ATTENTION Tucson 4th Graders!
Did you know you can get a FREE National Parks pass so that you and your whole family can visit hundreds of parks, lands, and waters across the USA?
It’s true! Fourth graders can get their very own pass, thanks to the government’s Every Kid in A Park program (established by President Obama in 2016).
The pass is good at national parks and monuments all over the United States (summer road trip?! Yay!)…but Arizona is a great place to start exploring.
In Arizona, the pass will grant you admittance to:
- Canyon de Chelly National Monument – Chinle, AZ
- Casa Grande Ruins National Monument – Casa Grande, AZ
- Chiricahua National Monument National Monument – Willcox, AZ
- Dankworth Village – Safford, AZ
- Glen Canyon National Recreation Area – Page, AZ
- Grand Canyon National Park – Grand Canyon, AZ
- Sabino Canyon Recreation Area and Visitor Center – Tucson, AZ
- Saguaro National Park – Tucson, AZ
- Serna Cabin and Bonita Creek Watchable Wildlife Area – Safford, AZ
If traveling won’t work for your family this year due to schedule or budget constraints, you can still go on (free!) adventures right here in Tucson at Saguaro National Park and Sabino Canyon.
To obtain the pass, fourth grade students can visit the Every Kid in A Park website, participate in an educational activity, and then download a paper pass to print and bring with them to any included public lands. At certain participating sites, fourth graders can exchange the paper pass for a durable plastic Interagency Annual 4th Grade Pass. Please note that fourth graders must be present for free entry into parks and to exchange the paper pass for a plastic pass. The fourth grader can use either the paper pass or the durable pass for fee-free entry for them and their family.
The Every Kid in a Park pass admits the fourth grader and any accompanying passengers in a private, non-commercial vehicle at per vehicle fee areas, or the pass owner and up to three accompanying adults at sites that charge per person. The pass grants access to all federal lands and waters.
Official Rules
- The pass is for U.S. fourth-grade (or home-school equivalent) students.
- The pass is for the 2018 to 2019 school year. It expires August 31, 2019.
- Students can’t transfer the pass to anyone else.
- No refunds are given for previously purchased passes, or if you forget your pass when you visit.
- If you lose your pass, get a new one by visiting the website and signing up again.
- Educators can get one paper pass for each of their fourth-grade students.
- This program only provides passes for fourth graders.
- Students who will be fourth graders in the upcoming school year can obtain their passes starting each September.
How It Works
- Show your pass to a ranger when you enter. If there is no ranger, leave it on the dashboard of your car.
- 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 up to one passenger vehicle. Commercial vehicles can’t use a pass to get in.
- If you arrive at a site on 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.
Have fun as you explore the great outdoors, discover science, and spend time with family & friends.