Every Kid in a Park

Every Kid in a Park is a program run by the United States National Park Service in which fourth graders in the country receive free admission to National Parks. The program was created by Barack Obama in 2015 and has been renewed annually every year since.

Every Kid in a Park
OwnerNational Park Service
Created byBarack Obama
RegistrationNone
LaunchedSeptember 1, 2015 (2015-09-01)

Overview

On February 19, 2015, President Obama announced the initiative.[1] The initiative was launched in the fall of 2015 to coincide with the one hundredth anniversary of the National Park Service.[2][3][4] The National Park Service gives all United States students in the fourth grade and their families an annual pass for free admission.[2] Areas of admission include national parks, forests, monuments, and wildlife refuges.[2][5] Around the time of the announcement of the initiative, annual passes to national parks generally cost $80.[6]

Cost coverage for the free passes will come from the National Park Service's $20-million budget for youth engagement programs.[2][7][8] The National Park Foundation and National Park Service will provide transportation grants and educational materials to schools, with a focus on schools that have greater need.[2][3][7] Such transportation grants are part of the National Park Foundation's "Ticket to Ride" program.[3][4] Resources will also be provided to facilitate the location of nearby parks and supporting youth programs.[3][7]

Criticism of the initiative includes concern over a possible increase in National Parks' reliance on Congress.[7] Another concern of the initiative is of its cost, but one source from The Washington Post projects that only $2.3 million in revenue will be lost.[9]

Fourth-graders were specifically chosen for "logistical, educational and instructional reasons", according to a White House official.[10] The National Park Service as well as other public agencies already have fourth grade programs in place.[10] Furthermore, many states within the United States teach state history during fourth grade, so National Park programs are relevant to the grade.[10] Other reasons include ease in coordination of trips by a student's one teacher (rather than multiple teachers, as present in higher grades) and the idea of youth building early connections with nature.[10]

The Every Kid in a Park website everykidinapark.gov was designed and developed by 18F.[11]

The Every Kid in a Park website everykidinapark.org was designed and developed by Sub Rosa.[12]

The John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act, signed in March 2019, included the Every Kid Outdoors Act, which authorized the program for 7 years.

See also

References
  1. McGrady, Vanessa (19 February 2015). "President's 'Every Kid In A Park' Initiative Offers Free Access To Fourth Graders And Their Families". Forbes. Retrieved 21 February 2015.
  2. Korte, Gregory (19 February 2015). "Obama to give free parks admission to fourth graders". USA TODAY. Retrieved 21 February 2015.
  3. Eilperin, Juliet (19 February 2015). "Obama launches 'Every Kid in a Park' initiative". Washington Post. Retrieved 21 February 2015.
  4. Ostfeld, Jackie (20 February 2015). "President Obama to Get Every Kid in a Park". The Huffington Post. Retrieved 21 February 2015.
  5. Tuttle, Brad (February 19, 2015). "Millions of Families Will Soon Get Free Admission at National Parks". Money.com. Archived from the original on August 25, 2020. Retrieved 21 February 2015.
  6. "The National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass Series". nps.gov. The United States National Park Service. Archived from the original on 21 February 2015. Retrieved 21 February 2015.
  7. Maza, Cristina (19 February 2015). "Fourth-graders can visit national parks for free. Will it lure kids outside?". The Christian Science Monitor. Retrieved 21 February 2015.
  8. "Fourth-graders and families to get free access to national parks". Chicago Tribune. 19 February 2015. Retrieved 21 February 2015.
  9. Bump, Philip (23 April 2015). "How much money could President Obama's 'Every Kid in a Park' program cost?". Washington Post. Retrieved 6 May 2015.
  10. Marshall, Serena (19 February 2015). "Why 4th Graders Were Picked For Free National Park Admission". ABC News. Retrieved 21 February 2015.
  11. "Every Kid in a Park". 18F. General Services Administration. Retrieved 2016-05-01.
  12. "FACT SHEET: On Every Kid In a Park Day of Action, White House Announces Commitments to Getting Nearly Half a Million Kids Outside". whitehouse.gov. April 21, 2016. Retrieved September 14, 2016 – via National Archives.

Bibliography
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