Explore National Parks For Free This Fall

This fall, enjoy a free family outing to a national park! Earlier this month, the Obama Administration launched the Every Kid in a Park program–which provides free admission for fourth graders and their families–for the 2015-2016 school year to ensure families will visit federally managed public green spaces. This includes national parks, forests, wildlife refuges and marine sanctuaries.

The Every Kid in a Park pass is available to fourth graders all over the country. In order to obtain the pass, students must log onto the Every Kid in a Park website, complete an educational activity on the site and, upon completion, print his or her paper pass. The pass is valid for the 2015-2016 school year and allows fourth graders and three adults free access to federally managed parks. For drive-in parks, an entire car can get in free.

The new program is a precedent to the 100th birthday of the National Park Service next year on August 25, 2016. The administration hopes that by the celebration, families will have established a park to participate in the National Park Service’s birthday festivities.

The Every Kid in a Park program only applies to fourth grade students. At the end of the school year, the pass will be available to the up-and-coming group of fourth graders. Each pass has a unique code, preventing duplicates. Educators and parents can also visit the program’s website to obtain passes for their class or plan a trip. )

For families looking to take advantage of the program in New York City, we’ve rounded up a few of our top park picks in the NYC area:

African Burial Ground: Freed and enslaved Africans were buried in this 6.6 acre-burial ground from the late 1600s through 1794. The nation’s earliest known African and African-American cemetery, the African Burial Ground was lost to history and development and discovered in 1991  during the construction for the Ted Weiss Federal Building and became a national monument in 2006. 290 Broadway, Manhattan, NY, nps.gov

Castle Clinton National Monument: Explore the fort built protect New York City from the British invasion of 1812. Families can learn about the history of the fort and view some massive buildings. Battery Park, Manhattan, nps.gov

Ellis Island National Monument: Discover your family’s lineage, or discover the stories of the more than 12 million immigrants who passed through Ellis Island. The nation’s primary federal immigration station from 1892 to 1954  now houses a museum on the history of immigration. nps.gov

Gateway National Recreation Area: Active families can easily visit this park that stretches through three New York City boroughs. There’s an abundance of activities–from fishing to biking–and families can also explore a wildlife refuge. Various locations, nps.gov

Hamilton Grange: Take your family back in time by visiting founding father and Broadway muse Alexander Hamilton’s estate in Manhattan. The house has been renovated and relocated, but still captures the essence of Hamilton’s 1802 Harlem estate, where he spent the last two years of his life. 414 W 141^st Street, Manhattan, NY, nps.gov

To learn more about the Every Kid in a Park Program, visit everykidinapark.gov!