HVNP Participates in ‘Every Kid in a Park’ Program

Fourth grade students across the country who participate in the White House’s new Every Kid in a Park program could earn a free annual pass to more than 2,000 federal recreation areas across the country, include national parks.

Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park is inviting students to complete the activities at the Every Kid in a Park website to obtain the free pass and visit HVNP.

“Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park has a long tradition of connecting keiki and classrooms to the volcanoes, Hawaiian culture, and native plants and animals in their backyard,” said park Superintendent Cindy Orlando. “Now we can expand the invitation by offering free entry to local and national fourth graders and their families for free, and connect the next generation of park visitors, supporters, and advocates to the park as we enter our 100^th year.”

Among the activities that children visiting HVNP can participate in are the Junior Ranger programs, where they could earn a Junior Ranger badge, and ranger-guided programs.

Obtaining a free pass for fourth graders can be done online by visiting the Every Kid in a Park website. There, children can play a game to access their pass. The pass should be brought to the front gate, where they can use the pass for free entry to national parks and other federal public lands and waters, not only on the Big Island or in Hawai’i, but also across the country between Sept. 1 and Aug. 31, 2016.

While on the website, children can explore learning activities that have been aligned with education standards, as well as access trip-planning tools, safety and packing tips, and other information.

In addition to individual entry, HVNP will provide fourth grade groups and students the opportunity to participate in the Every Kid in a Park campaign through field trips and other learning experiences throughout the year.

The program, launched by President Obama and supported by eight federal agencies, aims to connect fourth graders with the outdoors, and inspire them to become future environmental stewards, ready to preserve and protect national parks and other public lands for years to come.