Santa Fe, NM – Today, New Mexico State Parks announced their plan to provide every fourth grader with a day pass, which will allow them to explore 11 New Mexico state parks for free. The partnership with the U.S. Department of the Interior and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is part of the Every Kid in a Park program, which encourages kids and their families to explore the outdoors.
“New Mexico’s natural beauty is one our greatest assets. It is important that we provide children and their families with every possible opportunity to explore the outdoors,” said New Mexico State Parks Director Christy Tafoya. “Providing our kids with these passes gives them the opportunity to have meaningful hands-on learning experiences in the outdoors, which not only fosters respect for nature, but expands their dreams as they progress through school.”
Nationally, the program seeks to connect 4 million fourth graders with nature throughout the 2015-16 academic years.
The state parks participating in the program include: Navajo Lake, Sumner Lake, Elephant Butte Lake, Caballo Lake, Percha Dam, Leasburg Dam, Conchas Lake, Santa Rosa Lake, Heron Lake, El Vado and Brantley Lake State Parks.
In order to acquire the Every Kid in a Park pass, visit https://everykidinapark.gov/, answer some simple questions and redeem your pass at a federal facility in the state. Instructions and rules can also be found on this website. This pass is good for day use only.
The passes are good throughout the rest of the school year, and the department hopes to be able to continue this program in the following years. For more information, visit www.nmparks.com.