By Shelby Danley
Calling all families of fourth graders! California State Parks, in partnership with the First Partner’s Office and the Natural Resources Agency, is offering a free resource to California public school fourth-grade students that grants access to 54 beautiful parks across the state! With California’s diverse landscapes, this pass gives students and their families the opportunity to explore a variety of environments, including rivers, mountains, coasts, forests, and more.
The California State Park Adventure Pass is a 3-year pilot program designed to help students gain access to the historical, natural, and cultural resources found throughout the state — opportunities they might not typically have. Applying is simple and can be done on the California State Parks website or over the phone. Once received, the pass waives day-use fees for the students and their families and is valid for the child’s entire fourth-grade year.
The California State Parks site page titled “About The California State Park Adventure Pass” shares that “studies from the Children and Nature Organization indicate that access to parks and greenspace can lead to improvements in children’s physical well-being, social-emotional learning, and academic outcomes, with children experiencing reduced stress and demonstrating more enthusiasm for school.”By making state parks more accessible, the Adventure Pass program is an investment in the health, education, and overall well-being of California’s children. Don’t miss out on the chance to embark on new adventures and create lasting memories as a family! To read more about the Adventure Pass, its terms, the included parks, and how to apply, visit www.parks.ca.gov/AdventurePass.
