Grandfather and a small girl getting a Christmas tree in forest.

The fourth-grade year is full of special events and opportunities, including the chance to get free admission to national parks and an opportunity to take ownership of the family Christmas tree. Through the “Every Kid Outdoors” program (formerly Every Kid in a Park) fourth graders get free access to hundreds of parks, lands and waters for an entire year just by answering a few questions online.

Started in 2015 as part of the National Park Service centennial celebration, the EKO goal is to give, over time, every child in the United States the opportunity to explore national parks for free. So far, the program is working. The annual report for 2021-2022, cites more than 120,000 free fourth grade passes issued and almost 940,000 vouchers printed between Sept. 1, 2021, and Aug. 31, 2022. The official EKO website says the program focuses on fourth graders because research shows children age 9 to 11 are open to learning about nature and history. In 2022, some of the top visited sites included Ice Age & North Country National Scenic Trails, Zion National Park, Yellowstone National Park, Yosemite National Park and Grand Canyon National Park.

To print a paper pass, fourth graders go to the website www.everykidoutdoors.gov and complete a short story game. After the game, the fourth grader enters their zip code and then is able to print a voucher with a barcode. That voucher provides the student free access to National Park Service sites and, at many, the EKO voucher will also provide passes or discounts for family members. In general, the pass will provide free admission for all children under 16 and up to three adults. Although the paper passes can be used multiple times and at multiple locations, kids are kids. Because paper is easily lost or damaged, the program offers to exchange the paper pass for a plastic one at many sites.

In Oregon, plastic pass can be obtained at dozens of locations, including Crater Lake National Park, and, in Eastern Oregon, at the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center in Baker City; the Dalles Lock and Dam Visitor Center; the Vale District BLM Office; the Umatilla National Forest offices in Pendleton, Heppner, or Ukiah; and Wallowa-Whitman National Forest offices in Enterprise, La Grande and Baker City. Visit everykidoutdoors.gov/exchange.htm?state=OR for a full list of Oregon exchange sites online. (Note that the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center is undergoing a major renovation and exhibits and vouchers are currently at the Baker Heritage Museum, 2480 Grove St., Baker City.) Each pass is good for one school year, and passes claimed for the 2023-2024 season expire Aug. 31, 2024.

Although Every Kid Outdoors passes provide admission for people and vehicles, they do not cover parking fees, camping or special tours. It also does not cover county, city or state parks — unless they specify that they accept the pass. Multiple locations in Oregon accept the pass, including many sites administered by the U.S. Forest Service, Army Corps of Engineers and the Bureau of Land Management. When planning to visit a location, families can call ahead and ask if that location takes the pass.

During the holidays, the EKO pass also provides fourth graders with an extra bonus: a free Christmas tree permit. Every EKO pass/voucher holder is eligible for a free Christmas tree permit through their local National Forest office. Those can be picked up at National Forest offices or obtained online by using the pass/voucher number when applying for a tree permit at the website www.Recreation.gov (a $2.50 reservation fee will be applied using the online service). The tree permit will provide additional information about areas approved for tree cutting and safety requirements or suggestions. Recreation.gov even offers an ornament coloring page specifically designed for the EKO program.

Whether it’s a visit to Mount Rainier National Park or a trip to find the family Christmas tree in the forest, Every Kid Outdoors offers fourth graders and their families a great opportunity to explore the outdoors in an affordable way. To find more information and print a voucher online, visit everykidoutdoors.gov.