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The National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management are proud to help launch the Every Kid in a Park program, as part of President Obama's commitment to protect our nation's unique outdoor spaces and ensure that every American has the opportunity to visit and enjoy them.

Fourth graders nationwide can now visit the new Every Kid in a Park website to obtain a pass that provides free access to students and their families to all federally managed lands and waters--including national parks, forests, wildlife refuges and marine sanctuaries. The pass is valid for the 2015-2016 school year and grants free entry for fourth graders and three accompanying adults (or an entire car for drive-in parks) at more than 2,000 federally-managed sites.

"I encourage all 4th graders and their families to hike, fish, swim, and camp on their Bureau of Land Management (BLM) public lands," said BLM Director, Neil Kornze." The BLM manages more recreational opportunities than any other agency, and the Every Kid in a Park program gives young people a chance to get to know how much these lands have to offer."

“There's a lot to discover here, and we're excited to welcome fourth graders and their families to Wyoming public lands throughout the school year. We hope that our young visitors have fun in the great outdoors and develop a lifelong connection to our land, water and wildlife. We want them to be a key part of our next 100 years," said John Keck, National Park Service Wyoming-Montana State Coordinator.

The Wyoming Department of Education also supports the new program.

"This is a tremendous platform for children to have a hands-on learning experience outside the classroom," said Superintendent of Public Instruction Jillian Balow. "My son is in fourth grade and I'm excited for him to discover the wonders of the Cowboy State. We all want kids growing up in Wyoming to be proud of their home state, and the more they can explore Wyoming, the more they will love it."

Leading up to the 100th birthday of the National Park Service in 2016, President Obama launched the Every Kid in a Park initiative earlier this year as a call to action to get all children to experience America's unparalleled outdoors, rich history and culture. Today, more than 80 percent of American families live in urban areas, and many lack easy access to safe outdoor spaces. At the same time, youth spend more hours than ever in front of screens instead of outside.

Fourth graders can log onto the website at www.everykidinapark.gov and complete a fun educational activity in order to obtain and print their pass. Students can also trade in their paper pass for a more durable pass at participating federal sites nationwide. Educators and community leaders can access educational activities, field trip options, and the ability to print passes for their classrooms. Parents visiting the new website can find additional links for more information on planning trips to nearby public lands.

By introducing fourth graders to public lands in their backyards and beyond at an early age, Every Kid in a Park is a crucial component of a multi-pronged approach to inspire the next generation to discover all that our nation's public lands and waters have to offer, including opportunities to be active, spend time with friends and family, and serve as living classrooms to build critical skills.

The Every Kid in a Park program is an Administration-wide effort administered in partnership with the Department of the Interior, the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Education, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

The Every Kid in a Park program is designed to continue each year with the then-current group of fourth graders. After twelve years, every school-age child in America will have had an opportunity to visit their public land and waters for free, inspiring the next generation to be stewards of our nation's shared natural and cultural heritage. For more information, please visit www.everykidinapark.gov, and follow the program on Twitter @everykidinapark, on Facebook, on Instagram and Youtube.