WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama wants more Americans to get out and enjoy the nation’s parks so during this school year all fourth graders across the country plus their families will be able to visit any national park for free.
On Tuesday morning, at the Rock Creek Park Nature Center, a national park that meanders through the District, a celebration was held to promote the White House’s “Every Kid in A Park” initiative.
Christy Goldfuss, managing director of the White House Council on Environmental Quality, spoke to more than 100 fourth graders, including some students from Elsie Whitlow Stokes Community Freedom Public Charter School in Northeast, about their free passes, which can be used at any national park, national forest or wildlife refuge.
Goldfuss challenged the students to use the passes as much as possible.
Eden Jackson, a fourth grade student at Elise Whitlow Stokes, says she’s never visited Rock Creek Park before. She was excited about going on a nature walk and getting to pet Max the pony.
“It was like petting my pet, my dog but bigger,” Eden said to describe petting the pony.
The passes are good until Aug. 31, 2016.
For more information and to get your “Every Kid In A Park” pass head to everykidinapark.gov.
All 4th graders & their families get free #EveryKidInAPark passes giving them free access to Nat'l parks. @wtop pic.twitter.com/f5T9KL3WkK
— Kathy Stewart (@KStewartWTOP) September 15, 2015
