If you have a child in the 4th grade (or homeschool equivalent), your family can explore America’s natural wonders for free! The Every Kid Outdoors program provides 4th graders with a pass that grants free access to hundreds of national parks, forests, and wildlife refuges across the country.
How to Get Your Pass
Getting your pass is quick and easy. Just follow these steps:
- Visit the Website: Head to the official Every Kid Outdoors page.
- Verify Eligibility: Select the option for 4th graders and click “Play.”
- Complete the Activity: Follow the prompts to answer a few educational questions about the outdoors.
- Download & Print: Once finished, enter your zip code and click “Get My Pass.”
- Exchange for a Card: Take your printed paper voucher to any National Park entrance. A ranger will exchange it for a durable plastic annual pass!
Important Details to Know
- Validity: For the current school year, the pass is valid through August 31, 2026.
- Who is Covered: The pass admits the 4th grader and all children under 16, plus up to three adults in a single private vehicle.
- Must be Present: Your 4th grader must be physically present both to exchange the voucher and every time you use the pass for entry.
- Paper Only: Most parks cannot accept digital copies on a phone; you must bring the physical printout.
Utah Adventures
This pass is a perfect excuse to visit Utah’s “Mighty 5” (Arches, Bryce Canyon, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, and Zion). It also covers fee-based National Monuments like Golden Spike and Dinosaur National Monument.
Make sure to visit this post here for the list of 2026 FREE Park Days and America 250 Events
This is great, thanks! Is there a list of Utah parks that you can go to with this?
Hi Emily, the 5 Utah National Parks are Arches, Bryce Canyon, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef and Zions. However, the pass should also work for National Monuments that have a fee such as Golden Spike and Dinosaur National Momument. Hope that helps!