Initiative gives fourth-graders chance to visit national parks

Fourth graders and their families will get free admission to National Parks and other federal lands and waters beginning in September under a new initiative announced last month.

President Barack Obama launched the “Every Kid in a Park” initiative to get children to visit federal outdoor spaces, according to a White House release.

The program leads up to the 100th birthday of the National Park Service next year.

The initiative is aimed at inspiring children to discover the federal public lands and waters. It will provide fourth grade students and their families free admission for a full year, starting with the 2015-2016 school year.

Information and resources will be made available for teachers and families to find nearby public lands and waters and to find programs that support youth outings, as well as provide educational programs and tools.

There will also be transportation grants for kids to visit parks, public lands and waters awarded to schools with the most needs.

For more on the “Every Kid in a Park” initiative, click here.

This story was originally published March 3, 2015 at 2:35 PM with the headline "Initiative gives fourth-graders chance to visit national parks."