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Explore National Parks this Summer with 'Every Kid in a Park' & Amtrak

By Melissa Alcorn July 12, 2016
Do you have a fourth grader in your family? Thanks to the Every Kid in a Park initiative, 4th graders and their families receive complimentary admission to any of our country's national parks before August 31.

"By connecting fourth graders to our nation's great parks and public lands, the Every Kid in a Park initiative will help us build a strong generation of stewards who will care for and protect these treasured places during our next 100 years," said National Park Service Director Jonathan B. Jarvis. "Thanks to our philanthropic partner, the National Park Foundation, fourth graders across the nation will experience the great outdoor and historic classrooms that parks and other public lands provide."

To make it easier for families to take advantage of Every Kid in a Park, the National Park Service has teamed up with Amtrak. With convenient connections to more than 260 national park lands, monuments and historic sites, America's Railroad® is a great way to see America's natural beauty. 

“A train ride does more than just transport people from point A to point B; it affords customers time to reconnect,” said Amtrak President & CEO Joe Boardman. “Whether that’s a card game, a meal together in the dining or café car, or a quiet moment enjoying the beautiful scenery out the window, Amtrak is the smarter way for America’s families to travel to our national parks, giving them a chance to spend time together in a way they might not in a car or on an airplane.”

As part of the National Park Service’s 100th Anniversary celebration, Amtrak is offering a 75% discount to fourth graders, with the purchase of one adult ticket, to promote family travel to national parks through August 31. Youth age 13-25 can also take advantage of a 15% student discount.

Ready to plan your trip? Click HERE to download your National Park Pass and HERE to see Amtrak schedules and fare information.