Valentine, NE – Niobrara National Scenic River invites all 4th grade students to visit the park as part of the White House’s new Every Kid in a Park program. Starting September 1, 4th grade students can now go to www.everykidinapark.gov to complete an activity and obtain a free annual entry pass to more than 2,000 federal recreation areas, including national parks.
“Every Kid in a Park is a great way for 4th graders to explore national park sites around the country, and we invite every one of them to do so,” said Niobrara NSR Superintendent Steve Thede. “This pass will allow 4th graders and their families to visit Badlands, Yellowstone, and Yosemite National Parks without having to pay an entry fee. No pass is needed at Niobrara NSR. All are invited to come enjoy the river, earn a Junior Ranger badge, and explore Nebraska’s own national treasure.”
The free annual pass is good only for entrance fees; there may be parking, activity, or other fees charged on some federal public lands. The Niobrara NSR never charges an entrance fee, though partners may charge for landings, state park fees, and outfitting fees.
Niobrara NSR offers a variety of activities that fourth graders and their families can enjoy. Pick up a free Junior Ranger activity book, through which children (or the young at heart) may earn a Junior Ranger badge. Next summer, look for ranger-guided canoe floats and Sunday morning Junior Ranger programs.
To receive their free pass for national parks, fourth graders may visit the Every Kid in a Park website and play a game to access their special Every Kid in a Park pass. Fourth graders and their families can then use this pass for free entry national parks and other federal public lands and waters across the country from September 1st, 2015 through August 31, 2016. The website also includes fun and engaging learning activities aligned to educational standards, trip planning tools, safety and packing tips and other important and helpful information for educators and parents.
In addition to providing every fourth grader in America a free entry pass for national parks and federal public lands and waters, fourth grade educators, youth group leaders and their students across the country will also participate in the program through field trips and other learning experiences. Teachers may contact the Niobrara NSR at 402-376-1901 to arrange a ranger-guided field trip to the river.
The goal of the Every Kid in a Park program is to connect 4th graders with the great outdoors and inspire them to become future environmental stewards, ready to preserve and protect national parks and other public lands for years to come. The program is an important part of the National Park Service’s centennial celebration in 2016, which encourages everyone to Find Your Park.
Every Kid in a Park is an administration-wide effort, launched by President Obama, and supported by eight federal agencies, including the National Park Service, the Army Corps of Engineers, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, Department of Education, Fish and Wildlife Service, Forest Service, and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
