Here There Everywhere

Yosemite National Park. Photo credit: Giuseppe Milo via Flickr/Creative Commons

Attention all 4th graders! This is your year to visit the National Parks … for free!

It’s part of the U.S. government’s effort to get kids outside and into some of the amazing national parks across the country.

So, with the help of a parent, teacher or adult caregiver, check it out and download your free National Parks pass. You can learn more and redeem your pass at  EveryKidInAPark.gov .

Which of the 58 national parks and other sites to choose from?

You can learn more here:  National Geographic’s easy overall guide . And here: National Park Service .

The idea is that these amazing public lands belong to all of us and are like living classrooms.

And there’s something for everyone between wildlife , forests , coral reefs , sand dunes , mountains , glaciers , caves , arches , volcanoes and history  — all in our country! And that’s just a glimpse.

Sequoia National Park in California has the largest single living tree in the world, called General Sherman.

General Sherman tree at Sequoia National Park. Photo credit: NightRyder84 via Wikimedia/CC

The highest point in North America is Denali (formerly known as Mt. McKinley, President Obama recently renamed it). It’s in Denali National Park and Preserve in Alaska and is 20, 237 feet tall!

Denali. Highest point in North America. Photo credit: National Park Service/Public Domain

California and Alaska are the states with the most national parks – both have eight each.

Two national parks are above the Arctic Circle ( this one  and this one ) … and one below the equator !

The most famous national park is probably the Grand Canyon in Arizona. But the most visited one is Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina and Tennessee.

Grand Canyon. Photo credit: World Wide Gifts via Wikimedia Commons

Yellowstone was the first national park, designated as one in 1872. After more parks were added, the National Parks system was created in 1916.

It’s been called “America’s best idea.” The nearly 70 million visitors to the parks last year might agree!

Here is President Obama’s announcement about it earlier this year:

Documentary film maker Ken Burns made a documentary about the National Parks as well.

And here are some educational resources about the National Parks from the National Parks Education and Outreach section of their website.  And a great guide about Yosemite from LiveOnceLiveWild.com.

Hopefully there’s a park near you. And it might be fun even if you’re not in 4th grade 🙂

Which park would you want to visit?