Trump Admin Gives Kids Outdoors Deal

While at Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge, U.S. Secretary of the Interior David L. Bernhardt signed a Secretary’s Order that waives entrance fees to national parks, wildlife refuges, and other public lands and waters managed by the Trump Administration’s Department of the Interior for 5th-grade students and their families from now until Aug. 31, 2021.

Secretary Bernhardt’s actions ensure that American 5th-grade students who may have been unable to make full use of the Every Kid Outdoors Annual 4th Grade Pass during the 2019-2020 academic year due to the COVID-19 pandemic will have free access to national parks and other federal lands managed by the Department during this academic year.

“The Trump Administration has made expanding public access to America’s national parks and public lands a top priority, especially during this year’s pandemic,” said Secretary Bernhardt. “Programming was limited at times for last year’s fourth-graders through the Every Kid Outdoors program, so we’re allowing this year’s 5th graders free access to our public lands throughout the 2020-2021 academic year. We hope these kids and their families take advantage of the incredible physical and mental benefits of getting outside and visiting a park, refuge, or campground near them.”

“Providing the American people with access to their public lands has been a top priority of the Trump Administration and Secretary Bernhardt, who continue to bolster the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s effort,” said Service Director Aurelia Skipwith. “National wildlife refuges offer people and families spaces to gather and enjoy the outdoors while benefiting wildlife, local watersheds, and ecosystems. Through refuges, youth can discover the thrill of learning a new outdoor skill, such as hunting, fishing, or birding that will create memories for the rest of their lives.”

A majority of Interior-managed lands remained accessible to the public at the onset of the pandemic to serve as places of respite and rejuvenation and allow for social distancing. Services were limited for visitors, in particular impacting the Every Kid Outdoors Program. Nearly all units and locations are currently accessible with many having restored services for the public to enjoy following proper public health and safety guidelines.

Families and students can download their 5th grade passes online at www.nps.gov/kids.

Source: U.S. Dept. of the Interior