hiking shoes and spent time in the cabana by the pool. It was the perfect mixture of family adventures and relaxation… and much cheaper given the fact that we saved on park entrance fees throughout the vacay!
How do you get this pass?
Just visit the Every Kid Outdoors website and click Get Your Pass. You need to print your pass and bring your paper copy with you as electronic copies aren’t accepted. Just show your pass to a ranger when you enter the park. And if there is no ranger, leave the pass on the dashboard of your car. Here are some more tips:
- If you visit a site that charges entrance fees per person— The pass admits all children under 16 and up to three adults for free.
- If your group visits a site that charges vehicle entrance fees – The pass admits all children under 16 and all adults in one passenger vehicle. Commercial vehicles can’t use a pass to get in.
- If you arrive at a site on a bicycle— The pass admits all children under 16 and up to three adults on bicycles.
- The pass doesn’t cover things like parking fees, camping, boats, and special tours. Also, some sites are managed by private operators. They may not honor the pass. Check with the site ahead of time to find out.
- The pass doesn’t cover fees for local, city, or state parks and recreation areas unless they say that they accept this pass.
- Paper passes can be exchanged for plastic passes at certain sites.
Interested in learning more about the Georgia State Parks? Check out our State Park Guide with an amazing printable.
