National Park Access Bill Shifts Free Pass from Fourth to Fifth Grade; Authorizes $25M Annually

The newly proposed Every Kid Outdoors Reauthorization Act is about keeping a popular program running, but with a few key tweaks. This bill reauthorizes the Every Kid Outdoors program, which grants free annual passes to national parks and federal recreation sites. Crucially, it changes the eligibility requirements: the free pass will now be specifically for fifth graders or home-schooled learners who are 10 or 11 years old. This is a noticeable shift from the previous focus on fourth graders, meaning parents need to pay attention to when their child qualifies for this benefit.

The Eligibility Switch: Who Gets the Pass Now?

If you’ve been planning your family’s national park trip around the free pass, mark your calendar for a different school year. The bill, in Section 2, changes the eligible student from a fourth grader to a fifth grader. While this might seem like a minor change, it means that the current cohort of fourth graders who might have expected the pass next year will be excluded, as the benefit shifts to the next age bracket. For parents, this means waiting one extra year, but it keeps the program focused on a specific age group—a smart way to manage the program’s scope while ensuring a new group gets access every year.

Securing the Budget for Outdoor Equity

One of the most important parts of this reauthorization is the financial commitment. The bill authorizes a substantial $25,000,000 to be spent annually for the program’s operations, staff support, and logistics. This funding ensures the program isn't just surviving, but thriving. This money is earmarked to cover the costs of running the program across all federal agencies involved, like the National Park Service and the Forest Service, so they can handle the influx of young visitors.

Targeting Transportation and Outreach Barriers

This bill explicitly addresses equity concerns, which is a big win for making the parks truly accessible. A portion of the $25 million must be used to provide transportation for schools and youth organizations facing the “biggest financial struggles.” This is huge because the biggest barrier for many low-income families and schools isn't the park entry fee—it’s getting there. Imagine a teacher in an urban area who can now secure funding to charter a bus for a class trip to a nearby national forest; that’s the real-world impact of this provision.

Furthermore, the bill mandates specific outreach efforts aimed at underserved communities and children with disabilities. The goal here is to ensure that the program isn't just benefiting families who already know about it or have easy access to parks. While the bill doesn't specify how much of the $25 million must go toward transportation—it only says 'A portion'—the fact that it’s mandated is a step toward ensuring the program reaches the kids who might benefit the most from experiencing the outdoors.