California wants fourth graders to get out and see the state parks. With the Free Fourth Grade Pass, they are granted access to 54 participating parks.
Logan McNair, a Ben Lomond fourth grader, has his free state parks pass. He likes the parks even more than a playground.
"There’s like not handmade stuff, like, at all,” he said. “It’s all made by the Earth."
He has been to several parks.
"I've been to Henry Cowell (Redwoods State Park) and I've seen giant redwoods and I've climbed up on this little stump.”
California schools play a role in providing the passes to their students. Principal Joshua Wahl of Brook Knoll Elementary in Santa Cruz, notices the passes encouraging families to get outdoors.
“By us doing this through the children, they go home and encourage the families because they get excited about it after talking about it in school,” said Wahl.
The free passes allow students to apply what they learned in the classroom to real life.
“When their families take a trip and they get to go explore these places, they recognize the names, they remember the history, and it just makes it so much more meaningful during their exploration and travel,” said Wahl.
It’s not just the fourth grader who gets in for free. The pass also covers other children in the family and up to three adults. Logan’s mom, Jenna Hill, says visiting parks together gives them a chance to learn from each other.
"I definitely like being able to go together and sort of share different things," she said. "And he is really good at spotting lots of little things that maybe I wouldn't notice."
The National Parks Service also offers a free pass for fourth graders.
