Fourth graders have a magic power that not enough people know about: They can get their family into national parks for free with the National Parks Service’s Every Kid Outdoors program (which I write about in enthusiastic detail in this article for our sister site FamilyVacationist). And I just learned they have a second super power that’s specific to the State of California: They can get a State Park Adventure Pass, which gets them (and their families) into state parks for free.
I just went through the sign-up process so thought I’d share a bit about it in case you have (or will soon have) a California fourth grader. The Adventure Pass gets your student plus up to three adults and “other kids” (seems like there’s not a specific limit on the number of kids) into 54 of the 280 state parks. Like the National Parks Pass, the period of validity is from September 1 of your kid’s fourth grade year through August 31 the summer after their fourth grade year.
To get the pass, you’ll need to either log in or set up an ReserveCalifornia account–this is the system you would use to reserve a campsite, book a tour or activity through a state park, or book Hearst Castle tickets. Once your account is set up, you request the pass, put it in your cart, and check out for free. The pass is then sent to your house.
Passes are available only to kids who are California residents, and who are either in fourth grade or fourth grade equivalent.
Not to play favorites here, but these are a few of the parks I’m most excited to visit with my fourth grader:
- Samuel P. Taylor: Redwood forests blanketed in ferns and threaded with streams, Samuel P. Taylor is, in my opinion, West Marin’s best hidden gem.
- Sacramento State Railroad Museum: This excellent museum in the heart of Old Sacramento is a big draw for train enthusiasts, which in my experience includes everyone from toddlers to seniors.
- Anza-Borrego Desert State Park: The more I visit California’s deserts, the more I want to visit more California deserts. Stop by a visitor center and chat with a ranger before you check out the park and you’ll see 10 times more than you would have without the additional info.
